Who Should I Start? Isiah Pacheco or Bhayshul Tuten

Friday, December 5, 8:08 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco returned in last week's Thanksgiving Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday for the first time since Week 8 due to a knee injury. It wasn't a triumphant return for the 26-year-old, as he played a season-low 30% of the snaps and had a season-low three rushing attempts for 16 yards while grabbing both of his targets for an additional 17 yards. Pacheco played well ahead of rookie Brashard Smith, but it's clear that veteran Kareem Hunt has solidified his role as KC's preferred RB, even in goal-line situations. Fantasy managers can hold out hope that Pacheco is more involved in the coming weeks as he puts his knee injury in the rearview mirror, but at no point in 2025 has he looked deserving of a bigger workload. Pacheco has yet to top 60 rushing yards in nine games, and he should be left on benches in Week 14 against the Texans and their No. 1 defense.

Monday, December 1, 10:49 AM

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten recorded his fifth touchdown of the season in his team's Week 13 win over the Tennessee Titans, but he recorded just 19 scrimmage yards on nine touches. After his breakout 74-yard game in Week 11, Tuten has now been held under 20 scrimmage yards in back-to-back weeks. The 23-year-old has flashed upside throughout the year, but he remains firmly behind Travis Etienne Jr. in the Jaguars backfield pecking order. Still, Tuten has scored three touchdowns in his last five games and would immediately profile as a must-start fantasy running back if Etienne Jr. were to suffer an injury. Tuten's standalone value is as a low-end flex, at best. However, he's worth targeting on the waiver wire as a priority handcuff option heading into Jacksonville's Week 14 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.