Who Should I Start? Isiah Pacheco or Breece Hall

Friday, February 20, 10:44 AM

The Athletic's Jesse Newell writes that Kansas City Chiefs impending free-agent running back Isiah Pacheco is "likely to sign elsewhere" in free agency this offseason. Pacheco did not show his pre-injury burst out of the backfield in 2025, averaging 3.9 yards per carry while rushing for 462 yards and just one touchdown on 118 rushing attempts in 13 games played. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL scouting combine, but he hasn't shown that same speed after a productive first two seasons in the NFL. In addition to his declining speed, he hasn't established himself as a receiving threat out of the backfield, with his 44-catch season in 2023 looking like an outlier. On top of injuries the last two seasons, Pacheco's fantasy stock is down as he enters free agency. Pacheco's 2026 fantasy value will depend on where he's playing, but most likely, he'll be involved in some sort of timeshare after struggling the last two seasons.

Tuesday, February 24, 8:38 AM

The New York Jets will use the franchise or transition tag on impending free-agent running back Breece Hall if they can't get a contract extension done before the March 3 deadline, general manager Darren Mougey told Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. The franchise tag would take Hall off the market completely this offseason, while the transition tag would allow him to receive offers from other teams, but the Jets would have the right to match any offer. The transition tag will save the Jets a little more money and seems like the expected course of action here with the 24-year-old, who had a career-high 1,065 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 243 carries in 16 games in 2025. Hall also added 36 catches for 350 yards and a receiving score. A move out of New York would probably be best for Hall's 2026 fantasy value given their uncertain situation at QB, but there's no questioning that his stock is on the rise as an RB2 going into next season after his strong performance in 2025.