Who Should I Start? Isiah Pacheco or Dylan Sampson

Sunday, June 1, 8:36 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco told the Kansas City Star's Jesse Newell that he focused on gaining weight this offseason to get closer to his shape at the NFL Combine. "Just going back to 216, 4.37 Isiah Pacheco-style," said Pacheco. The Rutgers product was excellent for Kansas City over his first two seasons, but a fibula fracture in Week 2 of 2024 would derail a fantastic start for him. Miraculously, he'd return in Week 13, but the 26-year-old was not his usual effective self. The missed time caused him to lean out, but head coach Andy Reid notes that Pacheco put on some "good weight" and is looking "tremendous" ahead of the 2025 season. There'll be more competition for him in the Chiefs' backfield this year. However, more time removed from an ugly injury should benefit him. It's unclear whether or not the added weight will be a boon to him. Still, he has an excellent chance at a bounce-back season.

Sunday, August 3, 2:29 PM

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Jerome Sampson is "essentially playing the 1-B role" next to veteran Jerome Ford, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. A fourth-round rookie out of Tennessee, Sampson rushed for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns in 13 games last season for the Volunteers. With second-round running back Quinshon Judkins still unsigned by the team due to a July arrest, Sampson appears to be in line for a significant role as a rookie. Ford is entering his fourth season in Cleveland, but he's never truly earned a workhorse role throughout a full season. The backfield mix for the Browns will remain a bit muddled until Judkins' legal situation gets ironed out, but it sounds like Ford and Sampson will share the workload relatively evenly while Judkins is out.