Who Should I Start? Isiah Pacheco or Dylan Sampson


Week 9 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Isiah Pacheco News

Isiah Pacheco Has a Chance of Returning in 2026

Friday, October 30, 9:37 AM

Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (back) has not played a game since signing a one-year deal in the offseason, but head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Friday that "there's a chance" he could be back in late December. Pacheco, who ran for 462 yards in his final season with the Kansas City Chiefs, is currently on Injured Reserve after undergoing back surgery in mid-September. A late-December return would fall in line with his initially projected recovery timeline of 12-14 weeks. Signed to serve as a backup to three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs, Pacheco's absence has left the Lions to lean on third-year player Sione Vaki to occasionally spell Gibbs, who has handled an 89.3% running back rush share on the way to his current RB1 standing.


Week 9 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
8.7 21.8 0.1 2.8 23.1 0.1

Dylan Sampson News

Dylan Sampson's Receiving Role Offers PPR Flex Appeal Against Saints

Saturday, November 7, 10:37 AM

Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson faces a New Orleans Saints defense surrendering 139.4 rushing yards per game, but most of that matchup benefit belongs to early-down runner Quinshon Judkins. Sampson's opportunity comes through the passing game. He caught six of eight targets for 62 yards in Cleveland's Week 8 loss to Pittsburgh, playing 39 offensive snaps (56%) while Judkins carried 11 times and Sampson only once. That workload came as the Browns trailed, so the snap advantage should not be mistaken for a takeover. Since returning from injured reserve in Week 7, Sampson has nine catches for 94 yards and seven carries for 52 yards. The Saints were off in Week 8; in their previous game, Pittsburgh backs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle combined for nine catches and 81 receiving yards, highlighting the clearest route to useful production for Sampson. Shedeur Sanders is making his first start of the season, adding uncertainty to Cleveland's passing volume and checkdown opportunities. Sampson is absent from Friday's final injury report, and RotoBaller's updated Week 9 PPR rankings list him RB35. He's a fringe PPR flex, not a dependable starter.


Isiah Pacheco vs. Dylan Sampson

Still trying to decide between Pacheco and Sampson? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Isiah Pacheco is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Dylan Sampson is projected to score 8.7 points.