Who Should I Start? Isiah Pacheco or George Pickens


Week 1 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

Is Isiah Pacheco a Sneaky Sleeper Running Back in Redraft Formats?

Monday, June 22, 8:20 AM

Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco enters 2026 in a backup role behind star Lions back Jahmyr Gibbs. It's a new role for Pacheco, who spent most of his first four seasons in the NFL as the RB1 for the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Pacheco has struggled with both injuries and ineffectiveness over the past two seasons, missing 14 games and averaging just 3.8 yards per carry since the start of the 2024 campaign. In Detroit, Pacheco's touches will be limited as long as Gibbs remains healthy. Still, former Lions RB2 David Montgomery recorded 908 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns across 17 games in 2025. If Pacheco can assume a similar role as the thunder to Gibbs' lightning, he could be a productive player for fantasy managers in 2026. Pacheco's handcuff appeal is obvious as well, as he profiles as the clear winner in the Detroit backfield if Gibbs suffers an injury. In redraft leagues, Pacheco could be a late-round sleeper to target in drafts.


Week 1 Projections

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

George Pickens News

Cowboys Plan to Move George Pickens Around More on Offense

Thursday, June 18, 12:13 PM

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Thursday that he is planning to move star wide receiver George Pickens around the formation more in 2026, per the team's official website. Pickens was absent from organized team activities in the spring after failing to reach a long-term contract extension with the organization, but he is present this week for mandatory minicamp. The 25-year-old former second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 out of the University of Georgia broke out in 2025 after the Dallas Cowboys acquired him from Pittsburgh, catching 93 passes for a career-high 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 137 targets in 17 games (15 starts). The vast majority of Pickens' snaps in 2025 in his first year in Dallas came out wide, but it sounds like he could spend more time inside in the slot in Year 2 in Big D, which should help the Cowboys create more mismatches for the big-play threat. Even with CeeDee Lamb commanding a high target share, the Cowboys should continue to throw the ball enough under Schottenheimer to make Pickens a legitimate WR1 again in fantasy in 2026.


Isiah Pacheco vs. George Pickens

Still trying to decide between Pacheco and Pickens? 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 George Pickens is projected to score 0.0 points.