Who Should I Start? Isiah Pacheco or Jahmyr Gibbs

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Week 1 Projections

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

Isiah Pacheco News

Can Isiah Pacheco Bounce Back in RB2 Role in Detroit?

Friday, March 27, 4:49 PM

Running back Isiah Pacheco signed a one-year, $1.81 million contract with the Detroit Lions in free agency this year after winning two Super Bowls in his first four NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. The 27-year-old former seventh-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft out of Rutgers looked like a potential star in the NFL in his first two years in the league, averaging 4.7 yards per carry for 1,765 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in 31 games (24 starts) in 2022 and 2023. He added 57 receptions on 63 targets for 374 yards and two additional touchdowns. The last two years, unfortunately, were injury-riddled disappointments, as he averaged 3.8 yards per tote for 772 yards and only two rushing TD in 20 games (18 starts), adding 31 catches for 180 yards and another receiving TD. In Detroit, he'll essentially replace David Montgomery as the RB2 behind do-it-all lead back Jahmyr Gibbs. There's some bounce-back potential if Pacheco is healthy, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect the kind of volume that Montgomery had with the Lions, especially not near the goal line.

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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

Jahmyr Gibbs News

Jahmyr Gibbs in Line for a Career Workload

Monday, March 23, 5:59 AM

For the first time in his NFL career, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs looks to be entering the 2026 season in a true bellcow role. The Lions selected Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 Draft, the same year they added veteran David Montgomery through free agency. For three seasons, Gibbs and Montgomery shared Detroit's backfield as the most productive running back tandem in the league. 2025 signalled the beginning of a shift, with Gibbs officially taking over the starter title and out-touching Montgomery by nearly a two-to-one margin, despite the latter playing 17 games for the first time in his career. With Montgomery now being shipped to Houston, Gibbs is presumably in line for the largest workload of his career, and he deserves thorough consideration as the RB1 in both redraft and dynasty leagues. Detroit added former Chief Isiah Pacheco in free agency to fill the vacated bruiser role, but injuries and inefficiency over the past two seasons have limited his role in a room with no true standouts, and he should not be viewed as a serious threat to keep Gibbs off the field.

Isiah Pacheco vs. Jahmyr Gibbs

Still trying to decide between Pacheco and Gibbs? 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 Jahmyr Gibbs is projected to score 0.0 points.