Who Should I Start? Isiah Pacheco or Jonathon Brooks
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
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 |
Jonathon Brooks News
Sunday, June 7, 5:17 AM
Expectations around Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks continue to rise, with NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe recently appearing on The Insiders Podcast and stating that if healthy, Brooks could handle lead back responsibilities over veteran Chuba Hubbard. Wolfe noted that the team allowed 2025's leading rusher, Rico Dowdle, to walk in free agency in part because they believe that their 2024 second-round pick is "ready to be the guy". Brooks missed all of the 2025 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee as a rookie, the second such injury to the same knee in just over a year. Coming off an RB15 finish in 2024 that resulted in a multi-year contract extension, Hubbard struggled through inconsistency and injuries of his own in 2025 and eventually ceded lead-back responsibilities to Dowdle, who ended the year with almost 1,400 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns. Brooks is RotoBaller's RB 40 in redraft leagues, but that ranking is certain to rise if he continues to pick up steam throughout minicamp and into training camp, and he could become one of 2026's better values for early drafters.
Isiah Pacheco vs. Jonathon Brooks
Still trying to decide between Pacheco and Brooks? 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 Jonathon Brooks is projected to score 0.0 points.
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