Who Should I Start? Isiah Pacheco or Malik Nabers

Friday, February 20, 10:44 AM

The Athletic's Jesse Newell writes that Kansas City Chiefs impending free-agent running back Isiah Pacheco is "likely to sign elsewhere" in free agency this offseason. Pacheco did not show his pre-injury burst out of the backfield in 2025, averaging 3.9 yards per carry while rushing for 462 yards and just one touchdown on 118 rushing attempts in 13 games played. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL scouting combine, but he hasn't shown that same speed after a productive first two seasons in the NFL. In addition to his declining speed, he hasn't established himself as a receiving threat out of the backfield, with his 44-catch season in 2023 looking like an outlier. On top of injuries the last two seasons, Pacheco's fantasy stock is down as he enters free agency. Pacheco's 2026 fantasy value will depend on where he's playing, but most likely, he'll be involved in some sort of timeshare after struggling the last two seasons.

Tuesday, February 24, 12:54 PM

The New York Giants are hoping that wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) is ready for training camp this summer, according to Paul Schwartz of The New York Post. "I've been texting with him the last couple of days, and he's in a good spot, he feels good, and the plan is hopefully for him to still be ready for training camp," general manager Joe Schoen said when asked about Nabers' rehab. The Giants are going to be cautious with the 22-year-old former first-rounder, but all signs point to him being ready to go for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season this fall, barring a setback. Nabers suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee on Sept. 28 and had surgery in late October. He was a Pro Bowler as a rookie in 2024, catching 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games. Nabers' fantasy stock will only continue to rise this offseason if he proves he's healthy this summer. If fully healthy, he'll have a higher ceiling as a WR1 with quarterback Jaxson Dart taking over the offense going forward.