Who Should I Start? Isiah Pacheco or Zamir White

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.

Saturday, November 22, 12:57 AM

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White continues to be a non-factor with his team, and he remains off the fantasy radar in all leagues. The 26-year-old has been a healthy scratch for five games in a row, and he's likely headed for his sixth consecutive absence in Week 12 as the Raiders take on the Cleveland Browns. Ashton Jeanty has control of the top spot in Vegas' backfield, while Raheem Mostert and Dylan Laube have edged out White for depth roles. In the four games he did play earlier this year, White averaged just 2.5 carries, 6.3 rushing yards, 0.8 catches, and 4.8 receiving yards. Even if one of the running backs ahead of White were to get injured, he'd likely still be a non-factor in all fantasy football leagues.