Who Should I Start? James Conner or Isiah Pacheco

Monday, September 22, 6:34 PM

Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (ankle) underwent season-ending surgery on Monday after suffering a significant right ankle injury in the third quarter of Sunday's game. Conner was carted off with his ankle immobilized, and head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed he won't return this season. With Conner sidelined, the Cardinals will turn to second-year back Trey Benson, who has been highly efficient, averaging 6.0 yards per carry (second among RBs). Gannon praised Benson before the season, noting he viewed both Conner and Benson as capable starters. Benson now projects as the lead option in Arizona's backfield, while Emari Demercado is expected to mix in behind him.

Friday, December 19, 8:52 PM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco played his highest snap count since returning from injury in Week 15. He led the Chiefs in carries last week but was inefficient, totaling just 21 yards on 11 carries. With quarterback Patrick Mahomes done for the season with a torn ACL, the Chiefs' offense could struggle, making it even more difficult for Pacheco to be a consistent fantasy starter. The Chiefs rank 15th in scoring offense with the two-time MVP as their quarterback. Now, they switch to Gardner Minshew, which is a clear downgrade from Mahomes. While an easy matchup against the Tennessee Titans could catapult Pacheco to FLEX territory, he's still tough to trust with Kareem Hunt in the picture and the Chiefs' offense likely to regress.