Who Should I Start? Joe Mixon or Isiah Pacheco

Thursday, September 18, 10:46 AM

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon may not carry much fantasy relevance in 2025. The veteran is coming off a strong 2024 campaign in which he finished inside the top 10 in rushing yards per game and ranked as the RB8 in half-PPR formats. But Mixon has yet to play this season due to a foot/ankle injury , and many have speculated whether Mixon will even play this season. In his absence, Nick Chubb has stepped in as the lead back. Chubb has looked revitalized after last year's knee injury, currently ranking 20th in rushing yards and 12th in yards before contact. With Chubb producing, a committee approach likely on the horizon, and Houston's offensive line struggling, Mixon's fantasy outlook looks bleak, even if he does return later in the year.

Saturday, September 13, 4:45 AM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco will face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. The defending Super Bowl champions defeated the Chiefs in their last matchup, and Pacheco only had seven rushing yards on three carries. The 26-year-old will have the chance to exact some revenge, but he must first overcome the timeshare he's in with Kareem Hunt. Pacheco and Hunt had the same number of opportunities in Week 1; both handled five carries and two catches on three targets. The former ultimately finished with more total yards, but it was not an impressive performance by either back. Pacheco did manage 5.0 yards per carry when given the opportunity, so maybe he can build on that efficiency with more usage. That said, the Eagles defense was one of the toughest in the league to run against last season, and that looks to be the case again this year. Pacheco will have his work cut out for him if he wants to carve out a larger role in the Kansas City backfield. Pacheco is ranked RB35 in our RotoBaller rankings this week, making him an RB3/Flex option. He'll be a tough player to trust this week.