Who Should I Start? Jordan Mason or Isiah Pacheco

Tuesday, August 5, 11:49 AM

Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason was viewed as a "massive" part of Minnesota's offseason plan, according to head coach Kevin O'Connell. During the spring, the Vikings acquired Mason via a trade. During the 2024 campaign, Mason emerged as a key contributor to the San Francisco rushing attack when Christian McCaffrey was sidelined. On a career-high 153 carries, Mason tallied 789 yards and three scores. During the first seven weeks, Mason flashed RB1 upside as he averaged a strong 14.8 PPR points per game and averaged 95.3 yards per game during this stretch. In addition, reports from Vikings camp suggest the team views him and veteran Aaron Jones as "Co-RB1s." While Jones will likely see the slight majority of carries, Mason possesses much higher upside given his age and speed. He is worth viewing as a standalone flex option and a high-upside handcuff if Jones were to miss time.

Saturday, August 16, 1:59 AM

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco only had one touch in the 16-33 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but he looked good on that play. Pacheco corralled a third-down reception and turned it into a 22-yard gain. Pacheco reached 17 miles per hour on that run, a good sign for his health. His work in the preseason has remained limited, which bodes well for his value in the regular season. After missing time due to injury last season, Pacheco is set to begin the year fully healthy and carry the load as Kansas City's lead back.