Should I Start Isiah Pacheco?

Friday, May 8, 12:59 PM

Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco enters 2026 looking to revitalize his career after consecutive disastrous seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and 2025. A fractured fibula limited Pacheco to seven games in 2024, and he recorded just 563 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns across 13 games in 2025. The Lions signed Pacheco to a modest one-year, $1.8 million contract in free agency, and he figures to serve as the RB2 behind Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. While Gibbs' presence obviously limits Pacheco's fantasy upside, former Lions back David Montgomery collected 716 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while playing behind Gibbs in 2025. Should Pacheco see similar usage to Montgomery, he could be a matchup-dependent flex option while carrying latent handcuff upside. His dynasty stock has obviously taken a hit over the past couple of seasons, but Pacheco may still be a decent buy-low target for dynasty managers.