Who Should I Start? Najee Harris or Isiah Pacheco

Monday, February 16, 11:51 AM

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (Achilles) missed most of the 2025 season due to a torn Achilles, and he's scheduled to hit free agency for the second offseason in a row. Harris parlayed a solid four-year stint with the Steelers into a one-year deal with the Chargers last offseason, but he was held to just 86 scrimmage yards across three games before suffering his season-ending injury. It was a big change from his time in Pittsburgh, where he had never missed a game through four seasons. He played well there, ranking as a top-24 fantasy running back every season. He peaked as a rookie in 2021 when he was the overall RB3 in PPR formats. Given his injury recovery, Harris likely won't sign a contract that would allow him to be a lead-back somewhere. In all likelihood, he'll offer a solid veteran presence while splitting snaps with a younger, less-established running back. His days of being a must-start fantasy running back are over, but he can still be a strong RB3/flex depending on the situation. He's worth holding in most dynasty leagues.

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.