Who Should I Start? Rhamondre Stevenson or Isiah Pacheco


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
11.0 43.4 0.4 2.1 17.3 0.1

Rhamondre Stevenson News

Rhamondre Stevenson Gaining Ground as a Redraft Target

Tuesday, August 25, 11:05 AM

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson was already having a strong summer, and the latest TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) news gives his redraft stock another nudge upward. Henderson slipped while making a cut during Monday's practice and left after trainers examined his right foot/ankle. Christopher Price of The Boston Globe reported Tuesday that Henderson is undergoing precautionary testing on his lower right ankle and is walking and moving fine, but he may not practice again this week. That matters for Stevenson, who took nearly every key backfield rep after Henderson departed Monday and continued his strong camp. The 6-foot, 227-pound veteran rushed 130 times for 603 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games last season, adding 32 catches for 345 yards and two scores. Stevenson had already been trending ahead in the backfield, including a 70.1% offensive snap share during New England's postseason run compared with 31.4% for Henderson. Henderson's injury does not currently look serious enough to project missed regular-season time, but every extra first-team rep helps Stevenson solidify a role that was already moving in his favor. He is a clear redraft riser and an increasingly appealing RB2/flex target.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
6.3 31.2 0.2 0.9 6.4 0.0

Isiah Pacheco News

Isiah Pacheco Up in the Air for Week 1 With Back, Knee Injuries

Thursday, August 27, 8:37 AM

When asked about Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco's (back, knee) status for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the New Orleans Saints, head coach Dan Campbell said, "I can't give you anything definitive." Campbell said that Pacheco picked up a back injury in training camp, in addition to his MCL sprain, according to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. Right now, Pacheco's knee is not the concern. If the 27-year-old Pacheco is unavailable to play in the season opener in early September, Sione Vaki is likely to step up into the RB2 role in Detroit behind starter Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco ran for 1,765 yards and 12 touchdowns on 375 carries while adding 57 catches for 374 yards and two more TDs as a receiver in his first two years with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and 2023, but he combined for just 201 carries, 772 rushing yards, and two touchdowns in 20 games in the last two years while dealing with various injuries. When healthy, he's expected to be the backup in a change-of-pace role for Gibbs, but he is not selling himself as a handcuff target for fantasy managers with more injury issues before the start of the 2026 season. Right now, Pacheco is ranked as the RB54 at RotoBaller.


Rhamondre Stevenson vs. Isiah Pacheco

Still trying to decide between Stevenson and Pacheco? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Rhamondre Stevenson is projected to score 11.0 points this week while Isiah Pacheco is projected to score 6.3 points.