A little over two years ago, running back Isiah Pacheco was one of the most coveted players in fantasy football drafts as he had an ADP of 24 overall. Today, he is rostered in just 7 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues.
It’s been tough sledding for the former Rutgers star, who is still just 27-years-old. Pacheco has been plagued by injury, and has not yet played a game as a member of the Lions.
Below, we will offer up a Pacheco injury update and look at when he will return to the Detroit lineup.
Isiah Pacheco injury update: When will RB return?
Pacheco signed with the Lions in March as Detroit brass had designs on him filling the David Montgomery role to go alongside star RB Jahmyr Gibbs. The Lions had traded Montgomery to the Texans just a few days prior to signing the former Chiefs back.
Pacheco suffered an MCL sprain and a back injury in training camp. While he recovered in due time from the MCL sprain, the back injury proved to be more complicated. It was revealed that a loose body was pressing on a nerve in Pacheco’s back. This required surgery and had a 12-week long recovery time.
Twelve weeks from when it was announced that Pacheco had back surgery will be December 7 of this year. Pacheco will certainly need a ramp-up period, but he could very well factor into the Lions’ plans down the stretch of the regular season.
Here is a look at the Lions’ schedule around the time that Pacheco is expected to return.
- Week 14 Sunday, December 13: Titans at Lions
- Week 15 Sunday, December 20: Lions at Vikings
- Week 16 Monday, December 28: Giants at Lions
- Week 17 Sunday, January 3: Lions at Bears
Isiah Pacheco fantasy football stock
Pacheco could potentially make a fantasy football impact this season as well, as his return could coincide with the end of the fantasy regular season and the start of the fantasy playoffs.
Detroit figures to be involved in a heated playoff race come mid-December and will need as much help as it can get. So, Pacheco will likely get some run.
Pacheco had an ADP of 182 overall this past summer.
In 13 games played with the Chiefs last season, Pacheco rushed for 462 yards and 1 TD. He also had 19 catches for 101 yards and 1 receiving TD.
Pacheco’s top season in the NFL came in 2023, when he ran for 935 yards and 7 TDs. He also had 44 catches for 244 yards and 2 receiving TDs in that campaign.
Lions odds
The Lions were +1700 to win the Super Bowl at Fanatics Sportsbook at the start of the season. Dan Campbell’s squad currently owns a 4-2 record and is +2000 to win it all.
The Lions are +250 to win the highly-competitive NFC North.
Detroit had a win total projection of 10.5 heading into the season. It remains at that number at Fanatics.
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