Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Aaron Jones vs Isiah PachecoWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Aaron Jones is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.7 PPG to Isiah Pacheco's 6.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Aaron Jones is the better fantasy play this season.

Aaron Jones is the better play on a neutral week. 8.7 PPG with 747 yards gives a reliable baseline. Isiah Pacheco at 6.0 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Aaron Jones higher, but do not fade Isiah Pacheco entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Aaron Jones and Isiah Pacheco in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

RBMinnesota Vikings#34PPG LEADER

Aaron Jones

PPG

8.7

Games

Rush Yds

548

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

199

Bye

Week 6

RBKansas City Chiefs#54

Isiah Pacheco

PPG

6.0

Games

Rush Yds

462

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

101

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Aaron Jones

Isiah Pacheco

Head to Head

8.7 PPG6.0 PPG

12 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Aaron Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #34 at the position). Isiah Pacheco: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #54 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Aaron Jones is producing at 40% of elite pace and Isiah Pacheco at 27%. That ranking gap means Aaron Jones carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Aaron Jones vs Isiah Pacheco: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Aaron Jones and Isiah Pacheco for your lineup, you are not alone. Aaron Jones finished the 2025 season at 8.7 PPG for the Minnesota Vikings (12 games), and Isiah Pacheco averaged 6.0 for the Kansas City Chiefs (13 games).

That 2.7-point weekly advantage for Aaron Jones is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Aaron Jones ran for 548 yards and 2 touchdowns; Isiah Pacheco posted 462 and 1. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Aaron Jones has his bye in Week 6, and Isiah Pacheco rests in Week 5. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Aaron Jones (age 31, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Isiah Pacheco (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Aaron Jones outscored Isiah Pacheco by a projected 46 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Isiah Pacheco played 13 games in 2025 compared to Aaron Jones's 12. That durability gap means Isiah Pacheco contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Aaron Jones scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Isiah Pacheco is 4 years younger than Aaron Jones (27 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Aaron Jones vs Isiah Pacheco: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Aaron Jones	Isiah Pacheco
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.7	6.0
Games Played	12	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	104	78
Rushing Yards	548	462
Rush Yds/Game	45.7	35.5
Rushing TDs	2	1
Receptions	28	19
Receiving Yards	199	101
Targets	41	26
Total TDs	3	2
Age	31	27
Experience	8 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Aaron Jones at 8.7 PPG, 2.7 points per game above Isiah Pacheco's 6.0. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Aaron Jones vs Isiah Pacheco

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Aaron Jones vs Isiah Pacheco

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Aaron Jones or Isiah Pacheco in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Aaron Jones has the edge at 8.7 PPG compared to Isiah Pacheco's 6.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Aaron Jones and Isiah Pacheco average in 2025?▾

Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Isiah Pacheco averaged 6.0 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 2.7 points per game.

When are Aaron Jones and Isiah Pacheco's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Aaron Jones (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Isiah Pacheco (KC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Aaron Jones or Isiah Pacheco a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Aaron Jones outscored Isiah Pacheco by 2.7 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.