Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

David Montgomery vs Isiah PachecoWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

David Montgomery is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.1 PPG to Isiah Pacheco's 6.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

David Montgomery is the better fantasy play this season.

David Montgomery has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.1-PPG advantage is real (9.1 to 6.0), and David Montgomery's 9 touchdowns show scoring upside. Isiah Pacheco is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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RBDetroit Lions#33PPG LEADER

David Montgomery

PPG

9.1

Games

Rush Yds

716

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

192

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

David Montgomery

Isiah Pacheco

Head to Head

9.1 PPG6.0 PPG

17 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

David Montgomery: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #33 at the position). Isiah Pacheco: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #54 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, David Montgomery is producing at 41% of elite pace and Isiah Pacheco at 27%. That ranking gap means David Montgomery carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

David Montgomery vs Isiah Pacheco: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. David Montgomery (Detroit Lions) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.1 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City Chiefs) came in at 6.0 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

David Montgomery carries a 3.1-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. David Montgomery ran for 716 yards and 8 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.

One scheduling note: David Montgomery is off Week 6 and Isiah Pacheco Week 5. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire David Montgomery at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Isiah Pacheco is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: David Montgomery (age 28, 6 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?

•David Montgomery outscored Isiah Pacheco by a projected 53 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•David Montgomery played 17 games in 2025 compared to Isiah Pacheco's 13. That durability gap means David Montgomery contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•David Montgomery scored 9 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

David Montgomery vs Isiah Pacheco: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	David Montgomery	Isiah Pacheco
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.1	6.0
Games Played	17	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	155	78
Rushing Yards	716	462
Rush Yds/Game	42.1	35.5
Rushing TDs	8	1
Receptions	24	19
Receiving Yards	192	101
Targets	29	26
Total TDs	9	2
Age	28	27
Experience	6 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, David Montgomery holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.1 points per game. Isiah Pacheco averaged 6.0 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start David Montgomery or Isiah Pacheco in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, David Montgomery has the edge at 9.1 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 David Montgomery and Isiah Pacheco average in 2025?▾

David Montgomery averaged 9.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Isiah Pacheco averaged 6.0 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 3.1 points per game.

When are David Montgomery and Isiah Pacheco's bye weeks in 2026?▾

David Montgomery (DET) 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 David Montgomery or Isiah Pacheco a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

David Montgomery outscored Isiah Pacheco by 3.1 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.