De'Von Achane vs Isiah Pacheco: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two running backs. De'Von Achane (Miami Dolphins) averaged 18.1 PPG over 16 games in 2025, outscoring Isiah Pacheco (Detroit Lions, 6.0 PPG) by 12.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
De'Von Achane carries a 12.1-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.
De'Von Achane is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 67 targets into 488 yards, while Isiah Pacheco profiles as a more traditional rusher with 462 rushing yards and 1 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats De'Von Achane carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.
One scheduling note: De'Von Achane 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.
