Isiah Pacheco vs Kimani Vidal: Who Should You Start?
Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Isiah Pacheco (Detroit Lions) finished the 2025 season averaging 6.0 fantasy points per game in 13 games. Kimani Vidal (Los Angeles Chargers) came in at 8.5 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Kimani Vidal carries a 2.5-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. Isiah Pacheco ran for 462 yards and 1 touchdowns; Kimani Vidal posted 643 and 3. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 5 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
