Isiah Pacheco vs Kyle Monangai: 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. Kyle Monangai (Chicago Bears) came in at 8.1 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Kyle Monangai carries a 2.1-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. Isiah Pacheco ran for 462 yards and 1 touchdowns; Kyle Monangai posted 783 and 5. 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: Isiah Pacheco is off Week 5 and Kyle Monangai Week 7. 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.
