Each offseason, there are several predictable tropes that will emerge about specific players. One of them is born of the regular cycle of players changing teams. This leads many fantasy players to wonder whether new players can take over old roles. It is very much a similar line of thinking as the “vacated targets” argument. One player leaves a team. Another is signed, and therefore he must be poised to take over the same exact role, right?
This year, Isiah Pacheco finds himself in this exact spot. David Montgomery has been the Detroit Lions’ reliable RB2 and a consistent red zone threat over the past three seasons. Now, he has departed for Houston.
The Lions signed Pacheco in Montgomery’s absence, which has many wondering if Pacheco is poised for the same role. He has long been a darling of the fantasy football community, but his star has faded some over the past two seasons. Perhaps a role in Dan Campbell’s offense is just the change he needed.
Isiah Pacheco Steps Into A Role With Massive Fantasy Football Value
What is the David Montgomery role?
Before imagining what Pacheco could achieve if he indeed takes over Montgomery’s role, it is worth assessing the value of that role. The once steady Chicago Bears running back signed with the Lions in 2023. He then spent three seasons sharing the backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs. During that time, Montgomery maintained a steady role despite the elite potential of Gibbs.
He did so by being a steady presence for the Lions, particularly in the Red Zone. During his first two seasons with the Lions, he managed a 55% rushing success rate and 25 total touchdowns. He netted over 40% of running touches within the Red Zone and was competing with the likes of Jalen Hurts, Joe Mixon, and Kyren Williams for Red Zone touches (Pro Football Reference).
Needless to say, he was the Lions’ finisher.
But while he maintained that role in 2025, his overall production took a step back. For the first time since joining the Lions, he had less than 40% of the team’s rushes within the Red Zone. He failed to score double-digit touchdowns and barely surpassed 700 yards. Despite this, he finished RB27, making him a decent bye week replacement and flex play.
Given that Isiah Pacheco is going as the RB46 per FantasyPros, I will gladly take an RB27 outcome.
But who is Isiah Pacheco, really?
The “David Montgomery” role is clearly a good one. Even in a down season, you can get usable weeks out of the RB27. But the question remains whether Pacheco fits the Montgomery role.
Looking back, Pacheco’s time at Kansas City paints an alarming picture. He had a solid first couple of seasons, which, if it had continued, would have positioned him well to be Campbell’s reliable second running back.
But unfortunately, he fell off a cliff during the past two seasons, failing to surpass 500 rushing yards. Some of that is due to dealing with injuries over that time. Some of it is simply associated with Kansas City’s offense hitting a wall. But it is concerning that within Kansas City, Pacheco could not even keep the ostensible David Montgomery role.
That’s right, the Kansas City Chiefs had their own version of David Montgomery, albeit a discount version.
His name is Kareem Hunt.
In 2024, when David Montgomery posted 49 touches inside the 20, Kareem Hunt was not far behind with 42 touches of his own. Then, in 2025, Montgomery was surpassed by Hunt, who had 38 touches within the 20-yard line compared to Montgomery’s 33.
In those same seasons, Pacheco had eight and 18 touches within the 20-yard line.
Yikes.
So, Pacheco isn’t exactly the archetype for the David Montgomery role. At least, he hasn’t been during the past two seasons. But back in 2023, it was Pacheco who played that Red Zone role. That season, he ranked ninth in touches within the 20, just five spots behind David Montgomery.
Be sure to check our fantasy football preview of Jahmyr Gibbs and the 2026 Lions!
Pacheco’s 2026 Fantasy Outlook
Regardless of Pacheco’s recent struggles, he is well positioned to outperform his ADP given his current role. As the RB46, he is essentially in dart-throw territory. Given that the floor for the RB2 in Detroit has been the RB27, I am happy to take that chance.
For those Best Ball players out there, Pacheco is the perfect target for Zero RB drafters. This is the perfect season for a Zero RB strategy, and Pacheco makes this strategy that much more viable.
In redraft leagues, Pacheco will be a worthwhile late-round dart throw and a solid handcuff option for Jahmyr Gibbs drafters. If he were being drafted in the Top 30, I would feel much more concerned. But at his current ADP, Pacheco is basically free given his potential.
Looking for your favorite team? This link will take you to the rest of our 2026 Look Inside team previews.
A Look Inside the Detroit Lions
Editor’s Note: While this article focused on Isiah Pacheco in fantasy football, we don’t want to leave you hanging on the rest of the team. Here is a quick look at the other fantasy-relevant Lions from Ryan Weisse.
Jared Goff
Goff might be the best value at QB in fantasy football right now. He was the QB9 in fantasy last year and has been a top-10 QB in four consecutive seasons. Yet, he’s being drafted outside the Top 15. Goff has two things working against him: He has no rushing upside and concern for Drew Petzing’s offense. I worry about neither. First, he has never had rushing upside, certainly not in the last four years, and he is a top-10 QB. And as far as Petzing, he made you start Jacoby Brissett in fantasy last year; think of what he could do with Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams. Goff will be my starter in most leagues; you should grab him in all others.
Jahmyr Gibbs
I don’t tend to write much about guys you have to take in the first round, let alone the first three picks. Your mind should be pretty made up. Gibbs is one of the best in the league, and not much should change in 2026. He is my RB1, but it’s close between him and Bijan Robinson. It’s a coin toss where you win on either side.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
The Lions were one of only two teams (LAR) in fantasy last year to have a top-10 QB, RB, and WR. Much like Gibbs, you have to make an early decision on ARSB, and he is worth every bit of his price. St. Brown finished as the WR3 in fantasy last season and was second in the league in targets (172) and TDs (11). He will have a high-volume, high-value role no matter what Detroit’s new scheme looks like.
Jameson Williams
Williams’ big-play ability makes him a joy to watch on Sundays. But the boom-or-bust nature of his game makes him a headache for fantasy managers. I use the term “Better in Best Ball” for guys like this, but he did finish as the WR12 in fantasy last year. The trick is, you cannot bench him during a bad stretch. You have to play him every week to take advantage of those boom weeks. He is going off of boards as the WR25, so if you believe in the upside, he’s a value in fantasy drafts.
Sam LaPorta
The single biggest benefactor of the Drew Petzing hire is Sam LaPorta. Petzing worked with Trey McBride the last two seasons, when he was one of the best tight ends in fantasy football. Sam LaPorta is three years removed from being the best tight end in fantasy football. He finished as the TE27 last year, but he missed eight games. On a points-per-game basis, he would have been the TE7 and finished as the TE3 if he played all 17 games. I doubt LaPorta sees the target volume McBride did the last few seasons, but he certainly has the skill set to return to the Top 5 under Petzing.
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Before you go, check out where Isiah Pacheco and the rest of the Lions fall in our 2026 Fantasy Rankings here!
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