Isiah Pacheco Injury Update: Timeline For Lions RB Could Boost Fantasy Draft Position

Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco is on pace to suit up in Week 1 after suffering a sprained MCL during training camp.

Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco (10) speaks to media members after practice during mini camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Detroit Lions’ running back room has been under a spotlight all offseason, with plenty of changes shaping the unit coming into the 2026 NFL campaign. The unit endured the loss of David Montgomery in free agency, bringing in two-time Super Bowl champion Isiah Pacheco to fill the void before inking Jahmyr Gibbs to a long-term deal over the weekend. 

Pacheco is slated to take on a considerable role filling in for Montgomery, who racked up 2,248 yards from scrimmage and 25 total touchdowns over three seasons in Detroit. The former seventh-round pick will provide the rushing attack with valuable depth, pairing well alongside Gibbs with a hard-nosed style of play, similar to that of Montgomery. 

The former Kansas City Chiefs star has been limited the early parts of training camp, dealing with an MCL sprain that has kept him sidelined from practice. Questions were raised regarding his fantasy status coming into the regular season, but head coach Dan Campbell offered an update that should limit concerns down the stretch of the offseason. 

Lions RB Isiah Pacheco sprained his MCL, but HC Dan Campbell believes his running back should be ready for the regular-season opener.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 10, 2026

On Monday morning, Campbell revealed that Pacheco would be ready for Week 1 despite his injury, a development that could elevate his fantasy football stock as draft season approaches. 

Let’s monitor his outlook for the upcoming season, as he prepares for his first season in Detroit’s backfield:

Isaiah Pacheco’s Injury Update Could Affect His Volume Early In The 2026 Season

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) hands the ball to running back Isiah Pacheco (10) at practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Thursday, July 30, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Lions’ running back room is thin behind its two-headed monster of Gibbs and Pacheco. Sione Vaki has been relegated to a special teams role, logging just seven carries over the first two seasons of his career. Behind Vaki, Jacob Saylors is entering his second season, having also carved out a role on special teams. 

This will leave the entire workload of the rushing attack to Gibbs and Pacheco, a duo that projects to be one of the more efficient among NFL backfields. Despite slotting in at RB2, Pacheco should see a safe volume for fantasy, making him a solid plug-and-play option at flex as a likely RB3 in fantasy lineups. 

With Pacheco expected to return in time for Detroit’s season-opener, he’ll likely receive 10 to 12 touches behind Gibbs, and will also command the vast majority of red-zone snaps. I’d expect him to close the year with around 160 carries, similar to Montgomery’s volume behind Gibbs in 2025. 

He projects to fill Montgomery’s spot nicely if he can bounce-back from a nagging knee issue, which shouldn’t play much of a role down the stretch of the offseason with his recovery. Pacheco is coming into the year ranked as RB51 among ADP projections, but offers high upside in an explosive offense with a complementary role. At this price, he could close the year as one of fantasy’s top sleepers.