Lions RB Isiah Pacheco had surgery Monday to "remove a body that was pressing on a nerve in his back," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Pacheco will now need 12 weeks to recover, which puts his return date sometime in December.
What They're Saying
Rapoport: "Originally, Pacheco had an MCL injury, then hurt his back while training."
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Forget About Pacheco
Pacheco's not nearly a good enough redraft asset to be worth holding for three months while he recovers. And even if he's physically ready by the end of that time frame, are the Lions holding a spot for him?
That's also not likely, for a veteran who arrived on a mere one-year, $1.8 million deal.
Feel free to dump Pacheco in any fantasy format.
Other Winners & Losers: Vaki's No. 2 But Not Exciting
Sione Vaki was the only Detroit RB to play behind Jahmyr Gibbs on Sunday against the Saints. He got a whopping 2 carries and 1 target to Gibbs' 29 and 5.
So Vaki's the No. 2 RB and thus likely to lead backfield work if Gibbs goes down. But he's far from a must-stash.
Vaki now has 9 career carries and 4 targets since arriving as a fourth-round pick in 2024. He finished college as a RB-safety hybrid.
