Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Isiah Pacheco vs Joe Mixon

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy play this season.

Joe Mixon is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.5 PPG and 1,405 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Isiah Pacheco (6.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Joe Mixon as the starter and Isiah Pacheco as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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RBKansas City Chiefs#54

Isiah Pacheco

PPG

6.0

Games

Rush Yds

462

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

101

Bye

Week 10

RBHouston Texans#99PPG LEADER

Joe Mixon

PPG

16.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,165

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

240

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Isiah Pacheco

Joe Mixon

Head to Head

6.0 PPG16.5 PPG

13 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Isiah Pacheco: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #54 at the position). Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Isiah Pacheco is producing at 27% of elite pace and Joe Mixon at 75%. That ranking gap means Isiah Pacheco carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Isiah Pacheco vs Joe Mixon: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Joe Mixon (Houston Texans) averaged 16.5 PPG over 15 games in 2025, outscoring Isiah Pacheco (Kansas City Chiefs, 6.0 PPG) by 10.5 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Joe Mixon carries a 10.5-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; Joe Mixon posted 1165 and 11. 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 10 and Joe Mixon Week 14. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Joe Mixon at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Isiah Pacheco is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Isiah Pacheco (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Joe Mixon (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored Isiah Pacheco by a projected 179 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Joe Mixon played 15 games in 2025 compared to Isiah Pacheco's 13. That durability gap means Joe Mixon contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Joe Mixon scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Joe Mixon caught 32 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatPachecoMixon

PPG (Half-PPR)6.016.5

Games Played1315

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)78248

Rushing Yards4621,165

Rush Yds/Game35.577.7

Rushing TDs111

Receptions1932

Receiving Yards101240

Targets260

Total TDs212

Age27-

Experience3 yrs-

Bye WeekWeek 10Week 14

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Joe Mixon holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.5 points per game. Isiah Pacheco averaged 6.0 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Isiah Pacheco or Joe Mixon in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Isiah Pacheco's 6.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Isiah Pacheco and Joe Mixon average in 2025?▾

Isiah Pacheco averaged 6.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 10.5 points per game.

When are Isiah Pacheco and Joe Mixon's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Isiah Pacheco (KC) has a bye in Week 10, and Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Isiah Pacheco or Joe Mixon a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon outscored Isiah Pacheco by 10.5 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.