The Indianapolis Colts are activating wide receiver Alec Pierce from the Physically Unable to Perform list on Thursday, as reported by Mike Chappell. After signing a four-year, $114 million free agent deal to return to the Colts, Pierce underwent ankle surgery in late March after a platelet-rich plasma injection failed to alleviate the pain he has played through since the end of the 2024 season. After a career-year in 2025, big things were expected of the fifth-year receiver following the departure of Michael Pittman Jr., but a lack of availability coupled with the recent signing of veteran Keenan Allen has seen him slip to WR38 by current ADP. With just over two weeks until the Colts open the regular season against the Baltimore Ravens, Pierce faces a steep ramp-up period in hopes that he could still participate. One of the league's premier deep threats when healthy, there is potential value to be found in a mid-round swing for a player who should still factor heavily into the Colts' offensive plans for 2026.

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When the Detroit Lions have needed a clutch play or a key conversion in recent years, they have generally turned to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and as pointed out by Lions senior writer Tim Twentyman, that was again the case during Wednesday's practice. In a fourth-and-two scenario during full-team work, St. Brown beat cornerback D.J. Reed with a nifty inside move and took a well-placed pass from Jared Goff for a 32-yard touchdown. The three-time All-Pro has become one of the most reliable receivers in the league, with that consistency translating to three straight WR3 fantasy finishes. Hitting at least 115 receptions in each of those seasons, St. Brown remains a safe bet to earn targets while his elite red zone usage has led to triple-digit touchdowns every year since 2023. Barring injury, few conceivable paths could lead the four-time Pro Bowler to finish outside the top-five at the position, and he is RotoBaller's WR4 for 2026.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough showed signs as a 2025 rookie that he was a player worth building around, and that's precisely what the team did this offseason. New Orleans made a splash in free agency by acquiring running back Travis Etienne Jr. on a four-year, $48 million deal before spending five of its eight 2026 draft picks on the offensive line or skill positions, including wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) with the eighth overall pick. While Tyson has since dealt with a serious hamstring injury likely to cost him time at the beginning of his career, there are still pieces in place for Shough to take a sizable step forward in his second season in Kellen Moore's up-tempo offense. After throwing at a 4,420-yard pace over the back half of the year that was good enough to make him the fantasy QB10 over that time, Shough is currently being drafted as the QB20, making him a low-cost, high-ceiling player to target at the end of 2026 drafts.

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Through the first three games of 2025, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson averaged more than 30 fantasy points per game, looking like his usual dominant self before injuries derailed his season, and NFL Network's Trevor Sikkema believes a return to health could lead to big things in 2026. "I'm really excited for what Lamar Jackson could be this year," he said while appearing on NFL Report. "To me, we could see not only the regular version of Lamar Jackson, which is pretty dang spectacular, but we could see maybe one of the most explosive versions of Lamar Jackson in this Declan Doyle offense." The Ravens were one of the most aggressive passing offenses on first down last year, helping to set up the third-and-manageable situations in which they thrived, and Sikkema believes Doyle will put the ball in Jackson's hands even more on early downs. Jackson is RotoBaller's QB1 and has one of the highest ceilings in the history of the game, as evidenced by two different seasons of 400+ fantasy points, and if he can manage close to a full slate of games in 2026, he should again be a league-winner.

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The Baltimore Ravens have long been in need of a reliable No. 2 receiver behind two-time Pro Bowler Zay Flowers (undisclosed), and during Wednesday's joint practice with the Commanders, wide receiver Rashod Bateman made arguably his most compelling case of the summer that he can be that guy. With Flowers sidelined by what head coach Jesse Minter called a "minor thing," Bateman was uncoverable in 1-on-1s, 7-on-7s, or full-team drills, prompting team reporters Ryan Mink and Quentin Corpuel to praise him for what could have been his best day of training camp while acknowledging he may have been the Ravens' best offensive player on Wednesday. Bateman had a strong start to camp, but the growing hype around rookie Ja'Kobi Lane, as well as his own recent legal troubles, have slowed any momentum he had built going into his sixth season. But in some of the closest simulations of in-game scenarios the team has seen all summer, Bateman dominated, and the former first-round pick remains a player worthy of late-round consideration as RotoBaller's WR80.

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The Washington Commanders were short-handed at running back during Wednesday's joint practice with the Ravens, providing sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen with some of his most extensive work with the first-unit offense, but he was not the only rookie to benefit from the absence of Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin) and the limitation of Rachaad White (hamstring). With the team's top two backs both dealing with short-term injuries, Allen split first-team reps with undrafted free agent Robert Henry Jr., with both players making their share of positive plays, according to Commanders senior writer Zach Selby. Through two preseason games, Allen has more than doubled Henry's touch count, but the latter has been more efficient with his opportunities, averaging a full yard more per carry. As a Day 3 pick, Allen was never guaranteed a fantasy-viable workload, but still splitting time in what could essentially be seen as a best-case scenario, any bull case he had takes a serious hit, and there appears to be little reason to pay him mind in 2026 drafts.

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was the MVP runner-up and fantasy QB2 in his second season, his first with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and since then his weaponry has only grown stronger. The Patriots' top two receivers in 2025 were Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte. The former spent most of the summer as a free agent before finally signing a one-year, $8 million deal with the Commanders, while the latter was traded to the Texans on Monday for what amounted to a 2025 sixth-rounder and a 2028 seventh-round pick. Meanwhile, the Patriots spent a first and a fifth to acquire A.J. Brown after signing Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million contract. New England also ran the league's lowest percentage of plays while trailing in 2025, so a more difficult schedule could lead to even more pass attempts for Maye and a higher fantasy ceiling. The soon-to-be-24-year-old is RotoBaller's QB6, but he has the skill set and the environment to threaten for an overall QB1 finish.

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Dynasty | Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin is out for the season with a torn ACL. Dynasty Analysis: It's a tough blow for Austin and the Giants, who are searching for a reliable running mate to Malik Nabers. The depth chart behind him now consists of Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields and possibly even Odell Beckham Jr. Someone will need step up quickly and Fields could benefit the most. As for Austin, his dynasty value was already hanging by a thread and this injury will put him on waiver wires in most leagues.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has emerged as a superstar in the NFL, ranking as a top-three fantasy running back in each of the last two seasons. The Lions' backfield looks a little different this year now that Isiah Pacheco has replaced David Montgomery, but the vision for Gibbs should look pretty similar. He remains the undisputed lead back, offering a spectacular ability to run the ball, catch passes, score touchdowns, and even block a little. Pacheco should mix in on short-yardage opportunities, but it's worth noting that Montgomery did the same in Detroit, and Gibbs still scored 38 touchdowns over the last two years. In other words, we're not worried at all about Pacheco's presence. In fact, it could help Gibbs over the long run, as it keeps him fresh and healthy for the full 17-game span. He hasn't missed a single regular-season game since his rookie season in 2023. The University of Alabama product ranks as the RB1 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026, ahead of even Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey.

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Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco didn't have the greatest stint in Kansas City, but landing with the Lions should allow him to be utilized in a more appropriate fashion. We expect the Lions to use Pacheco in short-yardage scenarios, giving Jahmyr Gibbs an opportunity for a breather. That's similar to what we have seen in years past from David Montgomery, who handled some early-down work and got involved near the line to gain or the goal line. That role saw Montgomery score 33 touchdowns over the last three seasons, so there's a real growth opportunity here for Pacheco, who has never scored more than seven touchdowns in a single season. While Gibbs is the undisputed No. 1 back here, Pacheco is a solid handcuff who also has some standalone fantasy value because of his ability to score touchdowns in a really favorable system and environment. The 27-year-old currently ranks as the RB57 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings for 2026.

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Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson remains in the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, but he should still carve out a role this season as a key pass-catching option for veteran starting quarterback Deshaun Watson. Sampson had 33 catches for 271 receiving yards (and just 175 rushing yards) as a rookie last year. For the most part, he operated behind fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins and mostly saw the field on passing downs. Judkins is expected to be the lead back once Week 1 comes around, so the big question is whether Sampson can have enough involvement to get on the weekly fantasy radar. It's not as simple as Judkins getting the early downs and Sampson getting the passing downs, as the former is a very capable pass catcher, and the latter does earn some carries from time to time, too. For now, Sampson has a little bit of RB3/flex appeal in deeper full-PPR leagues, but in all other formats, he's a better fit as a handcuff for fantasy managers who already have Judkins on their roster. Sampson is the RB53 in RotoBaller's latest half-PPR and full-PPR draft rankings for the 2026 fantasy football season.

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech only played three snaps in the first quarter of the team's second preseason game. However, he was likely used sparingly because he already has the primary slot receiver role locked up for the 2026 season. Bech caught a touchdown during Week 1 of the preseason, but according to Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official website, what has really solidified the receiver's role is his blocking ability. "He's the best blocking wide receiver on the roster," Edwards wrote about Bech. "He had a key block that led to a 53-yard rush from Mike Washington Jr. against the Arizona Cardinals. It's certainly a determining factor as to how Bech has remained the team's primary starting slot receiver throughout camp." All signs point to Bech getting a very healthy dose of snaps once the regular season arrives, which could put him onto the fantasy radar as a low-end WR3/flex in deeper leagues. At the moment, he's flying somewhat under the radar as the WR102 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026.

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Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, ranking as the fantasy WR15 or better during both campaigns. Being healthy for all 17 games was key to Sutton's success over the last two years, but even if he remains off the injury report in 2026, there could be a new obstacle in his way. The offseason addition of Jaylen Waddle adds another mouth to feed, and given that Waddle typically commanded 100+ targets for 1,000+ yards in Miami, he could significantly eat into Sutton's workload. We still expect Sutton to produce somewhat consistently with Bo Nix at quarterback, but the veteran receiver may no longer be a dependable top-20 wide receiver in fantasy football. Instead, he's falling to more of the mid-range WR3/flex tier. In fact, as it currently stands, he has fallen all the way to WR40 in RotoBaller's latest half-PPR draft rankings for the 2026 fantasy football season.

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Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson has flashed some upside in the past, but he may have trouble carving out a consistent role early in the 2026 season. Initially, it seemed like Wilson might step in as an every-down back ahead of both Zach Charbonnet (knee) and Jadarian Prince, but the fact that he hasn't touched the ball in either preseason game should be concerning. Prince now seems like the favorite to lead Seattle's backfield, winning the job over Wilson, George Holani, and Jelus Jones Jr. In particular, Wilson is no longer the ideal Green Bay running back to roster in redraft or dynasty leagues. RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings have Wilson ranked #73 overall, which makes him more of a name to monitor in a month or two when starters are beginning to get banged up.

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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is a superstar in the NFL, and he could be due for another big year after flirting with the MVP sweepstakes at times last year. Taylor was simply remarkable in the Colts' 10 games prior to the bye, amassing 1,139 rushing yards, 260 receiving yards, and 17 total touchdowns. During that span, he was the overall RB1 in fantasy football, averaging 6.4 points per week more than the second-highest-scoring running back Christian McCaffrey. Taylor's productivity declined after Daniel Jones (Achilles) was shut down for the season, effectively bringing his somewhat improbable MVP candidacy to an end. Assuming he can return to his first-half 2026 form, Taylor should have no trouble turning in another top-five finish. As it stands, he's the RB6 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026.

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Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry may be 32 years old, but he hasn't shown many signs of slowing down. He was the RB8 in PPR leagues last year, with most of his production coming on the ground. He finished the season with 1,595 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, plus an additional 150 receiving yards. Catching passes has never been a core part of Henry's rushing skill set, but he certainly makes up for it with his physicality on runs. Whether it's short yardage or a big gain moving down the field, Henry is capable of fighting through contact for extra yards. The biggest concern for the veteran running back last year was a growing turnover issue. After losing just one fumble across 34 games in 2023 and 2024, he coughed up the football three times last year. That'll be something fantasy managers hope Henry is able to fix, as he's still worth drafting as a top-12 fantasy running back in non-PPR leagues where his limited receiving role won't hurt him too much. He currently ranks as the RB6 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Tre' Harris (undisclosed) continues to be projected as the third option in the receiver room, despite the fact that he has missed the team's first two preseason games due to an undisclosed injury. Even for the duration of his absence, Harris has held on to the No. 3 job without any teammates threatening to take his spot. In fact, we expect him to take a step forward this year and have a much larger role than he did as a rookie in 2025. Last year, as the Bolts' No. 4 receiver, he caught 30 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown. Now that Keenan Allen is gone, he's jumping to third in the pecking order behind just Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. The 24-year-old Ole Miss product currently ranks as the WR65 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for 2026.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah is not expected to make the 53-man roster for Week 1, according to roster projections from Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News. Watkins did have a 15-yard touchdown run during Dallas' last preseason game, but that was the only time he touched the ball during the entire contest. Volume has been hard to come by, and it seems like he'll be the odd man out. "Mafah has done nothing wrong here," Watkins wrote. "[Malik] Davis and [Jaydon] Blue just played better in the preseason." As things stand, it looks like Davis and Blue will round out the backfield behind starter Javonte Williams, with Davis also playing a key role on special teams. Mafah, meanwhile, might need to look for a new team after just one season with the Cowboys. As a rookie last year, he tallied 29 scrimmage yards on seven touches.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin has been Baker Mayfield's top target in camp and during joint practices. Mayfield praised all the team's receivers but said Godwin looks great. "Chris Godwin looks like the best version of Chris Godwin. ... being back in a system that's gonna help him be successful in spots where he does things really well." The Mayfield-to-Godwin connection was on point during joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. With second-year receiver Emeka Egbuka not practicing, Godwin has been the lead receiver in Tampa Bay. Over the last two seasons, he has totaled 83 receptions for 933 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games, though he missed significant time with a broken ankle. With Godwin expected to operate as the slot receiver in Tampa Bay under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, he could be a starting wide receiver in fantasy formats this season.

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Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani may not see the substantial workload everyone expected early in the season. Holani spent last season as the team's RB3 behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, totaling just 88 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 24 attempts. Now with Walker in Kansas City and Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL, Holani seemed to be in line for a solid workload in Week 1. However, the emergence of first-round rookie Jadarian Price could cost him valuable touches. Price will not play in the preseason finale, as the team believes "they've seen enough from him" and that "he's too valuable to risk at this point." There have also been rumors that Charbonnet will return sooner than expected, with his recovery progressing well. Holani's fantasy value in 2026 is starting to look bleak, and he may not be worth spending draft capital on.

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Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne could see a larger workload in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. As a rookie, Etienne totaled 107 scrimmage yards on 23 attempts, spending most of his time on special teams. Now, with starting running back Chuba Hubbard dealing with a hamstring injury, both Etienne and Jonathon Brooks are expected to see more work if Hubbard is unable to return for Week 1. Although Etienne would remain a limited option, the team might involve him early to help ease Brooks back into play, given Brooks' injury history. If Hubbard is able to return to practice soon and play against the Bears, Etienne would likely be phased back into his special teams role with Carolina.

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Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson said on Wednesday that the new run scheme is similar to what he ran in college at Texas. Robinson said, "Obviously, he's had these legendary run schemes, and it's pretty cool just talking to him and seeing how it's all going to develop. But this is what I did in college. I love the plan that he has." At Texas, Robinson totaled 3,410 yards and 33 touchdowns in 31 games, helping him be drafted with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Over the last two seasons, Robinson has totaled over 2,900 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. With Tyler Allgeier now in Arizona, Robinson could potentially lead the league in rushing this season. The star running back should remain one of the top three picks in fantasy drafts this season.

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New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart has found a groove in practice after a slow start to training camp. On Wednesday, Dart completed multiple deep passes, including a 35-yarder to veteran Odell Beckham Jr. and an off-script 40+ yard pass to Darnell Mooney between two defenders. He also excelled in the goal-line period, throwing for four touchdowns and running one in on eight plays. While Dart struggled early in camp, with multiple pre-snap penalties and mistakes, the second-year quarterback has put on a show. Currently ranked QB13 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, Dart offers immense upside, given his running ability and the return of star receiver Malik Nabers for the 2026 season.

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Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (knee), who will not play in the team's preseason finale this week, is expected to be full-go for the Week 1 regular-season opener despite tearing his ACL last year, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Kraft took part in the team's joint practice against the Arizona Cardinals and took a couple of hard hits, but he did not seem to be bothered at all. "I needed some contact like that to wake up the nervous system and get ready for Week 1," said Kraft. The 25-year-old continues to practice despite not having come to an agreement with the team on a contract extension, but Kraft has made it sound like something could get done sooner rather than later. There have been reports that the Packers could put Kraft on a snap count early in the 2026 season as he continues to recover from a season-ending torn ACL, but if Wednesday is any indication, that could be out the window by the time Sept. 13 comes. After catching 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in just eight games last year, Kraft has clear breakout potential and top-five upside at the TE position for fantasy managers in his fourth year in the NFL.

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After an injury scare on Tuesday, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (upper body) returned to training camp practice on Wednesday, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Olave got the wind knocked out of him when he landed hard on his back during practice on Tuesday, and he sat out the rest of practice. It was a brief scare for the team's best pass-catcher, but the 26-year-old is now completely fine and will be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. Second-year quarterback Tyler Shough will continue to lean on Olave, with rookie first-rounder Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) set to miss the beginning of the season. Olave, a former 11th overall pick from Ohio State, was rewarded with a four-year, $132 million contract extension last month after setting career highs in catches (100), targets (156), receiving yards (1,163), and touchdowns (nine) in 2025 in his fourth year in the league. With enough volume in head coach Kellen Moore's up-tempo offense, Olave should continue to have a high floor in 2026, making him at least worthy of low-end WR1 status in fantasy football drafts. He is ranked as RotoBaller's WR10 in half-PPR scoring.

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