Fantasy Football Draft Stock Report: Updated September 5, 2026
Fantasy football draft season is nearly over, but player values are still changing.
Injuries, depth-chart movement and changing roles have created several situations fantasy managers need to understand before making their final selections. Some players have gained clearer paths to touches and targets. Others suddenly carry considerably more risk than they did earlier this summer.
Here are eight fantasy football players whose stock is moving as Week 1 approaches.
1. Tyler Allgeier, RB, Arizona Cardinals — Stock Up
Tyler Allgeier suddenly has one of the more interesting early-season opportunities among late-round running backs.
James Conner will begin the season on injured reserve, while rookie Jeremiyah Love has been working his way back from an ankle injury. That creates an opportunity for Allgeier to handle significant work early in the season.
Allgeier has already demonstrated that he can produce when given volume. More importantly for fantasy managers drafting now, his potential workload has changed considerably from where it stood earlier this summer.
FantasyLineups Takeaway: Allgeier has moved beyond being an ordinary depth pick. The possibility of immediate volume makes him one of the more interesting late-round running backs to target.
2. Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants — Stock Up
Cam Skattebo is back after the ankle injury that ended his rookie season.
Before the injury, Skattebo showed that he could contribute both as a runner and receiver. Now healthy entering Year 2, he has a chance to handle a substantial workload in the Giants’ backfield.
New York has other running backs capable of contributing, so fantasy managers shouldn’t assume every game will produce 20-plus touches. But Skattebo’s combination of rushing and receiving ability gives him an attractive fantasy ceiling.
FantasyLineups Takeaway: Skattebo has legitimate RB2 upside if the workload follows. He’s one of the more intriguing running backs available outside the early rounds.
3. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers — Stock Down
Josh Jacobs has become one of the most difficult players to evaluate heading into Week 1.
Jacobs is currently on the Commissioner’s Exempt List and is not permitted to practice or play while he remains there. His initial court appearance has been moved up to September 10, but there is still no established timetable for his return to football activities.
Green Bay’s backfield includes MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks and recently acquired Kaleb Johnson, giving the Packers alternatives while Jacobs is unavailable.
The important distinction for fantasy managers is that Jacobs’ talent hasn’t changed. His availability has.
FantasyLineups Takeaway: Jacobs carries considerably more risk than his normal talent level would suggest. Anyone drafting him needs enough running-back depth to withstand an uncertain absence.
4. DeVonta Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles — Stock Up
The opportunity surrounding DeVonta Smith has changed significantly.
A.J. Brown is now in New England, leaving Smith positioned as Philadelphia’s most established wide receiver. Dontayvion Wicks and rookie Makai Lemon will also be involved, but neither enters the season with Smith’s established role in the Eagles’ passing attack.
That gives Smith an opportunity to command one of the largest target totals of his career.
Philadelphia is also entering the season with a new offensive coordinator, creating another variable for Jalen Hurts and the passing game.
FantasyLineups Takeaway: Smith becoming Philadelphia’s clear top wide receiver gives him considerable upside. Increased target volume could push him firmly into high-end fantasy WR territory.
5. Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans — Stock Up
Houston’s receiving room has been hit hard by injuries.
Jayden Higgins is out for the season, while Tank Dell will begin the year on injured reserve. Houston added Kayshon Boutte, but Nico Collins remains the established centerpiece of the Texans’ passing game.
Collins already commanded 120 targets last season and has demonstrated WR1-level production.
The injuries around him don’t guarantee a massive increase in targets, but they do create an even clearer path for Collins to remain heavily involved in C.J. Stroud’s passing attack.
FantasyLineups Takeaway: Collins already belonged in the WR1 conversation. The changes around him strengthen the case for another high-volume season and give him significant fantasy upside.
6. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders — Stock Up
Brock Bowers already possessed elite fantasy upside. His situation entering 2026 makes him even more interesting.
The Raiders now have Kirk Cousins at quarterback, and Bowers has spent the summer building chemistry with him.
Las Vegas also doesn’t have an established high-volume No. 1 wide receiver. Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech and others will be involved, but Bowers has a legitimate opportunity to function as the centerpiece of the passing game.
That type of target volume is particularly valuable at tight end.
FantasyLineups Takeaway: Bowers isn’t simply one of the best tight ends to draft. His potential volume gives him a legitimate opportunity to finish as the overall TE1 and provide a major weekly positional advantage.
7. George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys — Stock Up
George Pickens’ first season in Dallas produced a massive breakout.
Pickens finished 2025 with 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Instead of cooling off after that career season, the positive reports continued throughout training camp.
CeeDee Lamb remains one of the NFL’s premier receivers and the focal point of the Dallas passing attack. That limits how large Pickens’ target share can become, but playing alongside Lamb also makes it difficult for defenses to consistently concentrate coverage on Pickens.
With Dak Prescott throwing the football and a productive offense around him, Pickens remains positioned for another strong season.
FantasyLineups Takeaway: Some regression after a career year is always possible, but there are enough positives surrounding Pickens to believe another high-end fantasy season is within reach.
8. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, New Orleans Saints — Stock Up
The New Orleans backfield has become one of the more interesting situations entering Week 1.
Travis Etienne Jr. is positioned for a significant role, while Alvin Kamara continues working back from a sprained MCL. Kendre Miller has also dealt with an injury.
Etienne is coming off a season in which he rushed for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 36 receptions for 292 yards and six receiving scores.
If Kamara isn’t ready for the opener or returns with a limited workload, Etienne could begin the season with an even larger role.
FantasyLineups Takeaway: Etienne’s appeal isn’t based solely on Kamara’s Week 1 status. He already has a path to substantial work, and the uncertainty around the rest of the backfield increases his immediate fantasy ceiling.
Three Late-Round Fantasy Football Sleepers to Watch
There are also several deeper names worth monitoring as drafts wrap up.
Jalen Nailor, WR, Las Vegas Raiders has a clearer path to playing time than he had during his years in Minnesota. He has worked with the first-team offense and enters a receiving room without an established target-dominating wide receiver.
Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins has emerged from the summer with an opportunity for regular playing time. He isn’t suddenly Miami’s top target, but his path to meaningful snaps makes him an interesting late-round option in deeper leagues.
Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints enters 2026 as New Orleans’ starting quarterback after showing improvement during the second half of last season. His rushing ability also gives him additional fantasy upside for managers waiting until the final rounds at quarterback.
These aren’t players fantasy managers need to reach for, but they are exactly the type of late-round selections who can become valuable if their opportunities translate into regular-season production.
What Fantasy Managers Should Do Before Their 2026 Draft
The final days before Week 1 provide an important reminder:
Draft the opportunity as much as the player.
Allgeier didn’t suddenly become more talented when Arizona’s backfield changed. Collins didn’t become a better receiver because Houston lost other pass catchers. Smith didn’t suddenly improve when A.J. Brown left Philadelphia.
Their opportunities changed.
And touches, targets and playing time remain some of the biggest drivers of fantasy football production.
The opposite applies to Jacobs. His ability isn’t the primary concern. The uncertainty surrounding when he’ll be available to play is what changes his fantasy value.
That’s why fantasy football rankings should continue changing right up until the season begins.
Get the Latest 2026 Fantasy Football Rankings
FantasyLineups.com continues monitoring injuries, depth charts, player roles and breaking NFL news as Week 1 approaches.
Check our updated 2026 fantasy football QB rankings, RB rankings, WR rankings and TE rankings before making your final draft selections.
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