Fantasy Empire - Players You NEED to Move Up - NFL Injury Fallout - 2026 Fantasy Football

A.J. Brown is considered a top-tier wide receiver whose selection off the board creates a 'dry spot' in drafts, forcing managers to reach for the next tier of receivers.

Alec Pierce is a fade due to conflicting reports regarding his injury and a lack of progress in returning to the field. His ADP has dropped from the fifth to the seventh round, but he remains an avoid.

Nelson is high on Carnell Tate, though he acknowledges that settling for him as a WR2 is a consequence of prioritizing running backs early in the draft.

Chris Godwin is being drafted earlier than his typical sixth-round ADP in high-stakes drafts, with analysts noting that managers are forced to adapt to the market's aggression.

Christian McCaffrey is dealing with tightness, but there is no major concern. However, his heavy workload from last season (leading the league in touches) makes him a risky bet at age 30.

Colton Loveland is identified as a major beneficiary of the injury situation surrounding Luther Burden, as the team's target distribution may shift in his favor.

Allen is a speculative late-round pick in Kansas City. Given the injury concerns surrounding Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice, Allen could potentially carve out a role in the offense.

D'Andre Swift is considered a solid RB2 option in the fifth round, providing value even when drafted after early-round wide receiver investments.

Dallas Goedert is undervalued at his current draft price. With AJ Brown gone, he is positioned as the clear number two option in the offense and could pay off significantly.

Stribling is a target for the 49ers' receiving corps, as he is younger and healthier than the veteran options on the roster. He is expected to carve out a significant role during the regular season.

Boston is a rising prospect who is now seeing reps with the first-team offense. Steve Smith compared him to Drake London, and his draft stock is expected to climb as more people take notice of his camp performance.

Dontayvion Wicks is a primary beneficiary of the current Eagles injury situation and is trending toward taking over the number two role in the offense.

Drake London is identified as a high-priority wide receiver who, along with A.J. Brown, triggers a significant tier gap in drafts, causing managers to shift their strategies to secure him early.

Drake Maye is considered a clear tier-break quarterback, with his selection in the sixth round praised as a strong move to secure an elite quarterback edge.

Emeka Egbuka is highlighted as a target that managers will aggressively move up to secure once the top-tier wide receivers are off the board.

George Kittle is becoming a more bullish target as other players go down with injuries. He is a high-upside veteran who can produce numbers few other tight ends can, especially in the second half of the season.

With Kyler Murray named the Vikings' starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy's draft stock is expected to remain stable, as his current ADP already accounted for the uncertainty.

Dobbins left practice with trainers, raising concerns about his injury history; however, there is no official update yet. Despite the risk, he remains a solid veteran pick for early-season lineup stability while waiting for younger prospects like Trey Henderson or Jonathan Brooks to develop.

J.K. Dobbins left practice with trainers, raising concerns due to his history of soft tissue injuries. There is no official update, but his injury history makes him a risky asset.

J.K. Dobbins is back in pads and practicing, which is viewed as a positive development that renders previous injury concerns a 'nothing burger.'

Jadarian Price is viewed as an upside pick with the potential to be a breakout running back, making him a valuable target in the middle rounds.

Nelson targeted James Cook as a foundational piece for his draft build from the 11 hole, viewing him as a potential difference-maker.

There is no significant concern regarding Jaden Reed's status; it is too early in the preseason to worry about his availability.

Jalen Waddle's current injury is not a major concern yet, but missing more than another week of practice would be problematic due to the need for chemistry development with a new quarterback.

While Jeremiah Love is acknowledged for his talent, there is skepticism regarding his situation, leading some analysts to prefer wide receivers in that draft range.

Coleman is viewed as a potential three-down back who has impressed coaches with his pass-blocking ability in practice, a significant improvement over previous expectations. He is a strong target who may share goal-line work with Dobbins.

Jonathon Brooks is considered a high-upside 'lottery ticket' running back who can provide significant value if selected in the seventh round.

Jordan James is a preferred late-round target (rounds 18-20) over Kalen Black because he already knows the offensive system. He could provide value if McCaffrey misses time.

Mason is a prime candidate to rise significantly in ADP if the Vikings signal he is the primary starter over Aaron Jones. He is currently undervalued with room to jump into the top 70-80 picks.

Jordan Tyson is expected to be a fifth-round fixture in drafts based on his performance in training camp clips.

Josh Downs is a value target who has returned to practice. His ADP has not risen as much as expected, and he could potentially move into the fifth-round range as he cements his role.

Concerns persist regarding Jefferson's fantasy outlook due to the uncertain quarterback situation in Minnesota, leading some to rank him behind other top-tier wide receivers like CeeDee Lamb.

Mitchell is expected to have a distinct, separate role in the offense, similar to the usage of De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert in previous Mike McDaniel-led schemes. He is a valuable late-round target.

Sadiq is currently undraftable due to a setback following hernia surgery. He is expected to be behind in learning the offense, making him a player to monitor on waivers rather than draft.

Despite a one-month injury timeline, Luther Burden remains a buy-the-dip candidate. His ADP has dropped from the middle of the third round to the fourth or even early fifth, providing value for a player expected to be ready for opening day.

Makai Lemon is going too high in drafts given the crowded Eagles offense and his recurring injury issues, including a missed OTA period and current camp absence.

Nabers is expected to climb draft boards toward the 1-2 turn as drafters prioritize clear WR1s. There is a debate regarding his ranking relative to Justin Jefferson, with some analysts preferring Nabers due to quarterback stability concerns in Minnesota.

Malik Nabers is expected to rise into the 11-15 overall range in high-stakes drafts as managers prioritize elite wide receivers after the top tier is exhausted.

Washington is a sneaky late-round target who is developing strong chemistry with his quarterback. He is projected to potentially catch 5-6 passes per week in a high-volume passing offense.

Mark Andrews is being slept on, though there are concerns about his role as the second option behind Zay Flowers. He is viewed as a productive veteran tight end.

Lloyd is considered a high-upside target, though he is currently being drafted alongside Jonah Coleman. The analysts suggest drafting both if possible to capitalize on their respective potential.

While Matthew Golden is slightly more concerning than Jaden Reed due to being newer to the offense, there is no real news or cause for alarm regarding his injury status.

Nelson selected Michael Pittman as a 'steady' wide receiver option, preferring his reliability over the high-variance 'home run' upside of other available receivers.

Mike Evans is a fade due to his history of nagging injuries. He is currently dealing with a quad contusion, and if he misses another week of practice, his ADP will likely slide from the fourth to the fifth round.

Washington is a rising target in the fourth round of drafts, with analysts favoring him over veterans like Mike Evans and DJ Moore due to his role in a high-powered offense and positive training camp reports.

Harvey is described as an unsexy, low-buzz pick who is expected to maintain a role in the passing game. His goal-line usage remains a question mark, with potential competition from Dobbins and Coleman.

Dobbs is getting buzz for his rapport with Drake Maye and could serve as a solid WR2/flex option. However, he is expected to be an inconsistent producer who may frustrate fantasy managers with boom-or-bust weeks.

Bigsby is being talked up in Philadelphia camp as a potential contributor who could help lighten the load for Saquon Barkley. He is a candidate to move up draft boards as a potential RB2.

Ferguson is viewed as a high-upside 'zero or hero' target who has moved from an 18th-round pick to the 11th-13th round. He is considered a 'move tight end' who could emerge as the Rams' third option behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, especially given the injury history of the veteran receivers. Matt Kelley holds over 50% ownership, noting that the crowded tight end room keeps his price low, but he could be a top-six weekly option if a starter misses time.

Ferguson is rising in ADP, moving from the 18th round to the 11th round in some drafts. He is viewed as a key target due to the lack of depth in his team's wide receiver room.

Travis Kelce is viewed as an older tight end who is currently the second option in his offense behind Rashee Rice.

Harris is viewed as a sleeper who will beat his current ADP, with expectations that he could emerge as the Chargers' WR2 this season.

Despite initial plans to fade him, Craft looks healthy and is moving well in camp. He is considered a potential steal in the 8th or 9th round, with the upside to produce as a top-tier tight end if he maintains his previous form.

Tucker Kraft is viewed by some as an elite top-five tight end, making him a viable flex option in specific roster constructions.

Tyler Warren is a strong value pick in the fifth or sixth round, allowing drafters to build a heavy wide receiver core early before securing him.

Charbonnet is coming off an ACL injury suffered late in the season and is viewed as part of a messy committee backfield. The analysts are fading him due to the injury and his performance last year.

Zay Flowers is dealing with a thigh contusion, but there is no cause for concern; he is a veteran who will be relied upon as the team's number one option all year, and the team is simply being cautious during the preseason.

Zay Flowers returned to practice, alleviating concerns regarding his health status.