Fantasy Football Draft Weekend
It’s here: fantasy football draft weekend! We’ve got some great printable PPR drafting tiers for you, plus overall rankings to help you and your friends get your rosters ready for the 2026 NFL season. There’s been some injury news trickling in, and we’re still waiting on updates regarding injuries and suspensions. If you’re gearing up for your draft, you’ll want to catch up on the latest developments, which we’ve included below along with a downloadable link to my overall PPR rankings for 2026!
Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes is back in action after an ACL tear last season. How effective he’ll actually be remains to be seen, but it looks like their offensive strategy will lean more towards the run compared to previous seasons. The Chiefs plan to utilize Kenneth Walker as a three-down back, and I think he’ll likely prove to be more effective than the running backs the team has used in the past.
Michael Penix Jr., Falcons
Penix Jr. has returned to practice and, once he’s fully ready, we expect him to reclaim his starting position. In the meantime, Tua Tagovailoa will take the lead. Most reports about Tua’s performance this summer have been pretty lackluster, but hopefully, he can maintain his accuracy on short throws to get the ball to Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts quickly.
Josh Jacobs
Jacobs has been placed on the NFL’s exempt list as the league investigates allegations related to domestic abuse. This gives them a lot of options; he could remain on the list for the entire season, or they might issue a shorter, undefined suspension. At this point, I really don’t see a reason to draft him. Sure, if he drops to the 12th round or later, it might be worth a shot, but I’d rather gamble on someone like Marshawn Lloyd, who’s likely to start.
Devin Jeanty
Jeanty injured his ankle during practice and is pushing to be ready by Week 1. The team seems optimistic about rookie RB Mike Washington, so I doubt they’ll rush Jeanty back. Honestly, I think caution would be the best approach to begin the season. We’ll see how he progresses in the final days of practice.
Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks
Charbonnet is on the PUP list, meaning he’ll miss at least the first four games. While reports have been generally positive regarding his recovery, it would be a bit surprising if he comes back in Week 5 and plays a significant role right away. In the meantime, Jadarian Price is currently leading the pack; if he performs well early on, that could solidify his position even more.
Jeremiyah Love, Cardinals
Love is dealing with a high ankle sprain, and while there’s a chance he could play in Week 1, I wouldn’t count on it; those types of injuries can be tricky. However, he isn’t starting the season on the PUP list, which is a good sign. Until he returns, Tyler Allgeier will take the lead.
Keaton Mitchell, Chargers
Mitchell is currently out with an unspecified injury, casting doubt on his availability for Week 1. He wasn’t placed on the PUP list, suggesting the team thinks he won’t miss a significant amount of time, but we need more information before making any decisions.
Jonathon Brooks and Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
Brooks is back after missing two seasons due to injuries, which is fantastic news! However, right now, it’s unclear who will emerge as the primary back. Both seem healthy enough and should see some playing time. The team has confidence in Hubbard, so Brooks will need to perform strongly to become the clear starter.
Isiah Pacheco
Pacheco has been put on the PUP list due to a back injury and will be out for at least four games. Rookie Jacob Saylors has claimed the No. 2 RB position behind Jahmyr Gibbs, making him a worthwhile pick as a handcuff, especially with Pacheco’s return being uncertain.
TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots
Henderson has been sidelined with an ankle injury for the past couple of weeks. The severity of it hasn’t been clearly communicated, but at least he hasn’t landed on the PUP list. His availability for Week 1 looks questionable; however, there’s a chance he could return to practice soon.
Nick Monangai
Monangai is also facing a knee issue that has him listed as week-to-week, putting his Week 1 participation in doubt. D’Andre Swift is expected to see an increased role, but he was already poised to take over as the primary back.
Ladarius Burden
It seems Burden’s groin injury is now behind him. His potential this year is quite high, so don’t let him slip too far down your draft board.
Makai Nabers
Nabers has resumed practice after recovering from an ACL injury. As long as he has no setbacks, he should be ready for Week 1, but there’s a possibility he could be on a limited snap count while easing back in.
Kelvin Egbuka
Egbuka is dealing with a toe injury, and the team hasn’t shared much about it. If it turns out to be turf toe, that could be worrying. However, he’s not on the PUP list and should be back sooner rather than later, although some concern lingers.
Tyson
Tyson is on the PUP list and will miss at least the first four games due to a hamstring injury. I wouldn’t rely on him until closer to mid-season. His potential is significant, so if you have an IR spot available, it might be worth putting him there.
Zach Evans
Evans missed part of the preseason with an abductor injury, but it seems they were taking precautions. He’s back at practice as the team gears up for their game in Australia on Wednesday. While he remains an injury risk, he should be a solid addition to the 49ers offense when healthy.
George Kittle
In what seems like a miraculous turn of events, Kittle has recovered from his Achilles injury much faster than expected! He’s traveling with the team to Australia and has a chance to play in Week 1. While his age and rapid recovery raise some eyebrows, if he takes the field, he’s definitely a must-start tight end.
Luke Kraft
Kraft has had a longer recovery period from his knee injury compared to Kittle, and he should also be ready for Week 1. If he can maintain the form he showed at the start of last season, his potential is genuinely exciting.
