- Ricky Pearsall‘s injury history is adding up: The former first-round pick is now sidelined for all of 2026, making him a possible cut candidate in any fantasy format.
- A.J. Barner may have targets siphoned: The emergence of second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo could complicate the picture for the Seahawks.
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Now that training camp is in full flow, roster spots and depth charts are beginning to take shape. Be it through outstanding or lackluster play, or the horrid inevitability of injuries, fantasy general managers preparing for the season ahead will have their finger on the pulse of where opportunity lies and where it is fading.
So, after the opening stanzas of camp, who is up and who is down?
Down: WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers
Pearsall has endured a brutal, injury-riddled NFL career to date. The former first-rounder was shut down for the season with an LCL injury that flared up in camp and will now have to prepare for a vital 2027 campaign.
The former Florida Gator has featured in just 20 regular-season games since he was drafted in 2024. When he is on the field, he has been effective. That’s evidenced by his 75.3 PFF receiving grade in 2025, where he turned 36 catches into 528 yards at a 14.7 yards-per catch-average — which ranked 12th in among receivers with at least 50 targets.
Pearsall owners in dynasty formats should hold him, if they have the roster space, given he has flashed his potential. But at this stage, his injuries have seriously damaged his value to the point where he is a credible cut candidate in all fantasy formats.
Up: QB Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
Sanders is locked in a battle with Deshaun Watson for the starting quarterback job in Cleveland, and so far, it seems the former is the clubhouse leader for the job. Watson opened Browns camp with a rough day, including interceptions on back-to-back plays. Days later, he tossed three picks (to one by Sanders).
Sanders finished as the QB37 last season with just 96.9 points from seven starts, representing a barely rosterable option. He was also the lowest-graded qualified passer with a 42.3 PFF passing grade.
If a fantasy general manager needs a low-end QB for depth purposes, or a viable QB4 in dynasty formats, then Sanders is a reasonable option — especially given that Cleveland upgraded its receiving corps this offseason with Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion in the draft to go along with Jerry Jeudy and budding star tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
Before Watson’s Achilles injury in 2024, he posted a very pedestrian 67.3 overall PFF grade through seven stars, recording a career-low 5.3 yards per attempt. His up-and-down start to camp has put Sanders in the driver’s seat.
Down: TE AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks
Full disclosure, this is a coward's way out because I didn’t have the space to write another winner. Really, this is more about second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo’s stellar start to camp rather than anything Barner has done wrong. But for fantasy purposes, Arroyo’s early emergence may have some managers sweating on Barner’s potential breakout campaign.
Last season, Arroyo finished as the TE50, while Barner was the TE14. Entering this offseason, there was much chatter as to whether Barner could climb into true TE1 range rather than if Arroyo could become fantasy-relevant.
Drafted 50th overall in 2025, Arroyo caught just 15 passes for 179 yards, one touchdown and a 52.3 PFF receiving grade. If the former Miami Hurricane continues to build on his impressive summer into the pre-season and September, then Barner may have to share his targets more evenly, potentially meaning he may sit around the 64-target mark again this season.
As a fantasy asset, Arroyo has very little value in redraft leagues given the Seahawks’ offense revolves around reigning Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But in deeper dynasty leagues, Arroyo is now worth a stash as injury insurance to one of Seattle’s pass-catchers if nothing else.
Up: RB Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars’ running back room has been full of question marks since Travis Etienne took his talents to The Big Easy with the New Orleans Saints. Would Tuten get a workhorse role? Would Chris Rodriguez Jr feature heavily?
As camp has started, it’s become clear that Tuten possesses the juice to supercharge the Jags’ ground attack with reports he’s broken off at least one explosive run in each practice. Tuten posted a solid 66.4 PFF rushing grade in his rookie season, though he was limited to just 83 carries.
Jacksonville’s offensive line generated a respectable 74.6 PFF run-blocking grade in 2025, enough for Tuten to work with to propel him to a fantasy-relevant role in 2026. His 3.22 yards after contact per attempt was 12th among qualifying backs, meaning even if the blocking isn’t there, Tuten can make something out of nothing.
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