
Cutdown Sunday brought the domino everyone was bracing for: Josh Jacobs is place on the Commissioner’s Exempt List and a run of cuts and IR moves reshuffled backfields across the league.
📝 News & Notes
Josh Jacobs (GB, RB) was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List, which effectively shelves him to start the season while the league reviews his case. Exempt-list stints have historically run about as long as the eventual suspension, and violence-related discipline typically starts around six games.
My take: Josh Jacobs becomes a double-digit round gamble while Marshawn Lloyd moves into the 6th or 7th round of drafts. I doubt I’ll be taking much of either these final days before the season starts.
Tyler Allgeier (ARI, RB) is the clear winner of James Conner landing on IR (designated to return), which hands him the Cardinals' early-down job while Jeremiyah Love ramps up.
My take: Tyler Allgeier is a perfect zero RB pick as you can likely count on solid usage the first couple weeks while waiting on your other backs to emerge. Beyond that, he’s still not a target for me given how bad the offense will be and Love’s role set to increase.
Javonte Williams (DAL, RB) got a quiet boost when Dallas surprisingly waived hyped rookie Jaydon Blue, thinning the backfield behind him to little more than Malik Davis.
My take: Javonte's a firmer RB2 now at RB16 (round 3), and his path to bell-cow volume just got clearer. Malik Davis (RB69, round 19) also becomes one of the better late-round handcuff RBs.
Emeka Egbuka (TB, WR) is still fighting turf toe and doesn't sound fully out of the woods for Week 1.
My take: I haven’t been taking much of him but I’ll admit I thought this injury would have dropped his ADP. I’ve quietly been drafting more Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and Cade Otton in case this injury lingers.
George Kittle (SF, TE) is expected to practice this week and has a legitimate chance to play the Week 1 opener in Australia, though the tone reads a shade less certain than before.
My take: Week 2 still feels like the safer bet for his debut off the Achilles. Still bullish on him and think in redraft, he’s a great late pick that you can pair with Juwan Johnson or Dallas Goedert to start the year.
Keenan Allen (WR, IND) was arrested on misdemeanor charges for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OVWI) and OVWI endangering a person.
My take: This court case is unlikely to be resolved this year and given Allen’s age, it would make sense for him to just kick this can down the road and resolve it after the season ends (and he likely retires). Not adjusting my ranks.
Elsewhere: the IR pile grew, with Tank Dell (Texans), Christian Kirk (49ers) and Devin Neal (Saints) all starting the year there; Jarquez Hunter's Dolphins run ended in a cut three days after the trade for him; and Keaton Mitchell (Chargers) avoided IR, a small win for his outlook.
🔗 Around the Web
A video and two reads to lock your board before Week 1.
🎥 Fantasy Football Today: Jamey's FINAL Do Not Draft List: 5 Most Surprising Fades for 2026: the names to cross off before your last drafts.
ESPN: Best Picks From Each Draft Slot in 10-Team Leagues, Rounds 1 and 2: slot-by-slot targets for your final drafts.
ESPN: Field Yates' PPR Rankings, Top 160 for 2026: a fresh top-160 to check against your board.
📆 NFL Countdown
9 days until the NFL season kicks off (Patriots at Seahawks)
13 days until Week 1 Sunday and the fantasy season begins
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