As we start to get through training camp and some of these preseason games, it’s time to keep our eyes on some injuries that have occurred. Injuries are always going to be a major part of fantasy football, but this time of year can open the door for other players to step into bigger roles.
Disclaimer: I’m not a medical doctor, so I’m not here to diagnose these injuries or predict exact recovery timelines. This is based on what I’ve read from injury reports, team updates, and other available information. My focus is on the fantasy football and dynasty reactions to each injury—whether we should be concerned, buy the dip, sell, or target another player who could benefit.
We will discuss the fantasy impact these injuries could have and some players to keep in mind as potential replacements if things take a turn for the worse.
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Kenyon Sadiq | Hernia Injury
Tight end Kenyon Sadiq suffered a minor setback in early August during training camp following his initial offseason hernia surgery. While it seems Sadiq could be ready for Week 1, he has missed plenty of time during his first offseason as a rookie. Not having the opportunity to fully participate and develop in the offense could lead to a slow start for Sadiq in the 2026 season. Let’s not forget the team drafted Mason Taylor last season, so he may have a chance to keep Sadiq from taking off as quickly as many expected from a first-round tight end.
Takeaway: Mason Taylor may have some value early in the season while Sadiq gets back up to speed. Sadiq could become a good buy-low candidate for a second-half breakout, similar to what we saw from Colston Loveland.
San Francisco 49ers | Everything Injury
The 49ers need to make a move because injuries are already piling up. We’ve seen Ricky Pearsall get lost for the season, backup running back Jordan James suffer a fractured rib in late July, Christian McCaffrey deal with some tightness, and Christian Kirk get sidelined with a calf sprain. Even Mike Evans has been dealing with some quad issues, while George Kittle remains on the PUP list.
The writing is already on the wall for dynasty managers who own 49ers players: proceed with caution. Outside of Pearsall, we’ll likely see most of these players back and ready for Week 1, but the number of injuries this early is concerning. While you could look at this as a potential buy-low window, I’d rather avoid investing heavily in the 49ers until we see this offense get healthy.
Takeaway: Try not to have too many 49ers players that you need to rely on in your starting lineup. Look toward some of the backup running backs and De’Zhaun Stribling as options to acquire before the season, as they could become important dynasty pieces by midseason.
Isiah Pacheco | MCL Sprain Injury
Backup running back Isiah Pacheco suffered an MCL sprain, which is reportedly a mild-to-moderate Grade 1 injury. Reports suggest that he should be ready for Week 1, but Pacheco has dealt with too many injuries throughout his career to already be hurt before the season begins. I expected Pacheco to be a sleeper option for fantasy managers who needed a bench running back with top-40 upside. Pacheco has missed time in each of the last three seasons, so it’s not comforting to see him injured already despite the expected Week 1 return.
Takeaway: Hope Pacheco is ready to go for Week 1 and can be productive in a David Montgomery-lite role. Also, in deeper dynasty leagues, keep an eye on who wins the RB3/4 jobs for the team, as they could see value at some point during the season.
Luther Burden | Groin Injury
Potential breakout star Luther Burden took a bit of an injury hit, which is disappointing for dynasty managers who were ready to see him take off. He suffered a groin injury that is expected to keep him out for roughly a month, putting him on track for a potential Week 1 return. The Bears remain hopeful he’ll be ready for the season opener, but groin injuries can be tricky, so this is something worth monitoring.
This may open a small buy-low window on Burden if his dynasty managers are concerned about the injury right before the season. It could also prop up Rome Odunze to see a more consistent and higher target share, while opening the door for a player like Jahdae Walker, who flashed near the end of last season, to earn more opportunities while Burden is sidelined.
Takeaway: Proceed with caution if you have Burden. It seems like everything is still on track for him to return around Week 1, but there is some risk with a soft-tissue injury. As someone who was already taking Odunze over Burden for 2026, this injury only strengthens my belief that Odunze should be the WR1 in the Bears offense.
Alec Pierce | Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) List
Recently-paid receiver Alec Pierce remains on the PUP list as he continues to recover from offseason ankle surgery. There was some concern after reports surfaced that Pierce received a second PRP injection, but Colts GM Chris Ballard clarified that Pierce did not receive a second injection and is making good progress in his recovery. The team still expects him to be ready for Week 1, but the fact that he remains sidelined this late into training camp is something fantasy managers need to monitor.
I’m fading Pierce for the 2026 season because of the missed offseason work, but he could be a good buy-low for rebuilding dynasty teams. He is still just 26 years old, is coming off a 1,003-yard season, and the Colts just paid him to be a major piece of their offense. Tyler Warren and Josh Downs should benefit if Pierce misses time or starts the season slowly. For deeper dynasty leagues, Deion Burks and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine are two names to watch while Pierce remains sidelined.
Takeaway: Buy the dip on Pierce in dynasty, especially if you’re looking toward future seasons. For 2026, though, there should be some concern that all this missed time could lead to a slower-than-expected or down year.
Josh Jacobs | Groin Injury
Running back Josh Jacobs suffered a groin injury that has kept him out for over a week and will cause him to miss the Packers first preseason game. Head coach Matt LaFleur said Jacobs will be out for “at least this week,” but it doesn’t seem like the team views this as a serious issue right now. Still, a big-name running back getting hurt before the season is never good, especially with a groin injury that could potentially linger.
Hopefully, this isn’t something that follows Jacobs into the regular season. For dynasty managers who have Jacobs, this could be a small window to buy MarShawn Lloyd. Lloyd has been working with the first-team offense in Jacobs’ absence and has been one of the bright spots of Packers camp.
Takeaway: There are some yellow flags with Jacobs, but there’s no reason to panic yet. He should have plenty of time to get healthy for Week 1, and hopefully this groin injury doesn’t become an issue during the season.
Emeka Egbuka | Toe Injury
Buccaneers receiver Emeka Egbuka gave us a scare after going down during Wednesday’s joint practice with the Jets. Egbuka was noticeably limping after the play and was unable to finish practice, which initially made the injury seem much worse than it ultimately was. Thankfully, it is being reported as a minor toe injury, and Egbuka is considered day to day.
This is great news for dynasty managers, as there doesn’t appear to be much concern about Egbuka missing significant time. He may miss some preseason action as the Buccaneers play it safe, but for now, this shouldn’t change how we view him heading into the 2026 season.
Takeaway: Egbuka should be fine, and there is no real reason to worry at this point. Monitor the toe injury over the next week, but this looks like Tampa Bay avoided a potentially serious injury.
Chuba Hubbard | Hamstring Injury
Panthers 1A running back Chuba Hubbard is considered week-to-week with a hamstring injury. Head coach Dave Canales called it a “legit hamstring” injury but said the team is still very confident Hubbard will be ready for Week 1. His absence will allow potential breakout Jonathon Brooks to get an extended look with the first-team offense during the preseason.
This isn’t the best news for a veteran running back who already had his back against the wall in a battle for the starting job. Even if Hubbard returns by Week 1, missing a week or two could be all Brooks needs to make a strong case to take over as the 1A in this backfield. On the other side, this could create another potential buy-low opportunity for Hubbard, who already isn’t a hot commodity in the dynasty community.
Takeaway: There should be some concern that Hubbard goes from the 1A to the 1B over the rest of the month and loses some of his FLEX value to start the season, even if he’s back by Week 1. Meanwhile, this injury only shoots Brooks’ dynasty hype even further through the roof.
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