Here we are. The offseason is quickly coming to an end, and the regular season will be here before you know it. But first, we have the all-important training camp. Rookies for multiple teams have already reported to work, and by the middle of next week, all 32 teams will be on the field in full force.
We've spent a lot of time using the Notebook to take in-depth looks at the shifting circumstances that impact player values every year. Now it's time to regroup, take stock, and reset the roles and competitions that will unfold over the next month.
For those of you who have been diligently following all offseason, this will be a recap. For those who didn't? No better time than the present to start getting ahead of the competition.
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This week, we're reviewing new faces in new places. We started on Monday with Backfields in Motion. Tuesday, it was Receiving Assets Getting Fresh Starts. Yesterday was Quarterbacks Huddling Up with New Teams.
Today, we'll pivot to . . .
Injuries, Rehabs, and Recoveries That Will Shape Our Drafts
Since the list of players coming off injuries is lengthy, we'll focus on the higher-end fantasy prospects here. Players you'll almost certainly see drafted in your home leagues. Fantasy managers who stay on top of these situations may find meaningful draft discounts or, depending on the recovery, avoid a costly mistake.
Two Players, Different Expectations
Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers is expected to work his "way into practice as [training] camp gets started in one way or another," head coach John Harbaugh said last week.
The receiver sustained an ACL tear last season in Week 4 against the Chargers. Initially, the timing of the injury suggested he would have enough time to be ready for the start of the 2026 season. However, Nabers underwent a clean-up procedure to remove scar tissue from his knee in the spring.
Harbaugh added that Nabers and teammate Cam Skattebo, who is recovering from a season-ending ankle injury, are both on schedule and doing better each day. The coach said that while Skattebo is further ahead than Nabers, "based on the type of injury, Malik is not far behind. He's in a good place right now."
With all the uncertainty, Nabers' Average Draft Position (ADP) has fallen to WR17.
That third-round price leaves a lot of room for upside -- but obviously comes with considerable risk at this point. We'll all be eager to see what the plan is for Nabers when training camp opens and we start to gain clarity on his progress.
Skattebo is expected to participate early in training camp.
As Empire Sports Media's Alexander Wilson suggested, early participation is not the same thing as a full green light for every drill, every contact rep, or every preseason series. Still, Skattebo has already been seen doing individual work and taking part in team periods during the offseason program, so the ramp-up has been heading in the right direction for a while.
A healthy August gives Skattebo time to regain his timing in the run game and get back into the pass-protection work that is harder to judge in spring practices.
He was RB10 when he went down in Week 8. But he wasn't a starter until Week 4. In his four fully healthy games as the starter, Skattebo was RB5.
His current Footballguys projection, RB18, and ADP, RB19 (going with the 43rd pick overall), make him an appealing upside play.
Similar Situation, Different Team
Daniel Jones, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 14, progressed to 7-on-7 work during the team's offseason program, and the Colts quarterback expects to do everything at camp.
"I'm doing everything. Cleared to do everything," Jones said last week. "I think it's just about, at this point, sharpening that, getting more explosive, getting stronger, improving what you can do. I can do everything and feel really good doing it."
Jones finished his abbreviated inaugural season in Indy, completing 261 of 384 passes (career-best completion rate of 68 percent) for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He also scored five rushing touchdowns.
Although he was QB10 when his season ended in Week 14, Jones was QB5 over the first 10 games.
Even if you're not convinced Jones will be ready to go Week 1, investing a 13th-round pick to land him as your second quarterback could pay off in a big way.
Of course, it would be great if he had his newly minted WR1 available from the get-go.
But Alec Pierce may miss the first few weeks of the 2026 season, according to coach Shane Steichen.
Reports about Pierce's ankle surgery came out shortly after he signed his $114 million extension. It's hard to imagine the Colts would have offered him that without knowledge of the injury, but it was downplayed early on.
This was the first report we've heard about a return timeline, and it's concerning.
The team didn't sign him to a four-year, $114 million extension in March and part with Michael Pittman Jr. in the process for Pierce to be anything but their top downfield weapon.
The question is, will he deliver?
If Pierce has to miss any time, the lack of a vertical threat could cause Jonathan Taylor to see more stacked fronts.