Auction Watch: August 26, 2026

Today's auction-relevant signals, each with the player named and what it means for your bids. Verified from reputable reporting; values are projections, not guarantees.

Pearsall is done for the year in San Francisco

49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will have season-ending surgery on his right knee to repair a torn PCL, general manager John Lynch confirmed, with a recovery window of six to twelve months, per ESPN, NFL.com and CBS Sports. The knee had bothered him since a Week 4 injury last season and never fully settled down through camp. Cross Pearsall off your board entirely. His target share in Kyle Shanahan's offense is now up for grabs, and it is heading straight to the next name on this list.

Deebo Samuel is back in San Francisco, and he inherits Pearsall's role

The 49ers brought Deebo Samuel Sr. back on a one-year deal worth up to $7 million, signed one day after Pearsall landed on season-ending injured reserve, per Yahoo Sports and the SF Standard. Coach Kyle Shanahan says the two sides had been talking for weeks and the timing was not purely a reaction to the injury, but the move still hands Samuel a clear path to snaps alongside Mike Evans. Pay Samuel like a real piece of this passing game, not a camp afterthought. The same depth chart squeeze is pushing veteran Christian Kirk toward the roster bubble ahead of Sunday's cutdown, per multiple outlets, so do not spend a dollar on Kirk anywhere.

Burden's groin injury will cost him the preseason, not Week 1

Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III is expected to miss the rest of the preseason with a groin injury suffered in practice, but he remains on track for Chicago's September 13 opener against Carolina, per FantasyPros and Yahoo Sports. Burden had been one of the fastest risers of camp before he got hurt, and the injury has already knocked him down a few spots in ADP. Take the discount the market is already pricing in rather than avoiding him outright, since a groin strain with a clear Week 1 target is a buying opportunity, not a red flag.

Mitchell is locking down the Jets' WR2 job over a first-round rookie

Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell is on track to open the season as the starter opposite Garrett Wilson, drawing rave reviews at camp and building chemistry with the quarterbacks throwing his way, per SI and the team's own reporting. Rookie Omar Cooper Jr., the 30th overall pick, is instead settling in behind Mitchell as the No. 3 option. Price Mitchell like a real starter in a full-time role, and treat Cooper as a late-round dart rather than a Week 1 lock.

Hall's groin strain is a minor speed bump, not a red flag

Jets running back Breece Hall left practice early with a groin injury and is expected to miss two to three weeks, but coach Aaron Glenn called it minor, and the expectation is that Hall will be ready for the September opener at Tennessee, per CBS Sports, NFL.com and ESPN. This is the kind of preseason injury that costs practice reps, not draft stock. Do not chase a discount that is not really there, since Hall's price should barely move.