Auction Watch: September 4, 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.

LaPorta is back to full speed after a hip scare

Lions tight end Sam LaPorta missed practice time this week with a hip injury that left head coach Dan Campbell unsure he would be ready for the opener, but LaPorta returned to practice on Tuesday and worked through team drills with no visible limitations, per ESPN and CBS Sports. He is now on track for the September 13 game against the Saints. Keep his price at his established TE1 tier. This looks like a scare that already resolved in practice, not a real hit to his workload.

Jeanty is trending up but still not full-go

Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty has progressed from the low ankle sprain he suffered in an August 23 practice, returning to side-field work this week. General manager John Spytek said he is in a "good spot," and head coach Klint Kubiak said he is optimistic Jeanty plays in the September 13 opener against the Dolphins, per ESPN and Yahoo Sports. He has not yet been cleared for full team drills, so some Week 1 risk remains. Keep him priced as a top-tier back for the season, but shade his price down slightly for the chance he opens on a snap count.

Nabers shed the red jersey but won't commit to Week 1

Giants receiver Malik Nabers practiced without his red non-contact jersey for the first time since tearing his ACL and meniscus, a real step forward in his recovery, but he stayed noncommittal about playing in the September 13 opener against the Cowboys, saying the call will be made closer to game day, per CBS Sports. Head coach John Harbaugh called it "reasonable to assume" that Nabers plays. Price him as a locked-in WR1 for the season, but do not bank on him for Week 1 points.

Falcons hand Week 1 to Tua, not Penix

The Falcons' initial depth chart lists Tua Tagovailoa as the starting quarterback, with Michael Penix Jr. left off the chart entirely as an "injured player" while he keeps working back from his knee injury, per NBC Sports and Yahoo Sports. That is the clearest signal yet that Penix will not be ready for the opener. Treat Tagovailoa as this week's streaming option, and hold Penix's price to a wait-and-see plan rather than assuming he plays Week 1.