We are about six weeks into the new NFL league year, and the draft is approaching this coming week. Players have been moving around via free agency and trades, and these moves have created both better and worse situations for your fantasy football players. Here are 3 fantasy football players losing value in 2026 and the impact this has on dynasty and redraft leagues.
1. Khalil Shakir-Wide Receiver
Khalil Shakir has been heavily discussed since being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Shakir was a later-round pick and was brought in to compete for a complementary role alongside then–star wide receiver Stefon Diggs. However, during those two years, Shakir showed enough promise that Buffalo ultimately decided to trade Diggs to the Houston Texans in April of 2024.
This move gave Shakir a huge opportunity to take a step forward and become a key contributor in fantasy football leagues, especially with quarterback Josh Allen at the helm. In his first year in an expanded role, Shakir improved from 6.7 fantasy points per game in 2023 to 12.2 in 2024. This was a nice jump, but many expected more.
In 2025, fantasy owners hoped 2024 was the start of an upward trend and that Shakir could take another step forward after being more involved in the offense. Instead, he took a step backward, averaging just 10.4 fantasy points per game.
The Bills have been missing a true number-one receiver since trading Diggs. Neither Shakir nor former first-round pick Keon Coleman has fully worked out, so this offseason the Bills traded for wide receiver D.J. Moore.
Moore is coming off his worst fantasy season since his rookie year. In Chicago, he struggled to build chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams, and younger players like Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, and Luther Burden III appeared to surpass him in the pecking order.
This move could be great for Moore owners, but it is very bad for Shakir owners. Moore will immediately enter as Josh Allen’s number-one target. Shakir should see a drop in targets, and his production will likely regress closer to what it was when Diggs was in Buffalo, when he averaged 6.7 points per game.
So what does this mean for Shakir’s fantasy value? In dynasty leagues, he is more of a stash unless someone is willing to overpay in a trade. Moore is 29 years old, so he could decline in the next few years, potentially opening another opportunity for Shakir. He could also eventually move on to a better situation elsewhere.
For the upcoming season, his value has clearly dropped. He will likely produce numbers closer to his 2023 output. He is currently my 52nd-ranked receiver in dynasty leagues and will likely be ranked lower in redraft formats. He will be a late-round pick in redraft leagues, taken in hopes he can maintain something close to his 2024 production despite Moore’s presence.
2. Ricky Pearsall-Wide Receiver
Ricky Pearsall entered the NFL with high expectations, along with questions about when his impact would be felt. He was selected in the first round (No. 31 overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Despite his talent, he joined a crowded offense featuring Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey—all heavily involved in the passing game.
Pearsall was shot during the 2024 preseason and did not debut until Week 7. He had an inconsistent season due to target competition but finished strong with back-to-back games over 18 points in PPR leagues, which generated excitement heading into 2025.
In 2025, Deebo Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders, and Brandon Aiyuk did not play a single snap. This opened the door for a Pearsall breakout. However, injuries struck again. He started strong with over 15 points in PPR leagues in two of the first three games but suffered a PCL injury in Week 4. He never regained momentum and played just nine games.
While Ricky Pearsall has shown some promise in games that he has been able to play he has only played 20 games in his first two season and he has only averaged 9.1 points per game in PPR leagues. This offseason, San Francisco added veteran receiver Mike Evans.
While Mike Evans may not be the same talent that he once was at the age of 32, he should step in as the WR 1 from the start. The 49ers still have George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey, Kittle is coming off a torn ACL, and while he aims to be ready for 2026, that remains uncertain.
Ricky Pearsall is likely going to be the third to fourth option in the offense in the upcoming season. Even if he can stay healthy this upcoming season, how many opportunities will he really have? I do believe that he has talent and maybe he eventually gets a shot to be the guy again. Evans, Kittle and McCaffrey are all aged players, and Pearsall could jump up the rankings for targets quickly over the next couple of years but his outlook for the 2026 season is questionable.
In PPR dynasty leagues I have Pearsall ranked as my 33rd receiver. He is a player that is in a tough situation right now, but he is a former first round pick who has shown he has talent. You know the 49ers want to give him an opportunity to prove his worth as a first round pick and he could very well have that opportunity soon with an aging roster around him, but his immediate impact likely won’t be what Pearsall owners are hoping.
In redraft fantasy football leagues, I will likely have Pearsall lower. Some players below him in dynasty rankings may have more immediate value. However, I won’t have him nearly as low as Shakir. Pearsall has talent and it will be interested to see how involved he can be. He will be worth a shot as a bench player with some upside. If he can stay healthy and Evans, McCaffrey or Kittle have injury issues he could end up having a more prominent role than expected this year.
3. Isiah Pacheco-Running Back
The fall of Isiah Pacheco has not been pretty. Pacheco was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He came in and showed promise that season, enough so that he earned the role as the primary running back in the following 2023 season.
Pacheco averaged 15.3 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues in his sophomore season, and he was being seen as a solid RB2 option that seemed to have good upside and a bright future. However, a fractured fibula early in the 2024 season has totally changed the his trajectory as a fantasy football asset.
He missed 10 weeks, and upon returning, his efficiency dropped significantly—from 4.6 yards per carry in 2023 to 3.7 in 2024. Since then, Kansas City also started using Pacheco in a running back by committee role and his fantasy value has gone from a higher end RB asset to a RB 3 in consistency. Pacheco averaged 6.7 fantasy points per game last year which is his lowest average in his career.
If that wasn’t concerning enough, Pacheco signed with the Detroit Lions this offseason. The Lions have used a dual-back system featuring Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Last season, Gibbs played about 67% of snaps compared to Montgomery’s 37%.
It is bad enough that Pacheco’s time share could move down to a 37% share, but honestly, I think it will be less than that. Montgomery only averaged that kind of share, and he was a much more efficient back. Montgomery averaged 4.5 yards per carry last year to Pacheco’s 3.9 yards per carry. Montgomery also had 8 touchdowns last year to Pacheco’s 1 touchdown.
I don’t see Detroit trusting Pacheco in the same role. Gibbs will likely take on an even larger workload, with Pacheco spelling him as needed.
Pacheco’s fantasy value has plummeted across all formats. In my dynasty PPR rankings, he is not even in my top 200 players. Consensus rankings have him around RB56 and 208 overall. He holds minimal value, but he could be worth stashing if you have roster space. If Gibbs gets injured, Pacheco could step into a valuable role in a high-powered offense.
In redraft leagues, he’s a very late-round dart throw or handcuff option for Gibbs owners. However, I generally prefer younger players with upside in those late rounds.
While all three of these players have shown promise at some point, there are clear concerns. Shakir has fallen into a secondary role and has yet to prove he can handle a larger workload. Pearsall has struggled to stay healthy and may be buried on the depth chart. Pacheco has experienced the steepest decline and is currently unplayable unless circumstances change.
Approach these players cautiously, and make sure your expectations align with their current situations and draft positions.
View my 2026 trade tracker here to keep up with all offseason trades.
View my 2026 free agent tracker here to keep up with all offseason trades.
Take a look at my latest fantasy football rankings here.
Check out more dynasty fantasy football related articles here.
Forged For Football is dedicated to helping dynasty fantasy managers build sustainable championship teams through disciplined strategy and long-term roster construction.
