Fantasy Football News: Josh Jacobs, Aaron Donald, Keenan Allen and More

It was a busy couple days in the NFL, as the preseason ended and teams cut down their rosters. There was also some notable news that forced some other roster decisions.

Let's go over some notable NFL news that has fantasy football implications!

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Packers Add RB as Jacobs Hits Exempt List

The Green Bay Packers running back room changed a good bit on Sunday. Lead back Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner's exempt list, and the team traded for Kaleb Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers to help bolster the RB room.

Jacobs was recently charged with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property following a May arrest. His future in Green Bay is in question now, and there's a chance we saw the last of Jacobs in green and gold.

Jacobs' ADP right now is 39.86. That should plummet with him now ineligible to play games. His court date is in mid-November, and he could stay on the exempt list that entire time, so his fantasy outlook is severely hampered, while still muddy.

I'd do my best to stay away from Jacobs in fantasy leagues. If you can stash him in an IR spot, or on the end of your bench in a really deep league, then some might go that route. I'd simply look for another fantasy RB to roster, because I don't know if we see Jacobs at all in 2026.

The Packers' RB room now consists of MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks and Johnson. It's an uninspiring trio, and I'm not so sure the Packers are done adding to that room.

Lloyd will be a big-time riser after the Jacobs' news. Lloyd's ADP is 191.57 right now. He's worth drafting later in standard redraft leagues, and definitely drafting in deeper leagues. Lloyd has a chance to lead the backfield all season, but injuries should hold him back from being drafted too early.

Johnson is a really intriguing pickup for the Packers. He struggled as a rookie, but was a third-round pick, so maybe a change of scenery helps him get to that level. I'd at least add him in deeper leagues for the coming season, and he could work into standard leagues, especially if he eventually wins the lead RB role.

Brooks is a guy to keep tabs on as well. I wouldn't mind adding him in a few deeper leagues. Depending on his role and level of production, that will determine if he's holdable in deeper leagues and could also be scooped up in some standard leagues in time.

The Packers' backfield is a mess right now, so don't look to any RB there as a weekly starting option in standard leagues. They are all decent deep-league assets, and the lead back, if they have one, could have standard league upside.

In other Packer news, Micah Parsons was officially moved to the reserve/pup list - that will keep him out at least four games. That opens playing time/production for pass rushers in Green Bay, and takes the Packers DST down a level for the start of the season.

Donald is Back

Aaron Donald is back in the NFL. He un-retired on Sunday officially and will rejoin the Los Angeles Rams. He's signing a one-year deal worth up to $30 million.

The decorated defensive lineman adds another elite talent to the Rams, who are the favorites to win it all for most people. Donald is just 35 years old, and he's been a force over his 10-year NFL career.

He joins a talented Rams' defense that has Myles Garrett, so LA has one of the best defensive lines now. The Rams DST should be a top-end fantasy asset, so expect them to be rostered in most leagues.

As for IDP leagues, Donald should be a good option, like he has been over his career. I'd expect LA to monitor his snaps, so don't expect him to produce a career season or anything. He could have several sacks, a good amount of tackles, TFLs and QB hits though, which would result in some solid IDP value.

This move is a bigger deal for the Rams DST and the team in real life. I too have LA as the favorite to win it all.

Allen's Season on Hold?

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen was arrested Sunday on drunken driving charges. Now his status for the season, especially the start, is in flux.

The team cut Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but might need to bring him or another receiver or two in if Allen is suspended or unavailable to play early in the season. Alec Pierce and Josh Downs are the team's top wideouts, and Allen was brought in to be the third starting wideout and was destined for a pretty big role too.

Now we will have to wait and see if he sticks with the Colts, or if he faces discipline at all. Allen is just a deep-league fantasy asset for the time being. 

I think that solidifies Pierce and Downs as good fantasy assets, at least early in the season. There's still a question mark with Pierce, who just started practicing.

That means Pierce could have his snaps limited early on, making Downs a really good fantasy asset. Some of the other wideouts on the roster could factor in more as a result, so that's something to keep tabs on early in the season.

Notable Cuts/Injuries

Yesterday was the day all NFL teams had to trim their roster to 53 players. There were some notable players who were let go. I'll discuss a few of the more notable roster moves for fantasy football purposes.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Emari Demercado was cut. He looked like the top backup after Kenneth Walker, but it now appears that rookie Emmett Johnson and Brashard Smith will back up Walker.

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet was placed on the physically unable to perform list, and will miss the first four games of the season, at least. That leaves rookie Jadarian Price as the team's lead back, and his ADP should rise as a result. George Holani and Emanuel Wilson will be the top backups until Charbonnet is ready to return.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was placed on the injured reserve list with a designation to return - that keeps him out at least four weeks. Nico Collins is the team's top wideout, while Kayshon Boutte and Jaylin Noel are the other projected starters. Dell's injury doesn't change a ton right now, but it solidifies those three wideouts, and could help Xavier Hutchinson and rookie Lewis Bond factor in a bit more early on.

New Orleans wide receiver Jordyn Tyson was placed on the IR/designated to return list, so he'll miss at least four games. That's not a surprise, as his hamstring injury was supposed to keep him out a couple months - his ADP will continue to drop now. Chris Olave's fantasy outlook is even better now, and Devaughn Vele, rookies Bryce Lance and Barion Brown and Kevin Austin Jr. will be secondary options in the meantime.