Who Should I Start? Alec Pierce or Emeka Egbuka


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
11.2 0.1 0.0 3.5 56.1 0.3

Alec Pierce News

Alec Pierce Could Be Available, May Not Be 100% in Week 1

Saturday, August 22, 5:31 PM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (ankle) "could be available" but is unlikely to "be a super dynamic player" in Week 1, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. Pierce is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list as he works his way back from ankle surgery, which he underwent in April. The 26-year-old had the most productive year of his career in 2025, recording 47 catches for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns on 84 targets across 15 games. The Colts handed him a monster four-year contract extension this past spring and traded away former WR1 Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving Pierce in position to step into an expanded role in 2026. When healthy, Pierce is one of the most dynamic deep-ball threats in the NFL. However, his health and fantasy value both appear to be open questions heading into the year.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
11.6 0.7 0.0 3.8 57.7 0.3

Emeka Egbuka News

Emeka Egbuka on Track to Be Ready for Week 1?

Friday, August 21, 12:45 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles characterized wide receiver Emeka Egbuka's (toe) status as "day-to-day or week-to-week," per Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report. Based on Bowles' wording and the fact that Egbuka is walking around the team's facility freely, Reynolds speculates that Egbuka "should be in play for Week 1." The 19th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Egbuka recorded 63 catches for 938 yards and six touchdowns on 127 targets across 17 games as a rookie. With longtime former Bucs wideout Mike Evans now in San Francisco, Egbuka has a chance to establish himself as the undisputed top option in the Tampa Bay passing game in 2026. While the 23-year-old's exact return timeline from his current toe injury remains unclear, it appears as though he's unlikely to miss significant regular-season time, if any at all. RotoBaller currently ranks Egbuka as the WR19 for redraft leagues entering 2026.


Alec Pierce vs. Emeka Egbuka

Still trying to decide between Pierce and Egbuka? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Alec Pierce is projected to score 11.2 points this week while Emeka Egbuka is projected to score 11.6 points.