Alec Pierce’s delayed return from ankle surgery has created doubt for at least one prominent fantasy football analyst.
CBS Sports’ Jamey Eisenberg placed the Indianapolis Colts wide receiver on his 2026 “do not draft” list Monday, arguing that Pierce is being selected too early while he sits on the physically unable to perform list.
Pierce’s CBS Sports average draft position was 84.3, but Eisenberg said the earliest he would select the 26-year-old is Round 11.
“He’s not someone I would draft before Round 10,” Eisenberg wrote.
Pierce underwent a cleanup procedure on his left ankle in the offseason after the injury bothered him throughout the 2025 season. He opened training camp on active/PUP and remained there as of Monday.
Eisenberg also pointed toward Josh Downs as the better Colts receiver to target in fantasy drafts, noting Pierce now sits closer to Keenan Allen in his evaluation.
Pierce, though, projects with considerable upside once healthy. He finished last season on a strong run, scoring at least 13 PPR points in four of his final six games, according to CBS Sports.
However, Eisenberg noted that surge came after Daniel Jones suffered his torn Achilles. Pierce averaged 10.2 PPR points over nine games with Jones earlier in the season.
As Pierce still works his way back, Eisenberg firmly believes fantasy managers should wait rather than pay his current draft price.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts WR Alec Pierce finds himself on ‘do not draft’ fantasy list
Leave a Comment