All 32 NFL teams reported to training camp on Wednesday, July 24. The 2025 NFL season is officially underway. That means fantasy managers will soon be drafting their teams and starting their push for a 2025 title.
Understanding the most up-to-date injury news early in the NFL season can be an edge for fantasy managers. Many fantasy-relevant players suffered significant season-ending injuries in 2024 or have entered the 2025 season limited. Below is a breakdown of several players with injuries to monitor throughout training camp.
As always, make sure to use PFSN’s fantasy draft simulator to practice and prepare for your upcoming fantasy football drafts.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
The 2024 season was one to forget for Trevor Lawrence. The quarterback missed seven games in 2024 due to a concussion and an AC joint strain (shoulder). Lawrence was shut down for the season after suffering a concussion in Week 13, but the primary reason was so the signal-caller could have surgery to repair the shoulder injury.
According to interviews, Lawrence is healthy and ready to start training camp on time. Every rep will be crucial in training camp as Lawrence works to acclimate to new head coach Liam Coen’s offense. Coen emerged as one of the hottest names on the coaching cycle this offseason after coordinating an offense that allowed Baker Mayfield to throw for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions in 2024.
Assuming Lawrence is fully healthy, 2025 should be a career year for the veteran quarterback who has constantly fallen short of expectations. Not only will Lawrence have Brian Thomas Jr. back for his second season, but he will also get to throw to rookie Travis Hunter and free agent acquisition Dyami Brown. Lawrence should be considered a high-end QB2 with a ceiling to finish as a top 10 fantasy quarterback in 2025.
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott is no stranger to injuries. He was limited to just eight games in 2024 after tearing his hamstring. The Cowboys have indicated they will likely limit his workload throughout the summer. That said, all indications are that this move is preventative and has nothing to do with any lingering issues from last season’s injury.
Prescott is poised to have an excellent season if he can stay on the field. The Cowboys traded for veteran receiver George Pickens to complement CeeDee Lamb in the passing attack. The team also hopes returning players like Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin can continue contributing to the offense in 2025.
Prescott finished as the QB5 in 2023, averaging 20.2 fantasy points per game thanks to 4,516 passing yards and 36 touchdowns with just nine interceptions. Brian Schottenheimer, the offensive coordinator for that group, is now Prescott’s head coach.
Adding Pickens to the offense gives Prescott another reliable player who can make plays down the field and in the red zone. The veteran quarterback will become a high-end QB2 with top-five upside again in 2025.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams announced that, heading into training camp, veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford would be limited for the first five days due to back soreness. Back issues aren’t new for Stafford. He missed five games in 2022 with a spinal cord bruise and reported back soreness in 2023 (he missed one game with a thumb injury).
At this point, there is minimal reason to be concerned about Stafford heading into 2025. Los Angeles naturally wants to limit reps for its soon-to-be 38-year-old quarterback heading into training camp.
#Rams HC Sean McVay has a 90% reliability rating on injury coachspeak
We expect Matthew Stafford (back) to be ready for Week 1 https://t.co/Djh3cNxZNG pic.twitter.com/xQFgk8q0Ul
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) July 22, 2025
Stafford is set to quarterback an offense that returns Puka Nacua and added Davante Adams and rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson to the passing attack. His days as a solid QB1 are likely behind him, but Stafford has more than enough to provide high-end QB2 play with weekly QB1 upside in 2025.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy was drafted with the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after winning the National Championship at Michigan. Given his limited passing experience in college, it was always assumed that McCarthy would need time to develop, but a torn meniscus cost the rookie his entire first NFL season.
The injury cost McCarthy valuable practice time on the field. Still, it didn’t stop him from learning head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense in meetings and watching Sam Darnold (4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions) execute on the field. Darnold signed a contract in free agency with the Seahawks this summer, leaving McCarthy as the presumed starter heading into 2025.
The second-year quarterback participated throughout OTAs and minicamp this summer and entered his second training camp with no restrictions. He will enter his first season as a starting quarterback with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison (pending a suspension), Aaron Jones, and a healthy T.J. Hockenson at his disposal in the passing attack.
If McCarthy can acclimate quickly to the speed of the NFL, he is a dark-horse candidate to be a top 10 quarterback in 2025 due to his offensive environment and playmakers.
Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Injuries and inconsistency have derailed the first two seasons of Anthony Richardson’s career. Things didn’t get any clearer during OTAs this summer when the quarterback was shut down due to a recurrence of the AC joint sprain that cost Richardson 13 games his rookie season.
Initially, head coach Shane Steichen stated that the Colts hoped that Richardson could return at some point during training camp. However, recent reports indicate that the quarterback can participate in training camp on day one, although the team will likely limit his workload early on.
Richardson is expected to compete with veteran free agent Daniel Jones for the starting quarterback job in 2025. The consistent messaging from Indianapolis throughout the offseason was that the team wanted a quarterback who could run their offense on time and with accuracy.
Richardson’s upside is tantalizing in both real life and fantasy. He’s a dynamic rusher with a powerful arm and highly-drafted weapons. However, he is also impossible to trust due to his inaccuracy and injury history. The Colts quarterback battle is worth monitoring throughout the summer, especially with Richardson set to participate as camp begins.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey was the unquestioned 1.01 in fantasy drafts heading into 2024. Things started poorly, with the veteran running back missing the season’s first eight games due to lingering Achilles’ tendonitis. McCaffrey eventually debuted but lasted four games (and 65 touches) before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
By all accounts, McCaffrey is healthy heading into training camp. The veteran running back was already on the field for OTAs and earned strong reviews from teammates and coaches. He’s also a 29-year-old running back with a considerable injury history and a lot of tread on the tires.
The 49ers have indicated they plan to limit McCaffrey’s workload throughout training camp to ensure he is healthy for Week 1. And while there is a chance that the team leans on their depth at running back a bit more throughout the 2025 season, this offense will still flow through McCaffrey when he is active.
There is a lot of risk in drafting Christian McCaffrey, especially as his price has crept into the first round of early fantasy drafts. However, it could also be argued that getting him anytime after the draft’s first pick is of considerable value.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III is no stranger to injuries throughout his career. The veteran running back has missed 10 games since 2022 due to ankle, groin, and calf injuries, including six games during the 2024 season.
Things didn’t start well for Walker during minicamp this summer, thanks to a minor ankle injury that limited his participation. There is no indication that the injury will prevent him from participating in the team’s training camp practices to start the season.
Everything is set up for Walker to dominate in 2025 if he stays on the field. The Seahawks hired Klint Kubiak to be their offensive coordinator. Kubiak has a history as the passing game coordinator for the Broncos (2022) and 49ers (2023) and the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints (2024).
Despite their subpar offensive lines, Kubiak has been able to get stellar seasons from Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara with his wide zone run scheme the last two seasons. Walker is in a similar situation to Seattle in 2025. Given his explosive rushing ability, a top-five finish is not outside the realm of possibility for Walker, but he will need to be on the field for that to happen.
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans
Joe Mixon missed OTAs and minicamp this summer thanks to an ankle injury he suffered while training that required a walking boot. Mixon will be healthy enough to participate in training camp, but reports out of Houston suggest that he will be limited as he gets back to full speed.
A healthy Mixon is set to once again be the focal point of Houston’s rushing attack under new offensive coordinator Nick Caley. The Texans added talent to their backfield in free agency (Nick Chubb) and the draft (Woody Marks) as contingency plans if Mixon missed time with injury again.
MORE: C.J. Stroud Is the Fantasy Football Comeback Kid Ready To Reclaim His Throne
Mixon was a top-10 running back in PPR points per game in 2024, thanks to volume in Houston’s backfield. All reports indicate that he will be ready for Week 1. Still, his status bears monitoring throughout the summer in case his offseason ankle injury lingers and allows one of Houston’s other running backs an opportunity to carve into his workload.
If that happens, Mixon should still be treated like an RB2 in fantasy, but his fantasy ceiling definitely will take a hit.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Isiah Pacheco’s breakout in 2024 was derailed by a broken leg suffered in Week 2. Pacheco would return at the end of the season for Kansas City’s playoff run, but the injury hobbled him. He carried the ball just 83 times for 310 yards and a touchdown in seven games last season. He also failed to log a snap share above 42% in any of Kansas City’s playoff games.
Pacheco has had all offseason to heal and has entered training camp with no restrictions. Kansas City did add players to their backfield (Elijah Mitchell, rookie Brashard Smith, and re-signing Kareem Hunt), but Pacheco should still dominate the touch share when he’s healthy.
Pacheco doesn’t have the receiving upside to make him a consistent top-12 running back in fantasy, but he has the speed to break any run for a significant gain and has a coveted role as a goal-line back in a good offense. If he can stay healthy, he is poised to have a high-end RB2 season due to volume alone.
Najee Harris, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Arguably, the most significant injury of the summer was Najee Harris’s undetermined eye injury caused by a fireworks accident on the Fourth of July. As of this article, we don’t really have any clarity on the severity of the injury, how long it will keep him out, or any long-term implications for 2025 and beyond.
Jim Harbaugh said Najee Harris is healing and doing everything he can to get back on the field. Harbaugh said he doesn’t know if Harris will be back for training camp pic.twitter.com/l8cJX3IQUU
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) July 22, 2025
Harris was expected to compete with rookie first-round pick Omarion Hampton for a role in the Chargers’ backfield in 2025, but that has all been thrown into limbo. Nobody knows exactly when Harris will participate in training camp, and his status, per head coach Jim Harbaugh, has already shifted from “a short stay on the NFI list” to “not being sure if he will participate by the end of training camp.”
Every day Harris is out is another chance for Hampton to seize a larger role in the Chargers’ offense. If Harris is healthy, he will certainly carve out a role in an offense that prefers to split carries between multiple rushers. At this point, we just don’t know when he will return.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill was limited by a wrist injury for the entire 2024 season. And while the injury didn’t cost him any games, it did contribute to his worst statistical season (81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns) since an injury-shortened 2019 season.
Hill was also limited during minicamp and OTAs after getting surgery to repair the torn ligaments in his wrist. There was initially concern that the injury could also limit his participation during training camp. Still, Hill recently stated that he would be fully ready to participate when camp begins.
The veteran receiver isn’t getting any younger, and speed threats like him rarely age gracefully. However, if Hill’s issues in 2024 were due to a wrist injury (and games without Tua Tagovailoa), he could be one of the best values in fantasy football. Hill showed he still has elite speed throughout the summer while running a 10.15 100-meter dash during a California track meet.
Tyreek Hill averaged over 20.0 fantasy points per game during his first two seasons with the Dolphins before plummeting to 12.8 PPG in 2024. Even if that elite ceiling is gone, a middle ground season puts him firmly on the map in fantasy as a low-end WR1. That is a chance worth taking in the third round of fantasy drafts.
Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Rashee Rice was on his way to a top 10 wide receiver finish through three weeks before an LCL tear ended his 2024 season in Week 4. Rice avoided damaging his ACL, but was still seen as a question mark heading into the 2025 season.
He quickly put those concerns to rest, participating in minicamp and looking great at full speed. Rice also avoided the PUP list and is fully participating in training camp for Kansas City. His role in Kansas City’s offense is slightly less certain with Travis Kelce, Hollywood Brown, and Xavier Worthy returning in 2025.
Patrick Mahomes ➡️ Rashee Rice#ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/0QbkCq3ZFO
— Matt Foster (@MattFosterTV) July 22, 2025
Further complicating matters is his pending suspension after electing to settle the lawsuit over his 2024 high-speed car accident on a Dallas highway.
Rice will likely miss games in 2025, but it won’t be due to his injury. He will be fully healthy and ready to contribute to Kansas City as the primary slot receiver for Patrick Mahomes when he is able.
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin technically finished 2024 as the WR2 in PPR points per game (19.7). Unfortunately, he was limited to just seven games after suffering an awful, dislocated ankle in the garbage time of Tampa Bay’s Week 7 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
There was initially optimism about Godwin’s status during the offseason when Tampa Bay signed him to a three-year, $66 million contract in free agency. However, as training camp got closer, it became clear that Godwin would not be ready to start the season on time.
Tampa Bay placed Godwin on the PUP list and disclosed that he underwent a second procedure to clean up his ankle during the spring. Reports indicate that the surgery was not a surprise, but it further complicates Godwin’s availability in Week 1. It also clarified the Buccaneers’ decision to draft Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
We have recently seen players struggle to return to full speed in their first season after a dislocated ankle. Considering the Buccaneers haven’t given a timeline for his return, it seems he is on the same path. Godwin is a fade in fantasy this season, given the severity of his injury and the lack of urgency the Buccaneers have for him in an expansive receiver room that features Egbuka, Mike Evans, and Jalen McMillan.
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
Chris Olave was expected to take another developmental step in his third season with the Saints. Instead, Olave suffered two brutal concussions that limited him to just eight games played.
As with any repeated concussion, there was initial concern that Olave’s head injuries could be career-ending. After all, the wide receiver has suffered at least two other concussions throughout his NFL career. Olave has stressed that he is not concerned about his history of head injuries.
The veteran receiver is entering his fourth training camp with no limitations and is set to reprise his role as the WR1 in a new-look Saints offense. We have seen new head coach Kellen Moore produce some excellent fantasy seasons throughout his time as the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
The Saints aren’t nearly as talented as those teams, but they have several interesting pieces that could be fantasy relevant at a discounted price.
Olave averaged 128.5 targets, 79.5 receptions, 1,082.5 receiving yards, and 4.5 touchdowns in his first two seasons. He had never had fewer than 13.0 PPR points per game before 2024. Concussions are a hard injury to navigate in fantasy football since they can happen at any time, but a healthy Olave has a chance to finish as a high-end WR2 if he can just avoid big hits and stay on the field.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Last season was an ugly one for Brandon Aiyuk. The wide receiver spent most of the offseason lobbying for a new contract or a trade from the 49ers. After missing most of the summer, the 49ers relented and signed the veteran receiver to a significant extension. As a reward, Aiyuk struggled through his first seven games (25 receptions for 374 yards) before tearing his ACL and MCL in Week 7’s game against Kansas City.
Based on early reports, it doesn’t seem like San Francisco expects to see Aiyuk on the field soon. The 49ers have stated there is no timeline for the veteran receiver’s return, making it impossible for him to draft in fantasy. A stay on the PUP list to start the season seems likely, which means he will be out for at least the first four games.
Even if Aiyuk does return after that, he will need time to ramp back up and get back into football shape. There is a chance he is hitting his stride by the fantasy playoffs, but that is far from certain. San Francisco also has little incentive to rush him back with returning players like McCaffrey, George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall set to contribute in 2025.
Let somebody else hold on to him, hoping for fantasy production in 2025.
Stefon Diggs, WR, New England Patriots
Like Aiyuk, Stefon Diggs suffered a torn ACL in 2024 after just eight games with the Houston Texans. Unlike Aiyuk, Diggs was in the middle of a solid season (47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns).
The veteran receiver signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract with the New England Patriots this offseason. The Patriots have an ascending offense with a young quarterback (Drake Maye) and a new offensive scheme with coordinator Josh McDaniels. The hope was that Diggs would eventually be healthy enough to give Maye a reliable presence out of the slot at some point in 2025.
MORE: Is Drake Maye’s Fantasy Hype Justified?
However, Diggs has seemingly beaten that timeline after participating in minicamp this summer and avoiding the PUP list heading into training camp. All indications are that the veteran receiver could be ready for the Week 1 game for New England.
If Diggs is healthy to start the season, he should be considered the favorite to lead New England’s young, broad receiver group in targets in 2025. Fantasy managers should temper expectations with him coming off a significant knee injury, but all news throughout the summer has been positive regarding his health.
Many fantasy managers will fear drafting Diggs early in drafts due to his injury. However, if he can avoid setbacks and participate throughout training camp, he can return WR2 value at a WR4 price tag.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are counting on Pearsall stepping up in 2025 after he missed a majority of his rookie season due to a gunshot wound during a robbery attempt before his first season. Pearsall was able to return in Week 7 and had two fantasy-relevant weeks to close out his rookie season (18 targets, 14 receptions, 210 yards, and two touchdowns in Weeks 17 and 18).
Unfortunately, Pearsall suffered a hamstring injury at the end of minicamp, jeopardizing his training camp start date. The 49ers elected to place Pearsall on the PUP list, but the stay isn’t expected to be long. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has already stated that Pearsall could return to the field after the 49ers’ first rest day, four days into camp.
For now, it appears that Pearsall will be set to be a key part of the 49ers offense to start Week 1. However, soft tissue injuries are notoriously easy to aggravate, which adds a layer of risk to Pearsall’s 2025 outlook.
We have seen Pearsall produce solid fantasy numbers in a minimal sample size, and the hamstring injury will likely keep his price tag reasonable in fantasy drafts throughout the summer. With Aiyuk on the mend and Deebo Samuel no longer on the team, he can carve out a significant role in his second season.
Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
Colston Loveland missed out on the entire draft process while recovering from a shoulder surgery after his final collegiate season at Michigan. His lack of testing didn’t stop the Bears from drafting him with the 10th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Loveland was a modest producer in college, but most of that can be blamed on the terrible quarterback situation in Michigan for his final season. Despite that, Loveland still earned a target on 37.6% of his routes in 2024 and had an elite 2.67 yards per route run. He is a fluid route runner with strong yards after the catch ability.
The Bears recently stated that Loveland will avoid missing time during training camp, allowing him to carve out a significant role for fantasy in 2025. He was the first pick of head coach Ben Johnson’s tenure with the Bears, which means the offensive mastermind has a plan for best utilizing his dynamic skill set.
After missing the offseason and recovering from surgery, Loveland will need time to regain his strength. Still, he has a chance to make an immediate impact at the tight end in what should be an innovative offense with 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams under center. Loveland is a great mid to late round tight end target for fantasy managers who want to wait at the position due to his upside.
