As we near the end of preseason football, the heat of fantasy football draft season is upon us. While rankings, ADPs, and sleeper picks are vital to ensuring a successful draft, having a grasp on the injury landscape across the league can be the difference between a great pick and a wasted one. Here are some of the key injuries to track as we approach Week 1 of the 2022 season.
Fantasy football injury report: QB update
Joe Burrow, CIN
Cincinnati’s franchise quarterback underwent surgery for an appendectomy earlier this month, but he’s on track to play in Week 1. Joe Burrow is currently practicing with no limitations in full team drills but has admitted that he’s not yet 100%. At this point, it’d be a surprise if the surgery impacted Burrow in any way this season.
Matthew Stafford, LAR
Matthew Stafford’s injury has been the subject of much consternation out west, as he’s dealing with elbow tendinitis that is likely to remain a factor throughout the season. While the team has expressed confidence in its ability to manage the injury over the course of the coming months, when it comes to fantasy football, there is always a risk in relying on a quarterback with an injury to the throwing side of his upper body.
With Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson in the lineup and Sean McVay calling plays, Stafford has as much upside as any QB in the league. Yet, his injury needs to be factored into expectations as well.
Zach Wilson, NYJ
Zach Wilson suffered an MCL injury during the team’s first preseason game, though by all accounts, the second-year passer escaped without suffering a major blow to his sophomore season prospects. While head coach Robert Saleh has yet to give a firm timetable for Wilson’s return, it’s likely that Joe Flacco is only asked to start 1-3 games before Wilson returns. His injury shouldn’t affect the season-long fantasy prospects of skill-position players like Breece Hall, Michael Carter, Garrett Wilson, or Elijah Moore.
Jameis Winston, NO
Jameis Winston missed most of the 2021 season with a torn ACL, but the Saints’ starting quarterback is fully recovered from the injury, and it shouldn’t impact his availability this season. It’s actually a right foot sprain suffered during training camp that has caused some concern. Winston has said that he’s “getting better every single day,” and he doesn’t appear to be in danger of missing game time.
Fantasy football injury report: RB update
J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, BAL
While J.K. Dobbins looks set to contribute in Week 1, backup Gus Edwards has been placed on the reserve/PUP list and is in line to miss at least four games to start the year. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh explained this week in a press conference, “I’d say that Gus [Edwards] is still on schedule, and [I] fully expect him to play quite a bit of football this year.”
While Dobbins has had a quicker recovery returning from a torn ACL than his Baltimore backfield counterpart, fantasy managers should keep in mind that the team could look to manage its star running back’s workload at the season’s outset. This could make veteran backup Mike Davis a worthy selection with a late-round pick given his potential role in the offense while Dobbins is potentially eased back in and Edwards is on the shelf.
Kenneth Walker III, SEA
Seattle’s second-round pick in this year’s draft is likely to have a substantial role in the offense this season, but how quickly he manages to secure that role is up for debate. Head coach Pete Carroll recently suggested that Kenneth Walker is making progress in his return from a hernia injury but that his status is up in the air for Week 1. If Walker is out, Rashaad Penny should see an increased workload, while Travis Homer could play a change-of-pace role.
James Robinson, JAX
The surprise breakout star of the 2020 season, James Robinson has spent the offseason recovering from an Achilles tear suffered at the end of last season. While he isn’t likely to play in the team’s preseason finale, he should be ready to go for Week 1, according to head coach Doug Pederson.
That said, Achilles injuries are notoriously difficult to bounce back from. Fellow backfield mate Travis Etienne will be expected to carry a heavy load as Robinson works his way back to full form. Don’t be surprised if rookie fifth-round pick Snoop Conner, who the team traded up for in this year’s draft, takes on a role as well. Conner is worthy of a late-round dart throw in Best Ball leagues.
Elijah Mitchell, SF
While San Francisco’s ever-changing running back rotation is routinely a menace for fantasy football fans, second-year runner Elijah Mitchell is set to lead the charge after his surprising takeover of the backfield last year. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said this week that Mitchell, who’s dealing with a hamstring injury suffered during training camp, is on track to return for Week 1. Veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. is likely first in line to help pick up any slack should the team manage Mitchell’s reps.
Fantasy football injury report: WR update
Chris Godwin, TB
One of fantasy football’s top wideouts over the past few seasons, Chris Godwin is currently rounding hole 18 in his return from a 2021 ACL injury. Whether Godwin plays in Week 1 has yet to be determined, but he’s practicing with the team in a non-contact jersey. Given Godwin’s importance to the offense and the team’s well-founded Super Bowl aspirations, it’s likely he doesn’t take the field until he’s 100% ready.
In the meantime, Tom Brady will lean on the always-reliable Mike Evans, as well as free agent signees Russell Gage (who himself is recovering from a hamstring injury and could miss time) and Julio Jones until Godwin is back on the field.
Michael Gallup, DAL
After suffering a torn ACL at the end of last season, Michael Gallup has spent the offseason working his way back to form. Gallup told reporters earlier in training camp that he’s not anticipating a Week 1 return. Still, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently said that Gallup would avoid being placed on the reserve/PUP list, meaning the team is anticipating the veteran wideout to be ready within the first four games of the season.
Upon his return, Gallup is in line to be Dallas’ No. 2 wideout alongside budding star CeeDee Lamb. Until that happens, rookie third-round pick Jalen Tolbert could be a viable Flex play, while tight end Dalton Schultz is set to gobble up targets left and right and can be slotted in as a surefire starter in your lineups.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, KC
JuJu Smith-Schuster is primed for a potential rebound season in a high-powered Chiefs offense piloted by Patrick Mahomes. But a preseason knee injury has kept him sidelined as of late. According to head coach Andy Reid, Smith-Schuster has “turned a corner” in his recovery. As of now, signs point to the former Pittsburgh Steeler being ready for Week 1. However, Mecole Hardman (who himself is recovering from injury), rookie Skyy Moore, and veteran Justin Watson could see more snaps if Smith-Schuster suffers any setbacks.
Drake London, ATL
Drake London, the first wideout selected in this year’s draft class, suffered a knee injury during Atlanta’s first preseason game. While the highly touted rookie is still missing practice reps, head coach Arthur Smith said immediately following the injury that the team doesn’t expect it to be a long-term problem.
Should London miss the start of the regular season, second-year tight end Kyle Pitts will see even more targets than usual, while Bryan Edwards and Olamide Zaccheaus would help pick up the slack.
Fantasy football injury report: TE update
Darren Waller, LV
Darren Waller missed much of last season due to injury, and it appears he’s starting the 2022 season on the wrong foot in that regard. The star tight end missed several practices earlier in training camp due to hamstring problems, and though he briefly returned, he’s missed the last several practice sessions as well.
Head coach Josh McDaniels has expressed optimism about Waller’s recovery, but it’s still unclear whether the 6’6″ playmaker will be ready to start the year. Should Waller miss any time, backup Foster Moreau would enter streaming consideration for fantasy managers, and Hunter Renfrow would be relied on even more over the middle of the field.
Irv Smith Jr., MIN
Irv Smith Jr. missed the entire 2021 season due to a knee injury, but he’s expected to be an integral part of Minnesota’s passing attack this season. He had thumb surgery in early August, but head coach Kevin O’Connell has said that he expects his starting tight end to be ready for Week 1.
Robert Tonyan, GB
Robert Tonyan, who’s working his way back from a 2021 ACL tear, has been activated off the team’s PUP list. He’s yet to participate in preseason action, and his exact status for Week 1 is unclear. Nevertheless, it’s likely that he’ll be ready to go sometime early in the regular season if he doesn’t suffer any setbacks. In Tonyan’s absence, Marcedes Lewis and Josiah Deguara will likely form a committee, with neither having much fantasy football appeal.
Greg Dulcich, DEN
The Denver Broncos selected Greg Dulcich in the third round of this year’s draft, and he’s been pushing incumbent starter Albert Okwuegbunam for the starting tight end role. Dulcich is battling a hamstring injury, but head coach Nathaniel Hackett said the team is doing “everything [they] can” to get him ready for Week 1.
Though rookies often come along slowly at the position, Dulcich was a stellar pass catcher at UCLA and could conceivably contribute early on if he’s healthy. How Denver rotates him with Okwuegbunam will be one of the more intriguing fantasy plot lines to follow as the season progresses.
