When the Las Vegas Raiders announced that WR Davante Adams would miss some time in the preseason due to an undisclosed injury situation, it had the rumor mill buzzing. There was never much concern that the injury was serious, so it seemed to be a convenient excuse for Adams to miss practice ahead of a potential trade.
Since then, Adams has been listed as questionable on most fantasy football sites, which has managers concerned about his Week 1 status.
Let’s take a look at the latest injury update for Adams and what it all means in terms of his 2024 outlook.
What Is the Latest on Davante Adams’ Injury?
Adams’ injury situation is causing fantasy managers to have unnecessary worry. He did not play in the preseason finale but has seemingly been back at practice after missing a few days with what appears to be some soreness. There does not seem to be anything to be concerned about here.
We will get a better idea on Wednesday when the Raiders release their first NFL injury report for the 2024 season. Adams should be, at worst, limited, putting him in line to play in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers. If he is absent from practice on Wednesday, then alarm bells will start ringing. Hopefully, that won’t be the case.
Derek Tate’s Fantasy Outlook for Adams
Adams has been one of the most consistent elite WRs in fantasy football, finishing as a top-10 WR in PPR formats in six of the last eight seasons, including a WR10 finish in 2023 despite playing with a rookie quarterback for much of the year.
Adams maintained an elite 33.1% target share in 2023, ranking second among all WRs. His 175 targets led to 103 receptions, 1,144 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns, showcasing his continued ability to command attention in the Raiders’ offense.
While Adams still produced at a high level, his yards per route run dropped from 2.59 (eighth) in 2022 to 2.03 (30th) in 2023. Similarly, his yards after catch fell from 493 (sixth) in 2022 to 336 (25th) in 2023. These declines may signal the beginning of a slowdown as he turns 32 years old this season.
The presence of Jakobi Meyers, who caught 71 passes for 807 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and the addition of elite TE prospect Brock Bowers, could slightly reduce Adams’ target share and red-zone opportunities in 2024.
The Raiders’ quarterback situation is a concern, with Gardner Minshew starting over Aidan O’Connell to begin the season. While not ideal, Adams was still productive with shaking play from O’Connell last year, finishing as the WR11 on a points-per-game basis from Week 9 onward.
Adams is currently being drafted as the WR9 at No. 16 overall, which reflects confidence in his continued elite target share and production. However, his declining efficiency, increased target competition, and less-than-ideal QB situation make him a more volatile option than in previous years.
While Adams still has top-10 WR potential, selecting him in the middle of the second round carries some risk due to his age, efficiency decline, and the Raiders’ QB situation. If you’re comfortable with that risk, he could still deliver strong value, but there are safer options at this ADP.