As the fantasy football playoffs get underway, managers are looking for injury updates for players on the IR and an indication as to whether they may return. Let’s take a look at whether we can expect to get the likes of Cooper Kupp, Darren Waller, Michael Thomas, Dallas Goedert, Hunter Renfrow, Mecole Hardman, and more back this season.
Latest Injury IR Updates: Is Cooper Kupp Likely to Return?
Since we found out that Cooper Kupp was going to have surgery on his ankle, updates have been thin on the ground. The tightrope surgery that he had usually has a recovery time of four to six weeks. That timeframe would put Kupp in line to return somewhere around Weeks 15 to 17.
Kupp was put on the IR ahead of Week 11. With an IR stay mandating a four-game minimum absence, Kupp is eligible to return this week against the Green Bay Packers. However, based on the limited updates we have received, it does not appear as though we will see Kupp this week.
Additionally, the Rams are on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs. There are a number of ways in which the Rams could be eliminated this week. Once they are, there is little benefit for the Rams or Kupp of coming back to play this year. Of course, if the Rams win and stave off elimination for another week or two, then maybe we see Kupp.
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If you are Kupp’s fantasy manager, then stashing him offers relatively low value at this point, especially in redraft. If you are stashing him in an IR spot that you don’t currently need, then there is no harm in keeping him there. However, if you are using a bench spot, then you are likely wasting that spot.
Of course, if you don’t desperately need it, there is no major harm, but if the time comes you need the extra depth, Kupp looks unlikely to return in 2022.
Darren Waller Injury Update
Darren Waller was eligible to return from the IR last week. However, with the short week leading into Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams, meaning the Las Vegas Raiders did not practice, Waller was not able to get back on the field last week. The hope is that with the extra 10 days between the games, he will have a chance at returning against the New England Patriots in Week 15.
The Raiders open practice for the week on Wednesday. If Waller is to return, then the Raiders would likely designate him to return on Wednesday, opening the 21-day window to activate him to the 53-man roster. The loss last week against the Rams makes this an intriguing situation for the Raiders.
At 5-8, the Raiders face an uphill battle to make the playoffs. This week against the Patriots, a loss could end the Raiders’ season, depending on other results. Therefore, if Waller can get back on the field, the Raiders would likely want that to be the case. The problem for fantasy managers is whether or not to trust Waller.
Hamstring injuries are tricky, especially when returning from a long layoff. Without a full ramp-up period, it can be easy to re-aggravate the injury, as we have seen with the likes of Keenan Allen and even Waller himself. Therefore, we may see Waller with a reduced workload this week compared to what we might expect if he was 100%.
It is worth noting that the Patriots have been a reasonably nice matchup for opposing tight ends. So Waller could be an intriguing late-round Underdog Fantasy Best Ball option this week. He would not be someone you want to be relying on in your weekly lineups.
Michael Thomas Injury Update
The situation with Michael Thomas has been very much up in the air. He is eligible to return, but there has been no real indication of whether he is on the path to being back this year. When he was placed on the IR, head coach Dennis Allen said that Thomas could be done for the season.
Additionally, some of Thomas’ tweets have hardly endeared him to his teammates and coaches. The WR has criticized the handling of his injury, as well as taking veiled shots at the QB situation. With the Saints’ chances of making the playoffs being less than 1%, according to fivethrityeight.com, there is potentially little benefit to New Orleans of rushing a disgruntled Thomas back.
Right now, it seems unlikely that he would return, but there is a chance. If he did, Thomas would likely be at least the number two receiver in the offense. Therefore, Thomas is worth stashing on IR spots still if you do not need the spot elsewhere. However, if you need the bench spot to cover injuries, then dropping Thomas is an option to consider.
Dallas Goedert Injury Update
Week 15 is when Dallas Goedert becomes eligible to return after missing the last four games on the IR. The expectation is that Goedert could be designated to return from the IR on Wednesday of Week 15. That would open his 21-day practice window and put him in line to potentially return this week.
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If Goedert returns, it will be hard not to start him. However, there will be a risk as he returns because the Eagles may be gentle in bringing him back from his shoulder issue. The Eagles’ offense has worked nicely without Goedert, so they would likely be hesitant to throw him back in at 100%, limiting his fantasy ceiling.
Hunter Renfrow Injury Update
Much like Waller, Hunter Renfrow was eligible to return last week. However, the short week prevented it. Renfrow appears on track to return in Week 15, but his fantasy value is lower than that of Waller. With uncertainty over what role Renfrow would have on his return, it would be hard to start him. However, he could be worth adding on waiver wires this week ahead of his return if he was dropped.
Mecole Hardman Injury Update
Hardman is another player eligible to return from the IR in Week 15. Last week, head coach Andy Reid was positive about Hardman’s recovery. There is a chance we see him designated to return this week and even active in Week 15. Much like many players returning from the IR, trusting him fully in his first game back will be tough.
Injury Updates for Khalil Herbert, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and More
Khalil Herbert and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are both eligible to return in Week 16. Of the two, Herbert has the cleared path to fantasy relevance. In the absence of Edwards-Helaire, Isiah Pacheco has taken a strong grip on the job in Kansas City.
The latest news from Monday was that Herbert has a good chance of being designated to return next week. The biggest question is whether he will need a week to ramp up or can return at a somewhat full capacity in Week 16. Updates on Edwards-Helaire have been less clear, but we could hear more from Reid this week. Last week he spoke about the progress of Hardman a week before he was due to be eligible to return.
Much like Edwards-Helaire, we have not heard much on the status of Chase Edmonds since he went on the IR. Edmonds is also eligible to return in Week 16 as he deals with a high-ankle sprain. The hope will be that Edmonds can return in some capacity in Week 16, but it may not be a fantasy relevant one.