The NFL preseason has seen a lot of injuries to fantasy football-relevant players.
Fortunately, we have not seen many major injuries, but there has been plenty for fantasy managers to think about over the last few weeks.
Let’s take a look at the latest that we know about injuries involving the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs, Nick Chubb, and Tyreek Hill.
Christian McCaffrey Injury Update
It’s not ideal that we even have to consider a Christian McCaffrey injury situation, but this calf injury does not seem to be a major concern.
It’s been two weeks since Kyle Shanahan revealed that McCaffrey had a calf strain and would likely not participate in the preseason. However, there was never any major concern that he would miss time once the regular season began in September.
McCaffrey was seen working on the sideline last Thursday, including running some half-speed routes. His activity level appeared to have increased, and a return seems to be getting closer. However, the 49ers are unlikely to rush the veteran RB back into action, given that he does not need a huge amount of practice reps.
Even if that is the case, there is no major reason for fantasy managers to be concerned.
Jahmyr Gibbs Injury Update
It has been a scary few days for Jahmyr Gibbs’ fantasy managers after the Detroit Lions’ RB left practice with a hamstring injury last Monday. Last Wednesday, head coach Dan Campbell quelled major fears when he told 97.1 The Ticket Detroit that he thought Gibbs would be fine and said, “I think we’ll be good.”
On Tuesday morning, Campbell told reporters that Gibbs was “trending the right way” and that the back could return to practice either Sunday or next week.
At this stage, actually seeing Gibbs on the practice field is the final thing we need for confirmation that he will be fine. The Lions may well just be playing it overly cautiously, but getting him back on the field would be a nice confirmation of his recovery.
Based on what we are hearing from Detroit, there is no real reason to downgrade Gibbs. Hamstring injuries can be tricky in terms of their re-injury rate, but there should be enough gap from the original injury to the Lions’ Week 1 game for Gibbs to make a full recovery.
Nick Chubb Injury Update
The fantasy world is holding its collective breath as we await Nick Chubb’s return from his ACL tear last year. While we have not received an official update from the team, Chubb spoke to Aditi Kinkhabwala during the team’s preseason game this past weekend.
🚨SPOTTED: a smiley @NickChubb on the sideline 😄 pic.twitter.com/td4ltT3Dzp
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 17, 2024
“I’m feeling good. I’m just happy to be with the team and get back on the sidelines with the guys,” Chubb said. “I feel good. Every day, I come work out, I move around. I feel a lot better.”
We still do not have a definitive timeline for Chubb, who remained on the active/PUP list during the preseason. It appears that his return for Week 1 will be somewhat touch and go.
We have not received any indication that Chubb may start the season on the reserve/PUP list, which would see him miss a minimum of four games. However, that is not out of the question.
For now, fantasy managers should continue looking to select Chubb at his current cost. When he does return, the expectation is that Chubb will be among the top 24 RBs and potentially right back as a top-12 option. He is currently being selected as the RB32 on average, presenting the potential for fantastic upside when he gets back on the field.
Alvin Kamara Injury Update
Alvin Kamara was dealing with back tightness last week, which ultimately resulted in him missing the second preseason game for the New Orleans Saints. If Kamara had been in line to participate at all, it likely would have only played a small role, so the fact he missed the game does not raise any major concerns. It would not be a surprise if he were also to be held out of the final preseason game.
At this stage, we have no indication that there will be any impact on the regular season. Back injuries can be tricky, but there is plenty of time for Kamara to recover. With little in the way of major competition in this Saints’ backfield, Kamara remains an intriguing fantasy option entering the 2024 season.
Chuba Hubbard Injury Update
Chuba Hubbard suffered a minor scare last week when he appeared to suffer a knee injury. The Panthers never expressed major concern about this, and they did send Hubbard for tests.
Even though those tests showed that it was not a significant injury, the team decided to hold Hubbard out of the last preseason game to give him time to recover.
Hubbard’s return to practice on Tuesday is a great sign for his potential Week 1 availability. In all likelihood, Hubbard will have little to no role in the final preseason game, but not for any reason that should concern fantasy managers.
If anything, Hubbard’s limited role or no role at all should be seen as a positive sign that he is set to be the Panthers’ starter in Week 1.
Jaylen Warren Injury Update
A soft tissue injury in Week 2 of the NFL preseason is not ideal at all for Jaylen Warren.
The initial report is that Warren could be in line to miss multiple weeks, making him touch-and-go for the opening week. The Steelers will not want to rush Warren back, as soft tissue injuries have a relatively high re-injury rate. Therefore, we may see them take a cautious approach.
The good news is that this injury is only likely to cost Warren a week or two in the regular season. His ADP may see a little dip due to the uncertainty, which is not a bad thing for fantasy managers.
Warren is set to be in a timeshare with Najee Harris, which caps his potential upside. If he misses some time, that could also allow Cordarrelle Patterson to stake a claim for snaps.
Jonathon Brooks Injury Update
We have a pretty solid timeframe for Jonathon Brooks’ potential return to the NFL field after tearing his ACL in college last year.
Any optimism that Brooks could see some time in the preseason was dispelled at the start of August when head coach Dave Canales told reporters that Brooks would likely not be back until the regular season.
Based on that last update from Canales, fantasy managers should not expect to see Brooks until Week 3 or Week 4 at the earliest. It would not be a surprise if the Panthers chose to place Brooks on the reserve/PUP list to start the season. That would mandate a minimum absence of four games, putting Brooks in line for a potential Week 5 return.
The issue whenever Brooks returns is how much ramp-up time the Panthers would want to give him. Assuming Hubbard is healthy and Miles Sanders makes the roster, the Panthers may decide to play it safe with Brooks for a few more weeks after he is eligible to return.
Zach Charbonnet Injury Update
We saw Zach Charbonnet miss the most recent preseason game with what has been described as tightness.
The issue does not appear to be anything major, and Charbonnet should be back sooner rather than later. This injury is unlikely to impact his fantasy value.
Marshawn Lloyd Injury Update
The situation surrounding Marshawn Lloyd is somewhat frustrating. He hurt his hamstring during the first preseason game.
Lloyd first missed practice a week ago, and head coach Matt LaFleur declined to give a timetable for his return. We have now not heard an update in a week, so it will be intriguing to see when Lloyd can return to the field.
We also learned that Lloyd suffered a hamstring injury earlier in camp, so there does appear to be a recurring soft tissue concern.
Lloyd looked poised to challenge AJ Dillon for the No. 2 RB role behind Josh Jacobs this season. However, he has missed a considerable amount of practice, which could limit his touches early in the season once he is healthy.
Lloyd is still an intriguing upside RB late in drafts, especially with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. However, it would be a dart throw at this point and one that might not see a return in the first few weeks.
Lloyd would essentially occupy the last roster spot on a standard-size roster, meaning he would likely be the first player you looked to drop for a waiver wire add.
Kendre Miller Injury Update
It has been a frustrating preseason for Kendre Miller as he deals with a hamstring injury. The young running back has missed both preseason games and a lot of practice.
Dennis Allen has talked about it being tough for Miller to make the team if he is not practicing, which raises serious red flags.
The hope was that Miller might be able to steal the No. 2 spot from Jamaal Williams, but that now seems unlikely entering the season. Based on Allen’s words, Miller is closer to being cut than he is to seeing regular gameday snaps.
At this point, it is hard to make any case for drafting Miller outside of a last-round flyer. Even then, there might be more enticing options available.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. Injury Update
Tyrone Tracy Jr. gave everyone a major scare when he was taken from the field wearing an air cast on his ankle. The worst was feared for the rookie after the non-contact injury, but it appears the Giants’ medical staff was just being overly cautious.
Tracy is expected to be back on the practice field a week after the injury, suggesting he should be available when the season starts in a couple of weeks’ time.
Tracy had been gathering steam as an intriguing rookie for fantasy purposes this year. He is in competition with Eric Gray for the No. 2 role behind Devin Singletary, and many felt he was ahead before the injury.
Ideally, Tracy will be able to suit up this week in the preseason in order to stake that claim. Either way, he is an intriguing handcuff option as a late-round draft pick in fantasy drafts.
Keaton Mitchell Injury Update
There has been relatively little update on Keaton Mitchell since the Ravens placed him on the active/PUP list back in July. The young RB is working his way back from an ACL tear, so the timeframe is somewhat fluid.
If the team believes he is ready before the season, Mitchell can be activated at any time. Alternatively, he could move to the reserve/PUP list ahead of Week 1, which would see him miss a minimum of four regular season games.
Tyreek Hill Injury Update
There was a little bit of panic for fantasy managers on Tuesday when Tyreek Hill was spotted at practice wearing a brace on his hand. The speedy WR did not catch any passes but did participate in individual drills.
The expectation is that it is just a minor injury, or else Hill likely would not have practiced at all.
This injury situation makes it unlikely that we will see Hill in the final preseason game, but that should not be a concern at all. Hill remains one of the top options for fantasy managers to draft this year.
Unless we hear there is a risk of him missing part of the season, Hill remains a top-three pick and in contention for the top spot.
Davante Adams Injury Update
There does not appear to be any major concern for Davante Adams, who was reported as having “tweaked something” at practice last Wednesday. He missed the Raiders’ last preseason game but was expected to be back at practice this week, giving him plenty of time to be available for Week 1.
There should have been no major reaction to this injury from a fantasy perspective. Adams always looked in line to play in Week 1. However, if he did see a slight drop in draft position, then fantasy managers could have benefitted from grabbing him in the third round instead of the second.
That is about the right price for Adams, who should be in that WR1 conversation this season.
Puka Nacua Injury Update
The situation with Puka Nacua’s knee injury has not really changed since we first found out about the injury a couple of weeks ago.
At the time, head coach Sean McVay told reporters that there was “no threat” of Nacua missing Week 1. The injury was described as a bursa sac that he “kind of burst it.” McVay added there was nothing serious or structural going on.
Unless we hear differently, Nacua should be back for Week 1 with no concerns. The injury itself is not a huge re-injury risk, so there is no long-term concern here.
There is no need to downgrade Nacua at all in drafts, where he is currently being selected right around the end of Round 1 in a 12-team league.
Jaylen Waddle Injury Update
The Dolphins continue to hold Jaylen Waddle out of practice during the preseason.
The injury itself has not been disclosed, and Mike McDaniel described it as minor. However, the fact that Waddle is still not practicing naturally raises some red flags for fantasy managers.
It is hard to make too much of the situation when the injury is not being disclosed, but we have no indication Waddle should miss any time in the regular season.
There is no reason to downgrade Waddle for this injury issue. If you are 50-50 between him and another player, this could serve as the tie-breaking vote. But it is nothing more than that.
Hopefully, we will see Waddle back at practice either this week or next just to calm any fears that might be starting to rise.
Amari Cooper Injury Update
Amari Cooper returned to practice Thursday for the first time since exiting joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings last Thursday.
There was no immediate panic coming out of Cleveland when the injury occurred last week, but the team did hold Cooper out of the second preseason game. However, the Browns did not even disclose the injury, suggesting it was never viewed as anything more than minor.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that, “All of our starters should expect to play Saturday,” but did not disclose whether they actually will or not.
If Cooper still has even a minor injury, it would make sense for the Browns to hold him out of this week’s game to reduce any risk of aggravating the injury. However, there is no indication that there should be any concern for fantasy managers.
Christian Kirk Injury Update
Christian Kirk’s calf injury has been a concern for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Doug Pederson told reporters that Kirk will continue to be held out of practice this week, making it a second week of missed practice. There is still plenty of time for Kirk to return to full health before the start of the season, with more than two weeks until he will need to suit up for game action.
A second week of absence might cause fantasy managers some concern with Kirk. He could easily start to slide a little in fantasy drafts, which could present a nice value. He is currently going as the 31st WR off the board at 72nd overall.
If Kirk falls outside of the top 36 options at the position, then that would be a nice value for a potentially explosive fantasy option.
Jordan Addison Injury Update
There were scary scenes as Jordan Addison was carted from the practice field last week. However, the Minnesota Vikings were quick to provide an update that Addison should be fine in the long term.
Addison has not practiced since, and he missed last week’s preseason game, but his Week 1 status does not appear to be in question.
As the WR46 off the board, Addison is in a bit of a state of limbo right now. With uncertainty over whether Sam Darnold can sustain three pass catchers, it is Addison’s value taking the hardest hit. We know what he can do, but will Darnold be able to get the best out of him for fantasy managers?
Hollywood Brown Injury Update
Hollywood Brown looks to be in a race against time to make the opening week of the season.
Having suffered a sternoclavicular injury in the first preseason game, Brown was given at least a four-week timetable to return. When Tyreek Hill was dealing with a similar injury in 2019, he missed four games, giving us a good indication of when Brown may be in line to return.
Andy Reid described Brown as the most questionable of his current injury concerns to miss Week 1. A straight four weeks out for Brown would include Week 1, even if the Chiefs played on the Sunday. Therefore, it seems unlikely that he will be ready for a Thursday Night Football opener in Week 1.
From a fantasy perspective, this injury could cause Brown’s ADP to fall out of the top 40 WRs, which makes him an intriguing value.
Historically, Brown has averaged around 12 fantasy points per game in PPR with a top-level QB throwing him the ball. That places him in that low-end WR3 range, which would make an ADP outside of the top 40 WRs a solid value, even if he misses a couple of games.
Diontae Johnson Injury Update
Tuesday saw Diontae Johnson back at practice after a seemingly mild groin injury. It is promising to see Johnson able to return after just a week, suggesting that some of the absence was merely precautionary given that it was the preseason.
There is every chance that had this been a regular season injury, Johnson may have tried to play through the injury.
Johnson briefly left practice again Tuesday due to what appeared to be a foot/ankle injury. However, after working with the trainer, he was able to return to practice.
There does not appear to be any major concern with either injury, but it would not be a surprise to see Johnson held out of the final preseason game this week. The veteran WR likely does not need to do any work this weekend, especially if there are minor injury concerns.
DeAndre Hopkins Injury Update
We got positive news on DeAndre Hopkins’ knee injury over the weekend in the form of Brian Callahan expecting the WR to be back for Week 1. That had been up for debate last week, so getting some confirmation that he is on track to play in Week 1 is a relief for fantasy managers.
We had seen Hopkins’ ADP dip a little as he dealt with the injury, but the news that he may not miss any time could see him creep back up into the WR3 conversation.
For now, Hopkins presents a solid value as the WR41. But before we get too bullish, we would like to see more positive updates. The initial timeframe was four to six weeks, so even if Hopkins did miss time, it would likely only be a game or two.
Tyler Lockett Injury Update
Tyler Lockett missed last weekend’s preseason game with a leg injury. However, the report stressed that the injury is not considered serious. While he might not suit up for the final preseason game, we are not likely to see Lockett miss any time once the regular season starts.
We have seen Lockett’s fantasy value dropping in recent years, and he is currently going off the board as the 51st WR. This injury will not impact that, but his value is almost into the realm of potentially going undrafted, which is crazy to consider.
Brandin Cooks Injury Update
We saw Brandin Cooks leave practice last week with knee soreness, and while he was back on the practice field Monday, it was with the rehab group. He was then absent from practice on Tuesday, but for “positive” personal reasons. Hopefully, when Cooks returns to the team, it will be for full practice and out of the rehab group.
At this stage, there does not appear to be a major concern over Cooks missing time. We still have more than two weeks of practice ahead of Week 1, so unless we get an indication later this week that this may be more serious than it looks, fantasy managers should continue drafting Cooks as normal.
Curtis Samuel Injury Update
We found on Monday this week that Curtis Samuel is dealing with a turf toe injury that has him described as “week-to-week” by head coach Sean McDermott.
In his update, McDermott said that some of the injuries were more of a concern than others but declined to say which injuries he was specifically discussing in terms of time frame.
The week-to-week moniker traditionally means a player will miss at least seven to 10 days. If that is Samuel’s timeframe, then he should be fine to return in time for Week 1. However, we do see week-to-week injuries stretch into that 14-21-day range, which would push things pretty close for Week 1.
Potentially a bigger concern for fantasy managers is Samuel missing time in a new offensive scheme and how that could translate to the season.
Samuel could be in danger of losing game time if there are elements of the playbook he is not familiar with. He does have experience in a Joe Brady system, so hopefully, that will not be an issue.
Mike Williams Injury Update
The latest reports on Mike Williams’ knee injury suggest that the veteran WR could be back in team reps as early as next week.
Williams is returning from an ACL tear he suffered in Week 3 of last year, so he has a chance to be ready for Week 1. Chances are, the Jets will choose not to rush him too much, and we may see them be cautious with Williams initially.
Williams’ ADP is 146 as the WR56, so he is a low-investment asset right now. However, he is very much a boom-or-bust fantasy option, making it hard to start on a regular basis when healthy.
The injury situation only complicates that further, so it is understandable if people have taken Williams off their draft board for now.
Josh Downs Injury Update
Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs suffered a high ankle sprain in practice earlier in August. Although there were initially fears it could have been worse, this is actually a positive outcome for the young receiver.
Downs’ timeframe to return is four to six weeks, putting him at risk of missing Week 1 and potentially Week 2.
This injury downgrades Downs a little in fantasy drafts, and could see him either going undrafted or as a last-round selection. He has plenty of upside at that price, but you may have to be patient for a couple of weeks as he works his way back to full health.
Roman Wilson Injury Update
Another injury that looked a lot more serious initially was that of Roman Wilson, who is dealing with an ankle sprain.
Wilson was quickly seen around the team not wearing his boot, suggesting he was making good progress. The injury is a multi-week thing, but Wilson has a chance to play in Week 1.
You likely weren’t looking to start Wilson then if you drafted him, so even if he does miss time, it won’t have a major fantasy impact.
Ricky Pearsall Injury Update
The situation with Ricky Pearsall is far from ideal, as he remains sidelined with a shoulder injury. The 49ers had seemed hopeful that he might play in the third week of the preseason, but that does not appear to be the case now.
The race is on for Week 1 of the regular season, but even if he is healthy, it seems unlikely that Pearsall will play a major role.
Much like with Wilson, you were not likely to be leaning heavily on Pearsall early in the season, so this is a low-impact injury from a fantasy perspective.
Justin Herbert Injury Update
After being diagnosed with a plantar fasciitis injury at the end of July, Justin Herbert retired to practice Monday. Jim Harbaugh told reporters that Herbert “looked great with a capital G” during 7-on-7 drills.
However, the Chargers did hold Herbert out of the 11-on-11 drills as he worked his way back through the team’s “gradual return to play” protocol.
The Chargers have the time to be careful, so don’t expect them to rush Herbert into action in the preseason or even over-extend him in practice at this point. The last thing they need is for Herbert to re-injure himself and miss time during the regular season.
This issue could extend into the season, as plantar fasciitis injuries can be hard to recover from.
Herbert is currently being drafted as a QB2, and that is exactly the right range with this injury. We could see him having to shake off some rust in the early weeks, and his movement could be hampered.
However, Herbert should be capable of being exactly what we expect in 2024: a mid-level QB who will lack consistency due to a concern about the weapons around him.
Matthew Stafford Injury Update
Tuesday saw Matthew Stafford return to team drills at practice as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. He had done individual drills on Monday, so it was good to see him take that next step.
It would be a surprise to see Stafford suit up in the preseason this week, but he does appear on course to be ready for Week 1.
A hamstring injury at 36 is a concern, but Stafford is not a player that relies heavily on mobility. He is currently being drafted as the QB20, reflecting the fact that he does not have the consistent upside he once did.
Sam LaPorta Injury Update
Another star Detroit player dealing with a hamstring issue is tight end Sam LaPorta. It has been a slightly longer ordeal for fantasy managers with LaPorta, who first missed practice back on Aug. 5.
Much like Gibbs, Campbell gave a potential return timetable of Sunday this week or early next week.
Missing nearly three weeks due to a hamstring injury is somewhat of a concern for LaPorta, but there will be an element of being overly cautious here. Hamstring injuries are a re-injury risk, so the Lions may just be taking it cautiously from that perspective.
In some respects, fantasy managers would be happier if LaPorta sat out as long as required if it ensures he misses no time in the regular season.
From a fantasy draft perspective, there is no reason to downgrade LaPorta. He should be good to go for Week 1, and there is enough time for the hamstring to heal fully in order to avoid a re-injury.
Mark Andrews Injury Update
The situation surrounding Mark Andrews is a little bit unusual in that his injury is actually from a car accident that he was involved in last Wednesday.
The incident has been described as being minor, with the initial reports suggesting Andrews did not suffer any injury at all. However, as anyone who has been in a car accident will attest, the impact tends to be felt in the days following the incident.
Andrews did not play a part in the preseason game this past week against the Atlanta Falcons, but that in itself should not be a major concern.
On Tuesday afternoon, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters, “It was a very minor thing; we are just not messing with him right now. Don’t worry about Mark.” He then confirmed Andrews would travel with the team to Green Bay.
David Njoku Injury Update
David Njoku was another player who left practice last week with an undisclosed injury.
Kevin Stefanski described the tight end as “sore” but did not go into any more details. Njoku remained absent from practice on Tuesday, which does raise the concern meter a little. However, it seems unlikely this injury will cost the tight end significant practice time.