Injury is an unfortunate part of the NFL as well as fantasy football. While it’s ultimately outside of your control, it’s important to know who’s returning from injury as you look ahead to the upcoming season. Here’s a list of notable players that dealt with injury in 2021, along with their 2022 ranking and player note.

Player rankings based on our redraft Expert Consensus Rankings for half-PPR leagues.

Players Returning From Injury to Avoid

Running Backs

J.K. Dobbins (BAL)
Running backs tied to a mobile quarterback are often short-changed when it comes to the passing game. For as well as J.K. Dobbins performed in fantasy football from Weeks 11-17 in full PPR (RB11) during the 2020 season, guess who outscored him… J.D. McKissic. That’s because McKissic caught 37 passes versus Dobbins’ three. Guys like Derrick Henry can overcome the lack of receiving work because they are entrenched bell cows, but that’s not the case with Dobbins in Baltimore with Gus Edwards also in the mix. Dobbins only slightly out-touched Edwards 86-74 down the stretch in 2020. It would be pure ignorance to assume that Dobbins will take over the backfield considering Edwards has been excellent with every opportunity he has received. Dobbins also ran extremely hot when it came to scoring touchdowns, scoring at least one TD in every game from Week 11 on. His nine total rushing TDs ranked 12th in the league and nearly doubled his expected output (5.5, 30th) – the sixth-highest difference at the position. Drafters have to understand that to invest in Dobbins as a late third-rounder or fourth-rounder (RB20, 50th overall ADP) he needs to run hot in the TD category coming off the season-ending ACL injury. They also should expect zero-to-little pass-game work with Jackson’s tendency to not check down along with the additions of receiving backs, veteran Mike Davis and rookie Tyler Badie.

Wide Receivers

Chris Godwin (TB)
Chris Godwin posted another stellar season last year as the WR7 in fantasy football. He set opposing defenses on fire as Tom Brady’s underneath weapon, ranking eighth in YAC per reception and fifth in overall YAC yardage. The biggest question for Godwin in 2022 isn’t talent but his recovery from an ACL and MCL tear sustained in Week 15 of last season. If Godwin is good to go, he’s a top 15 fantasy wideout, but tempering expectations early on if he’s limited or starts on the PUP pushes him into WR3 (or lower) territory based on possible time missed. The signings of Russell Gage and Julio Jones indicate the Bucs are preparing to bring back Godwin slowly, but initial reports are that he’s hopeful to be ready as soon as Week 1.

Robert Woods (TEN)
Robert Woods was traded to the Titans after the Rams signed Allen Robinson in free agency. The move was less about Woods’ ability, but rather his salary cap hit that the Rams were looking to free themselves from. Still, entering his age 30-season fantasy managers should question whether Woods has the juice left to continue producing for fantasy. Often viewed as a safe fantasy WR2 during his time in L.A. – he was WR17 before his injury in 2021 – Woods might be subject to some poor game conditions in the Titans’ run-heavy approach that could nuke his weekly fantasy appeal. He has a chance to be the No. 1 receiver if rookie Treylon Burks fails to hit the ground running, but anything less will not be fruitful for the seasoned veteran. Over the past two seasons, production has not been kind to WRs over 30 years old. Only three receivers over 30 – Cole Beasley, Adam Thielen, and Marvin Jones Jr. – finished as top-40 fantasy options. If he stays healthy, Woods could easily beat his ADP. But I’m just not sure how high his fantasy ceiling is based on the situation.

KJ Hamler (WR)
K.J. Hamler possesses enticing upside as a speedy slot receiver that could be Russell Wilson‘s new version of Tyler Lockett, but he could be a total zero with his inability to stay healthy the past two seasons. Had it not been for the two-touchdowns game versus Carolina back in 2020 – Hamler would probably be viewed closer to Parris Campbell despite the latter being an actual starter on his offense.

Sterling Shepard (NYG)
Simply put: When Sterling Shepard is healthy and on the field, he gets peppered with targets.

He has been a top-40 wide receiver in terms of fantasy points per game (PPR) over the past three seasons, commanding nearly eight targets per game.

But with his health status off the Achilles tear a major concern and the Giants featuring highly-competitive wide receiver room, 2022 might be the year Ol’ Shepard falls to the wayside as nothing more than bench depth with a decent floor in PPR formats as his main selling argument.

Tight Ends

Logan Thomas (WAS)
Logan Thomas is on the comeback trail after a torn ACL in 2021. The problem for Thomas is that even assuming he’s fully healthy in 2022, the path to repeating his TE5 in fantasy points per game finish (2020) will be difficult. Thomas hasn’t been an efficient player as a starting tight end, ranking 41st and 22nd in yards per route run in each of the last two seasons (minimum 20 targets per PFF). With the addition of Carson Wentz, the team could easily be a run-oriented squad. If that doesn’t come to fruition, the return of J.D. McKissic, the addition of Jahan Dotson, and the possible resurrection of Curtis Samuel could severely dent his 2022 outlook and target expectations.

FantasyPros Staff Consensus 2022 Redraft Fantasy Football Rankings