10 Most Important Fantasy Football Injuries to Know For Your Draft (2023)

Another week of preseason is complete and it was another week where most of the big name players continue to stay healthy. Here are the most fantasy relevant injuries for the week and some updates from previous injuries. With most drafts happening soon, it’s important to stay up to date on injuries in the coming weeks.

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Fantasy Football Injury Round-Up

New Injuries

Jerry Jeudy (WR – DEN)

On Thursday, Jerry Jeudy was carted off the practice field with a hamstring injury. The reports are saying “moderate” hamstring strain, which leads me to believe it’s a grade 2 injury. The average time to return to sport following a G2 hamstring strain is around 4 weeks, but the range can go all the way up to 8 weeks. The reinjury risk is significantly increased in the first 2 week of returning to play, and also significantly increased if that player returns too early.

Concern level: High, I expect he misses the beginning of the season.

De’Von Achane (RB – MIA)

Achane suffered an AC joint sprain during preseason. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks to recover from this injury and return to football. With him being a rookie and two other serviceable running backs on the roster, I expect it will likely be towards the end of that timeline when he starts to be fantasy relevant.

Concern level: moderate

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA)

Smith-Njigba had a wrist fracture in Saturday’s preseason game. I would be very surprised if he suits up for Week 1, as I expect he will be limited early in the season. The general rule for any fracture is that should be pretty much healed in 6 weeks, but it can take 8 to 10 weeks to feel totally normal again. Especially for a WR with a wrist fracture, I wouldn’t be shocked if he wasn’t fantasy relevant for the first 3 to 4 weeks of the season.

Concern level: moderate

Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS)

McLaurin suffered turf toe during the preseason game this weekend, which is a sprained ligament in the big toe. This is not a good injury for a WR, due to the role the big toe plays in power generation. Depending on the severity of the injury, he could return from the injury any time within 2 to 8 weeks. If he rushes back, expect a decrease in performance and increased risk for reinjury.

Concern level: moderate

Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG)

I expect Robinson to start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, as he will reach the important 9 month mark after ACL surgery by week 4. He might be a good late round candidate if your league has an IR spot and you believe he has a chance to be the Giants’ WR1.

Concern level: High to start on PUP

Updates

Jaylen Waddle (WR – MIA)

Surprisingly, Waddle still hasn’t returned to practice. It sounds like the organization wants to be cautious with him following the midsection injury. It remains to be seen whether that means working him in slowly early on in the season or just limiting him in practices for the rest of the preseason.

Concern level: low to moderate

Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR)

Kupp returned to practice this week, leading me to further believe he only had a Grade 1 hamstring strain with which they were being cautious. Because of that, the reinjury risk is significantly lower than with someone who rushes back.

Concern level: low

Isiah Pacheco (RB – KC)

Pacheco is fully cleared for contact, so I am expecting him to be good to go for Week 1.

Concern level: low

Miles Sanders (RB – CAR)

Sanders returned to practice from the groin injury. Expect him to ramp up and be ready for Week 1.

Concern level: low

Mike Gesicki (TE – NE)

Gesicki has returned to practice in a non-contact jersey, which is a good sign and means his dislocation is likely very mild, so I anticipate him to play Week 1

Concern level: low