Top 9 Injuries to Know for Your Fantasy Football Drafts (2023)

With the last of your drafts finishing this Labor Day weekend and football right around the corner, here’s a special edition of the injury round-up. This article contains the most up-to-date analysis and most recent injuries that you have to know before your drafts. Let’s get into it.

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Fantasy Football Injury Round-Up

New Injuries

Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR)

It happened: Cooper Kupp suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury. As I mentioned in a previous week, the biggest risk to reinjure a muscle strain is in the first two weeks of returning to sport. While McVay stated that he’s day to day, if he sustained another hamstring strain, I expect he’ll miss around three weeks, leaving him likely eyeing a return for Week 3. If he just tweaked something and wanted to be cautious, he should be available for Week 1, although I don’t think this will be the case. It seems like the Rams want to be cautious with his return, which is a good sign for his fantasy outlook due to the lower risk of yet another setback.

Concern level: Moderate

Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB – MIA)

Jeff Wilson was a surprise IR placement on Thursday. Coach Mike McDaniel said he’s dealing with a midsection and a finger injury. Without knowing the exact injuries he’s dealing with, it’s tough to predict a return for Wilson, although McDaniel said that hopefully he can return this season. I’m avoiding Wilson off the back of this news; expect Miami to continue to try to add another RB to their backfield.

Concern level: Moderate

Updates:

Joe Burrow (QB – CIN)

Burrow has been participating in individual drills all week. This is a normal part of ramping up, and I expect on Monday, he will be a full participant in practice unless there is a surprise setback.

Concern level: Low

Jerry Jeudy (WR – DEN)

Last 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 four weeks, but the range can go all the way up to eight weeks. The reinjury risk is significantly increased in the first two weeks of returning to play and also significantly increased if that player returns too early. While the Broncos did not place him on IR, I don’t expect him to play Week 1, and I expect he will be limited in his first game or two back.

Concern level: Moderate; I expect he will miss the first game of the season

De’Von Achane (RB – MIA)

Achane suffered an AC joint sprain during the preseason. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can take anywhere from two to six weeks to recover from this injury and return to football. With the injury to Jeff Wilson, they might try to accelerate his return a little bit. However, playing through an AC sprain is a pretty painful injury and might limit his snaps.

Concern level: Moderate

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR – SEA)

Smith-Njigba had a wrist fracture in last Saturday’s preseason game. I am surprised he’s back to catching passes just 10 days after surgery. There’s a chance that he is able to suit up for Week 1, and even if he starts slow, he should burst onto the scene at some point this season due to his talent. Bone injuries are different from muscle injuries, as the reinjury risk is significantly lower.

Concern level: Low

Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS)

McLaurin suffered a turf toe during the preseason game last 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 at any time within two to eight weeks. If he rushes back, expect a decrease in performance and an increased risk of re-injury. I’m not optimistic about his status for the first few weeks of the season.

Concern level: Moderate

Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG)

Surprisingly, Wan’Dale was not placed on short-term IR to start the season. His goal is to suit up for Week 1, although even if he does play, his snaps will be very limited to start the year. It’s tougher to stash him since he won’t be able to go in your IR slot, but he could be a popular waiver pick-up early in the year.

Concern level: Low to moderate

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

Treylon Burks (WR – TEN)

Burks suffered an LCL sprain on 8/16 and returned to practice about two weeks later. I expect him to start ramping up his practice activities and likely be cleared for Week 1. However, I don’t think he will have a full snap count in his first week or two.

Concern level: Low

Good luck with your drafts. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @TheDynastyPT to get injury analysis as the season happens!