Fantasy Football Injuries: Hollywood Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, Puka Nacua, Alvin Kamara

In a way, injuries in fantasy football can be the defining moments of a season. Did you lose your first and second-round picks to long-term injury? Good luck finding that level of replacement on the waiver wire. Did your quarterback get injured on the first drive in your Week 16 playoff matchup? See you next season!

Most injuries that occur during games are unpredictable and force a certain set of reactions once the game week ends, but what about the injuries we are aware of before the season begins?

As the draft season for fantasy football leagues really ramps up over the next two weeks, players who are currently dealing with an injury can force a major dilemma. Do you take on the risk of an injured player for the hopeful outcome that they are ready for the season or can produce with only a short time missed?

As is often said in fantasy football, “Don’t invite trouble onto your roster.” Sometimes, however, the reward will outweigh the risk. This is why understanding the impact of injuries in preseason is immensely important.

This piece will look at key injuries to fantasy football-relevant players. The goal is to determine whether or not to take on the injury risk and what impact the injury could have during the season.

Fantasy Football Injuries to Monitor

All ADP data is taken from FantasyPros consensus ADP for half-PPR formats.

Alvin Kamara (RB – NO)

Kamara has missed two days of practice with a back injury, although, right now, it is not considered serious. It was described by coach Dennis Allen as back tightness, so it is hopefully just something that needs time to rest before he can return. With Kendre Miller in the doghouse and Jamaal Williams staring down 30 after an inefficient season, the Saints desperately need Kamara to be healthy this year.

Fantasy Impact: There’s no reason to move Kamara down in rankings or Miller up in rankings yet. Williams did take first-team reps last week, but that was likely to just get reacclimated to his short-yardage and goal-line work.

Puka Nacua (WR – LAR)

After a magical rookie season, Puka Nacua is now frequently drafted at the end of the first round or beginning of the second (ADP 13.3). Putting that ADP in danger is a knee injury suffered in practice last week. Nacua and the coaching staff don’t seem to be worried about the injury. The plan is to be careful with the prized receiver for the rest of camp and get him ready for the season.

Fantasy Impact: Both the coaching staff and Nacua have said he will be ready to go Week 1, so there is no need to adjust anything yet. If Nacua were to miss time, however, it would be a downgrade for Matthew Stafford, but it could bump up Cooper Kupp by a full round of ADP. Kupp would receive tremendous volume in any game Nacua misses.

DeAndre Hopkins (WR – TEN)

Certainly more serious than Nacua’s issue, DeAndre Hopkins’ left-knee injury is substantial enough that he will be out several weeks while he tries to rehab for the season. There is already confirmation that Hopkins will not need surgery, and Brian Callahan believes he will be on the field in Week 1.

Fantasy Impact: There are plenty of other pass-catching mouths to feed in Tennessee, so if Hopkins were to miss time, it’s difficult to predict where those targets would go. Calvin Ridley and Chig Okonkwo would be the most likely candidates. However, do not rule out a lot of easy passes to Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard if Will Levis loses his best wide receiver.

Hollywood Brown (WR – KC)

Hollywood Brown suffered a sternoclavicular injury early in the Chiefs’ first preseason game. He will miss 4 to 6 weeks with the injury which puts his Week 1 (and perhaps Week 2 and 3) seriously in jeopardy. Andy Reid is someone who will put players out there when they are “almost” 100%, so hopefully Brown is back in uniform by Week 3.

Fantasy Impact: Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy could get big bumps in ADP if Hollywood Brown is out for two or three games to start the year. Rice’s legal situation could still leave him with a suspension, but it’s looking less likely. All of Rice, Worthy, and Travis Kelce will have a few more targets go their way with Hollywood on the sideline.

NFL Alvin Kamara Kendre Miller Jamaal Williams Puka Nacua Matthew Stafford Cooper Kupp DeAndre Hopkins Calvin Ridley Chig Okonkwo Tyjae Spears Tony Pollard Will Levis Hollywood Brown Rashee Rice Xavier Worthy Travis Kelce