Fantasy: Checking up on RBs returning from serious injuries
Player injuries are an annual cause of torment for fantasy owners, but in the offseason, those same injuries can be one of the best ways to find value in drafts.
Some are hesitant to invest a high pick in a player they last saw being carted off the field, creating an opportunity for owners who can accurately assess the recovery times for potential fantasy stars.
Let's take a look at seven running backs who are on the mend and how they should be approached heading into the season.
Players returning from injury
- Quarterbacks
- Running Backs
- Wide Receivers
- Tight Ends
David Johnson
Johnson's 20-touchdown campaign came to an early end when he left the Cardinals' Week 17 game with what appeared to be a significant leg injury. Fortunately, the result was simply a sprained MCL and no surgery was required.
Fantasy Prognosis: Johnson has already declared himself "full throttle," which shouldn't be surprising since he was jumping out of pools in February. If he's not one of the first two picks in your fantasy draft, something is wrong.
C.J. Anderson
Anderson's season came to an end midway through the year due to a torn meniscus. After undergoing surgery in October, the Broncos' lead back is reportedly healthy and will be a full participant in the team's offseason program.
Fantasy Prognosis: It's great to hear that Anderson will take part in the offseason activities, but the time off may bring his past weight issues back into question. When healthy and committed, Anderson has been an RB1 in fantasy, but unfortunately he hasn't been able to maintain that level of play for more than half a season at a time. He's setting up to be an extremely risky pick in the first three rounds and one that will likely best be left for another owner to gamble on.
Carlos Hyde
Hyde recently resumed some running and cutting as he battles back from a torn MCL suffered near the end of last season. While he's not back to full health yet, all signs point to him being ready for training camp. Now the only question is whether the 49ers want to keep him, after a report surfaced that they might move on from the 25-year-old.
Fantasy Prognosis: If San Fran does elect to stick with him, the arrival of Kyle Shanahan, who has manufactured productive rushing attacks with every team he's coached, is excellent news for Hyde's fantasy prospects. The key would be whether Hyde can stay on the field, as injuries have cost him two games or more in each of his three NFL seasons. Hyde is shaping up to be a volatile fantasy pick, which is reason enough to pass on him in the early rounds.
Eddie Lacy
The excitement over Lacy signing with Seahawks made people forget that he's coming off a major ankle injury that cost him 11 games in 2016 and led to surgery in October. If his four to six month timetable holds up, we should be hearing some positive news about his health any day now. The focus will then shift to his weight, after he reportedly was 267 pounds during one of his free agent visits.
Fantasy Prognosis: Ankle issues and an ongoing weight problem are not the kinds of news you want surrounding one of your starting fantasy backs. Lacy will reportedly get first crack at the Seahawks' starting job, but with Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise in the mix, Lacy's road back to fantasy stardom could be a bumpy one. Treat him as a low-end RB2 until we get a better feel for how Seattle plans to deploy him.
Adrian Peterson
Peterson missed the majority of his final season with the Vikings due to a torn meniscus that he may have rushed back from, only to be sidelined once again with a groin injury. Free agency hasn't been kind to the 32-year-old, with his age and recent injuries likely playing a part. He should be healthy come the season, but staying on the field will be the new challenge for AP.
Fantasy Prognosis: While his stock is currently in a state of decline both in real life and fantasy, the truth is Peterson will almost certainly end up playing for a contender, even if he doesn't sign until closer to the season. His lack of involvement in the passing game makes him less exciting for fantasy, but he still carries a decent amount of upside for a back you can get in the middle rounds.
Ameer Abdullah
A foot injury sidelined Abdullah permanently after Week 2, though he's recently been medically cleared and there's hope he'll be good to go for OTAs. His teammate Theo Riddick also didn't see the field over the final month of the season, which led to surgeries on both his wrists. His availability for offseason work remains unclear.
Fantasy Prognosis: The Lions upgraded their offensive line in free agency, which makes their backfield intriguing, but who'll benefit remains up in the air until we see if they draft a back or sign someone like Adrian Peterson. Last year's injuries to Abdullah and Riddick increase the odds of that happening. If Detroit surprisingly rolls with the same cast, Abdullah has the talent to be a fantasy star, and should taken as a low-end RB2 with upside, while Riddick would continue to deliver as a PPR starter.
Danny Woodhead
Woodhead is returning from a torn ACL that occurred in Week 1 last season. The injury wasn't enough to scare the Ravens away, as they signed the 32-year-old back in free agency. Woodhead is reportedly ahead of schedule in his rehab, and one would have to think Baltimore is confident about him being available early in the season since Kenneth Dixon is suspended for the first four games.
Fantasy Prognosis: As long as he hasn't lost a step from the injury, Woodhead will be a major factor in the Ravens' backfield. With Dixon sidelined early, Woodhead will see plenty of snaps in the opening month, and dominate passing down work for the entire season. The former Charger will likely be undervalued as always in fantasy drafts, so don't hesitate to pull the trigger on him in the middle rounds as an RB3.
Players returning from injury
- Quarterbacks
- Running Backs
- Wide Receivers
- Tight Ends