Fantasy: Checking up on WRs 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 six receivers 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
A.J. Green
The hamstring injury that sidelined Green for the final six weeks of 2016 is a thing of the past. The Bengals will have their star wideout on the field for their offseason program, which should be no surprise after Green nearly made it back before the end of the regular season.
Fantasy Prognosis: With Green's health not in question, fantasy owners can safely take him in the first round once the clear top six are off the board. The only area of concern with Green will be the Bengals' downgraded offensive line, which could give Andy Dalton less time to look downfield for his favorite target.
Keenan Allen
After missing the second half of the 2015 season due to lacerated kidney, Allen returned for Week 1 last year, only to suffer a torn ACL in the opener. It was a cruel turn of events for one of the better young receivers in the league. Allen recently declared himself 85 percent healthy, giving him a good chance to be at full strength come training camp.
Fantasy Prognosis: While some players are injury-prone, Allen just appears to be incredibly unlucky. During the first half of that 2015 season, he was on pace for elite WR1 numbers, but with the emergence of new weapons like Tyrell Williams and Hunter Henry in the Chargers' offense, Philip Rivers won't need to force as many targets to his top receiver. Allen will settle back in as a safe fantasy WR2.
Eric Decker
Most of the players we've discussed so far in this series have optimistic outlooks - Decker is not one of them. The 30-year-old pass-catcher could reportedly miss training camp following surgeries on his hip and shoulder. Decker would still have a chance to be ready in time for the regular season, but rumors have circulated that the Jets may part ways with him before then, leaving his value in limbo.
Editor's note: Decker has been released by the Jets and signed by the Titans
Fantasy Prognosis: Prior to last year's injury-shortened season, Decker averaged over 10 touchdowns per campaign from 2012-15. So there's no doubting his talent; only his health and the level of quarterback play in New York. At the moment, this is an easy decision for fantasy owners, as Decker's value has plummeted, making him a great flier in the middle rounds.
Josh Doctson
Doctson had a tough start to his NFL career, seeing action in just two games before missing the rest of the season with an Achilles injury. To make matters worse, the 2016 first-rounder isn't fully healed yet, which means he'll be limited at best for OTAs.
Fantasy Prognosis: With DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon out of the picture, Doctson will have an opportunity to step up in the Redskins' offense, if he can get healthy. Jamison Crowder and Terrelle Pryor are quality talents, but Doctson comes with a first-round pedigree and was one of my favourite receivers in the 2016 draft. His breakout is coming, but it might not be for another year.
Kevin White
The former No. 7 overall pick has only played in four games over his first two seasons in the NFL. A stress fracture in his shin robbed him of his rookie year, while a high-ankle sprain and fracture in his fibula sent him to IR just a month into his sophomore campaign. The Bears are saying all the right things, including that White will take part in the offseason program, but he has a long way to go to prove his body can hold up in the pro game.
Fantasy Prognosis: With Alshon Jeffery gone, there'll be targets available for whoever rises from the ashes in Chicago's now-crowded receiving corps. The Bears certainly seemed interested in forcing the ball to White during the limited games where he was on the field, giving him some sleeper potential. However, I'd rather draft Adam Thielen, Marvin Jones, or even Mike Wallace, who have similar ADPs.
Tyler Lockett
Lockett broke his fibula and tibia in Week 16, but is reportedly ahead of schedule and the team believes he'll be ready when the real games begin in September.
Fantasy Prognosis: Lockett has shown he can generate a lot of production with minimal touches. Unfortunately, his flashes have been far too inconsistent to make him a reliable fantasy option. If the Seahawks decide to incorporate him into the offense more, Lockett has the talent for a massive leap, though it seems more likely he'll remain a boom-or-bust player. He's the kind of asset that brings more value in best-ball formats like MFL10s than he does in traditional re-draft leagues.
Players returning from injury
- Quarterbacks
- Running Backs
- Wide Receivers
- Tight Ends