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Fantasy: 15 stars coming off season-ending injuries

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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 15 players who are currently on the mend and how they should be approached heading into this season.

Le'Veon Bell

The Steelers haven't provided much of an update on Bell's health after he underwent surgery to repair a torn MCL and PCL in his right knee, suffered last November. He was cleared to begin running in March, but likely won't see the field in a full capacity until training camp.

Advice: Bell remains the top-ranked running back until we hear of an actual setback or see him struggling to regain his elite form. You shouldn't gamble with your first-round pick, so Bell's status will be important to monitor over the summer.

Jamaal Charles

Concerns surrounding Charles extend beyond his torn ACL. The former automatic top-five selection in fantasy will be a limited participant at best for Chiefs OTAs, with the hope he will be available for training camp. However, in addition to his recovery, Charles' age (30 in December) and growing competition could hinder his production in 2016.

Advice: With Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware poised to take a portion of the carries, even a healthy Charles might end up being more of a low-end RB1 or high-end RB2 this season.

Jordy Nelson

Nelson's preseason ACL tear was devastating for fantasy owners and crippled the Packers' offense throughout the season. With his rehab reportedly progressing well, all signs point to the 31-year-old being in the lineup Week 1.

Advice: Nelson is consistently undervalued among the game's elite pass catchers. Aaron Rodgers' favorite target is one season removed from finishing second among fantasy receivers and will be an outstanding value in Round 2 of this year's drafts.

Thomas Rawls

Worries about Rawls' ankle injury increased dramatically when the Seahawks drafted three running backs in April. Pete Carroll says Rawls is the team's lead back heading into the season, but still hasn't provided a timeline for his return.

Advice: Prior to going down with a fractured ankle in December, Rawls was a fantasy stud when filling in for Marshawn Lynch last season. While the second-year back still has RB1 upside, the uncertainty about his ankle, combined with the arrival of a change-of-pace option in C.J. Prosise, makes him a risky selection before the third round.

Keenan Allen

Allen saw his season abruptly end in November due to a lacerated kidney. It was a scary injury, but one he's expected to fully recovery from. Allen has referred to himself as "100 percent" and will practice without limitations at OTAs.

Advice: If Allen had continued the torrid pace he was on through eight games, he would have posted 1,450 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016. He should go off the board as a top-15 wideout, no later than the beginning of the third round.

Kelvin Benjamin

When training camp opens, Benjamin will be a full year removed from tearing his ACL, which should allow the 25-year-old to be at or close to full participation.

Advice: The lost sophomore campaign makes it easy to forget about Benjamin's 1,000-yard, nine-touchdown rookie season. The Panthers reached the Super Bowl without the help of their young star receiver, but he should return as a quality WR2 in fantasy.

Carlos Hyde

Hyde appeared to be on the verge of a breakout season before he was forced to undergo surgery for a stress fracture in his foot during the second half of the year. The good news is that he's already back on the field and getting acclimated to Chip Kelly's offense.

Advice: Hyde's injury-shortened season might be casting a shadow over his potential for a monster year under Kelly. With the 49ers' offense lacking talent, Hyde will likely be the focal point, giving him RB1 upside as a fourth-round pick.

Dion Lewis

A November ACL tear derailed a promising start to Lewis' New England career. Dr. James Andrews was encouraged by Lewis' progress early in the offseason, but the 25-year-old won't have much time to spare if he's going to be ready for Week 1.

Advice: Lewis emerged as a dangerous weapon in the Patriots' backfield, receiving ample work in the passing game and also getting carries near the goal line. Other owners in your league may not realize Lewis' value, but the Patriots did, locking him up to a two-year extension prior to the injury. If the Patriots don't add a veteran like Arian Foster, Lewis will produce RB2 numbers in fantasy.

Andrew Luck

Luck's year ended due to a lacerated kidney, but he dealt with a variety of injuries throughout a disappointing 2016 season. The Colts star is back to full health, and in an attempt to keep him that way, the team invested a first-round pick in center Ryan Kelly.

Advice: It seems like many are holding last season's injury-plagued campaign against Luck, which could cause his stock to drop come draft time. Luck has a trio of talented young receivers, as well as a solid red-zone tight end, and remains a top-three player at his position. Waiting on quarterback is the wise move, but if you're set on taking a passer early, Luck should be on your short list.

Arian Foster

Foster has yet to sign with a team, and for good reason: He enters the 2016 season as a 30-year-old running back coming off a torn Achilles. More teams have begun to show interest in recent weeks as Foster gets closer to being able to pass a physical.

Advice: While a lot depends on where he signs, Foster is almost guaranteed to land with a club in need of his services. It's unlikely he regains RB1 status, but he carries intriguing upside in the eighth round or later. In recent MFL10s, Foster has fallen as far as the 15th round, which is phenomenal value in best-ball formats.

Justin Forsett

Forsett was unable to recapture the magic from his fantasy breakout in 2014, ultimately missing the final six games of the season after breaking his arm.

Advice: The 31-year-old veteran has healed and will get the first crack at the Ravens' starting job, but Buck Allen and rookie Kenneth Dixon will almost certainly play a role in the backfield. The situation could become more clear during the training camp battle, but until we see them on the field, it's a situation to avoid in fantasy.

Jimmy Graham

Graham ruptured his patellar tendon in Week 12 and doesn't have a timeline in place for his return. Spending the first six games on the reserve/PUP list is a definite possibility for the former fantasy star.

Advice: With the depth at tight end, it's impossible to justify taking Graham among the top-15 players at his position. The Seahawks didn't make it a priority to get Graham involved in the offense when he was healthy, so there's no reason to think that will happen now.

Kevin White

After being selected seventh overall, White missed his entire rookie season due to a stress fracture in his shin. GM Ryan Pace stated that White is back to full health, which means the Bears should finally get a return on their investment.

Advice: White is an unknown commodity in the fantasy world, so his offseason performance will have a significant effect on his draft stock. With Alshon Jeffery set to soak up targets, White will be more of a WR3 with the potential to surprise as a seventh- or eighth-round pick.

Steve Smith

The Ravens have a pair of receivers working their way back from injuries. The 37-year-old Smith is recovering from a ruptured Achilles, while second-year man Breshad Perriman looks to make his debut after PCL injuries kept him on the sidelines last year.

Advice: Smith is one of the most motivated players in the NFL, and his decision to hold off on retirement means he'll be driven to make an impact when he returns. The veteran will make for a quality mid-round pick. Perriman needs to get on the field and show something before fantasy owners put their faith in him.

Tony Romo

After a nightmare season that resulted in collarbone surgery, Romo is expected to move forward without any restrictions.

Advice: The Cowboys' offense was lost without their star under center. Not only do they get Romo back, but rookie Ezekiel Elliott should provide a major upgrade to the running game. Romo is poised for a top-10 finish, similar to his 2014 season when DeMarco Murray ran free behind Dallas' dominant offensive line.

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