Every NFL season there are some players that unfortunately have their seasons cut short due to injuries. Where to draft those players in fantasy football the following season can be tricky. Some players come back from injury with no lingering issues, while others are never quite the same. When evaluating where to take these players in redraft leagues, it’s important to consider the extent of the injury, the position they play, and, of course, their previous performance and pedigree. It’s often important to exercise caution when drafting someone in early rounds returning from a major injury. Conversely, sometimes these players will fall too far in drafts and will present value because of their relative upside.
Here are some players that should be on every fantasy managers’ radar heading into the 2023 season.
Quarterbacks
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Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: Tore ACL in December
Once a top fantasy quarterback draft pick, Kyler Murray has lost his shine after negotiating a bloated contract and failing to live up to expectations in 2022 before ultimately tearing his UCL in December. Just two seasons ago in 2020, Murray was the fantasy QB3. He has tantalizing upside with his mobility and arm talent, but Kliff Kingsbury is off to Thailand, and DeAndre Hopkins wants a trade, so how Murray will return and what he will return to is in serious question. One thing that isn’t in question is that we will not be available to start the season. However, Murray’s upside still warrants him a late pick and a bench stash. He’s exactly the kind of talent that has the potential to dominate the fantasy playoffs.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers: Tore UCL in January
Speaking of Mr. Irrelevant, Purdy was anything but, leading the Niners to the NFC Championship game and winning nine in a row before ultimately falling to the Eagles after suffering a torn UCL. I’m not sure how anyone could put on a better campaign for the job. Purdy played mostly mistake-free football and looks like a perfect fit in this Kyle Shanahn offense. Purdy should have the leg up on the starter’s role for the season, but much will depend on how he heals from his injury. If all goes well, he could be cleared to play in early September. On a per-game basis, Purdy was the fantasy QB8 after taking over the starting role for the 49ers in Week 13.
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers: Broke Ankle in September
The talented runner with decent arm talent has yet to have the opportunity to prove his worth after the Niners traded up for him in the 2021 NFL Draft. Lance played in only two games last season before breaking his ankle, and he didn’t look especially sharp. Lance should be ready to go for the season, but he could be taking a backseat to Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy after Purdy’s impressive leadership into the postseason. He’ll have a chance to compete for the starting job, but the Niners traded for Sam Darnold, too, so fantasy managers will have to decide whether the mobile upside with Lance is worth a draft pick or if he should best be left on waivers.
Running Backs
Breece Hall, New York Jets: Tore ACL in October
Breece Hall was on pace to be NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year before tearing his ACL in Week 7. The rookie was the fantasy RB6 on a per-game basis until that point, averaging an impressive 5.79 yards per carry and seeing 4.5 targets per game. The Jets have made big moves, and with the threat of Aaron Rodgers under center, the run game should open up even more for Hall once he is able to return. Typical recovery for an ACL is 9-12 months, so Hall may not be ready for the start of the season.
Rashaad Penny, Philadelphia Eagles: Broke Ankle in October
Rashaad Penny has elite talent that keeps getting marred by long stints on the injury list. Penny has only played 18 games across the past three seasons. The injuries have ranged from a fractured pinky finger, to a torn ACL, to his most recent: a fractured tibia. However, In 2021, Penny led many fantasy managers to a title with an incredible fantasy playoff performance, and across his last 15 games played, Penny has averaged more than six yards per rush. That’s bonkers. Now, he gets an upgraded offensive line in Philadelphia where he likely takes over the Miles Sanders role for a team that logged the fifth-most rushing yards per game and scored a whopping 32 rushing TDs on their way to the Super Bowl. Penny’s arrow is pointing up, if he can stay healthy.
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos: Tore ACL in October
Williams was taken at the end of the first round in many fantasy drafts last season due to his tremendous potential but unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in Week 4 vs. the Raiders. Williams had been off to a disappointing start, but then again all of the offense was disappointing for the Broncos last season. Sean Payton should revive this team’s offense, and Williams may have actually caught a break sitting out last season. Though Williams could be available for the start of the season, expect him to possibly be worked back in slowly as he recovers from a similar injury to what JK Dobbins returned from last year.
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans: Sprained Ankle in December
Dameon Pierce was the entire Houston Texans team for much of last year- and no I am not exaggerating. Through Week 10, Pierce’s rookie campaign was off to a great start. He was the RB14 ahead of both Kenneth Walker and Tony Pollard. In Week 11, Pierce and the Texans hit a wall, and shortly thereafter Pierce suffered a high ankle sprain. The Texans wisely did not rush their young running back into action, and there should be no issue with Pierce being ready to go for the start of the season. The Texans did sign Devin Singletary in the off-season, but Pierce is younger and is extraordinarily good at breaking tackles. He should be the lead back in this new offense led by DeMeco Ryans, former defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers -a run-heavy offense.
Wide Receivers
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Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams: Ankle Surgery in November
Across the first nine weeks of 2022 before being shut down for a high-ankle sprain, ranked as the fantasy WR2, leading the league with 11.6 targets per game and second only to Tyreek Hill in catches (72). He was also averaging 101.6 receiving yards per game and had already scored six receiving touchdowns. Fantasy football managers should not skip a beat drafting him as early as the WR1 in this year’s drafts. Kupp was the 2021 NFL Offensive Player of Year and he won the triple crown on his way to a Super Bowl championship with the Rams. Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay are returning for 2023, and we should see a nice reunion tour season from Cooper Kupp. He’s a no-doubt first-rounder.
Wan’Dale Robinson , New York Giants: Tore ACL in November
After getting a slow start to the season with lingering injuries, the promising young rookie tore his ACL in Week 11 ending his season officially. Unfortunately, that ACL tear happened in the same game where he looked ready to break out, recording nine catches and 100 receiving yards. Early reports say Robinson is on track to be ready for the season after a successful repair, and he could be worth a late-round pick in Brian Daboll’s improved Giants offense.
Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos: Tore ACL in August
Much like Javonte Williams, maybe Tim Patrick almost caught a break by missing all of last season with the Denver Broncos. Instead, Patrick will return to a new-look Sean Peyton offense and will look to form a sure connection with Russell Wilson. Patrick has been one of the more underrated, sure-handed receivers in the NFL. As he suffered his injury last August 2nd, he should be a factor for the upcoming season, and maybe he can garner some of the chemistry Wilson didn’t seem to have with Courtland Sutton.
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens: Lisfranc Surgery in November
Rashod Bateman hasn’t played since Week 8 of 2022, and he’s since had surgery for a Lisfranc foot injury. He’s expected to be back for the season and will reclaim his role as a starting receiver in a John Harbaugh offense that unfortunately hasn’t been great for fantasy wide receivers.
Tight End
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: Tore MCL in November
Kyle Pitts was drafted as early as the third round in many fantasy football leagues last year, and he vastly underperformed his ADP even before his season-ending knee injury in Week 10. Pitts saw 59 targets before his injury for a total of 356 yards with only a 47.4% catch rate. Now, to be fair, he was trying to catch passes from Marcus Mariota in a run-first offense. The Falcons averaged the third-most rushing yards per game last year. Will that offense look much with Desmond Ridder under center? Well, it can’t look much worse, but one should exercise caution when taking any TE not named Travis Kelce before Round 6. If your league-mates have soured on Pitts and he falls into later rounds, he’s worth an add. After all, he did have 1,026 yards in his rookie season.
