Fantasy Football Injuries: Which Players Should You Target, and Who Could Kill Your Season?

Nothing can wreck a fantasy season like injuries.

But injuries also present opportunity. You can gain an edge over your competition by having a better understanding of injuries, how long they’ll keep players out, and how they’ll impact performance upon return.

That’s why we have Tyler Smola -- a doctor of Physical Therapy with more than a decade of sports medicine experience -- to break down what these injuries really mean for fantasy managers.

Tyler separates rumor from reality, explains timelines, and gives you the performance outlook you need to make sharper draft decisions.

Fantasy Football Injuries: QBs

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

• Injury: left ACL, LCL tear (Dec. 14)
• Surgery: ACL and LCL reconstruction (Dec. 15)

Outlook: Yes, Mahomes had surgery the day after his injury. That’s extremely rare. Two reasons this could have been done: 

1. To give him every possible second to be ready for Week 1.
2. Due to concern involving a nerve or blood vessel. 

Mahomes will be almost exactly nine months removed from surgery by Week 1. Nine months is generally considered the earliest safe return-to-play timeline after ACL reconstruction, with significantly higher re-tear rates for athletes who return before that point.

Expect Mahomes to be ready for the opener but with a notable decline in rushing production for most of the season. We may see him start running more late in the year and in the playoffs. 

The relatively low physical demands of the position are what make a Week 1 return realistic. If Mahomes were a RB, he'd likely miss the start of the season or face a more limited workload.

Jayden Daniels, Commanders

• Injury: elbow dislocation, hamstring strain, knee PCL sprain
• Surgery: none

Outlook: Daniels sprained his left knee in Week 2 and missed the next two games. In Week 7, he strained his right hamstring and missed one game. In Week 9, he dislocated his left elbow and missed four games, then re-injured the elbow and did not return for the remainder of the season. 

None of these injuries poses any significant risk heading into this season, and we should expect Daniels to be at full strength in Week 1.

That said, taken together, this injury history does raise some concern about his durability moving forward.

Daniel Jones, Colts

• Injury: Achilles rupture (Dec. 4)
• Surgery: right Achilles repair (Dec. 9)

Outlook: Jones said on July 13 that he had been "cleared to do everything." At that point, he was seven months removed from his Achilles repair, typically when athletes begin return-to-sport progressions. 

Jones was likely referring to being cleared for higher-level, football-specific movements, not that he was game-ready in July.

Jones has been a full participant in training camp. Similar to the Mahomes situation, the relatively low physical demands should allow him to return for Week 1. 

Expect a significant reduction in rushing production during the first half of the season, though, with his mobility likely improving week to week.

Kyler Murray, Vikings

• Injury: Lisfranc injury (mid-foot sprain)
• Surgery: none

Outlook: Arizona shut Murray down after Week 5, giving him nearly 11 months to get his right foot ready for the coming season. This should be ample time for recovery, barring any significant setbacks. 

If all goes well, there should be minimal impact on his rushing and passing performance this season.

Murray has been a full-go at training camp.

Bo Nix, Broncos

• Injury: right ankle fracture (Jan. 17)
• Surgery: open reduction internal fixation (Jan. 20)

Outlook: Nix went down at the very end of Denver’s divisional-round win over the Bills and missed the AFC championship.

HC Sean Payton later revealed that Nix has had three surgeries on his right ankle, the first coming when he was in high school and the second at Auburn in 2021.

Rehab tyically runs three to six months following this injury. Unsurprisingly, Nix has been a full participant in training camp.

We shouldn't expect this latest injury to impact his production this season, but the history of chronic right-ankle issues elevates his overall injury risk.

Michael Penix, Falcons

• Injury: left ACL tear (Nov. 16)
• Surgery: ACL reconstruction (Nov. 25)

Outlook: This is Penix’s third ACL tear. He tore the right ACL twice in college. Injuries have ended five of his last eight seasons prematurely.

Penix has approximately a 50/50 chance to be ready for Week 1 and a very high probability of returning at some point this season barring a re-tear during his recovery. 

Making it back onto the field is Step 1. Staying on the field is possibly the much harder step .

Cam Ward, Titans

• Injury: right shoulder AC joint sprain (Jan. 4)
• Surgery: none

Outlook: Ward suffered a Grade 3 AC joint sprain (separated shoulder) in Week 18. 

The bad news is it was late in the year and impacted his offseason conditioning and throwing program.

The good news: He's been a full-go for camp and will be ready for Week 1 with little to no effect on performance.

Fantasy Football Injuries: RBs

Quinshon Judkins, Browns

• Injury: dislocated right ankle, fibula fracture (Dec. 21)
• Surgery: fibula ORIF, ankle ligament reconstruction or repair (Dec. 23)

Outlook: Judkins is expected to be ready for Week 1, but don't bank on him being 100% right away. This is a significant injury, and the cutting and acceleration demands of the position place considerable stress on the ankle.

The closest recent comparison is Chris Godwin, whose recovery illustrated how difficult the return from this injury can be. (Godwin started just six games last year and caught a mere 33 passes coming off the 2024 injury.)

There are no signs that Judkins has experienced any setbacks similar to Godwin's, but don't be surprised if he gets off to a slightly limited or slow start before working his way back to near full strength by the middle of the season.

Cam Skattebo, Giants

• Injury: right fibula fracture, ruptured deltoid ligament, dislocated ankle (Oct. 26)
• Surgery: fibula ORIF, Deltoid (ankle) ligament repair/reconstruction (Oct. 26)

Outlook: This is similar to the Judkins situation, except Skattebo had an additional two months to recover.

All reports indicate that Skattebo has had a relatively smooth recovery, and he recently said he feels "99.9%." That two-month difference is significant and makes it much more likely that he'll begin the season without limitations and closer to 100%.

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

• Injury: left ACL tear (Jan. 17)
• Surgery: ACL reconstruction 

Outlook: Charbonnet underwent ACL reconstruction surgery on Feb. 20, giving him a little more than seven months to recover before Week 1. Even though HC Mike Macdonald recently stated that "everything's possible," don't expect Charbonnet to suit up for the season opener.

An October or November return remains more likely, with a gradual ramp-up in snaps once he does return. Expect roughly a 20% reduction in production this season.

Remember: Once an athlete tears an ACL, his risk of tearing the same or opposite ACL in the future increases significantly (see Jonathon Brooks below).

Jonathon Brooks, Panthers

• Injury: right ACL tear (second in 13 months)
• Surgery: ACL reconstructions (Nov. 11, 2023 and Dec. 8, 2024)

Outlook: Brooks tore the same ACL twice in a 13-month span. Nightmare.

Revision ACL surgeries require a new graft, are generally more complex, and typically come with a slower recovery.

On the bright side, Brooks has had 21 months to recover and gained full clearance in April. He's been a full participant in training camp, and reports on his recovery have been positive.

We can be confident that Brooks is fully recovered and should be close to 100% by Week 1. However, his long-term injury risk will remain elevated given his history.

RJ Harvey, Broncos

• Injury: shoulder labral tear
• Surgery: labral repair during the offseason

Outlook: We don't know the exact date of Harvey's surgery, but it's reasonable to assume it was performed shortly after the season ended, giving him more than seven months to recover before Week 1. That's ample time for this type of injury.

Expect Harvey to be ready for Week 1 with little to no decline in production. However, he does carry an elevated risk of another shoulder injury this season.

Trey Benson, Cardinals

• Injury: meniscus tear (Sept. 25)
• Surgery: meniscectomy (Oct. 1)

Outlook: Benson was initially expected to return 4-6 weeks following surgery, indicating a meniscectomy rather than a repair. (A meniscectomy involves removing all or part of a damaged meniscus.) But he must have struggled with swelling, range of motion, or quad strength following surgery as he never returned last season. 

Expect him back at 100% for the start of the 2026 season, barring any secondary procedures.

James Conner, Cardinals

• Injury: right foot
• Surgery: September 2025, no exact pathology reported

Outlook: Conner likely suffered a Jones Fracture or Lisfranc injury which required surgery.

Either way, as long as Conner avoids a setback, he should be ready to go Week 1 with minimal 2026 performance impact.

Najee Harris, free agent

• Injury: torn left Achilles (Sept. 21)
• Surgery: Achilles repair

Outlook: The early timing of the tear gives Harris a good chance at being ready early this season.

Expect limited snaps early in the season and a 20% hit to efficiency. Achilles repairs severely impact power and burst for the first year. That impact drops to minimal or zero the second year.

Fantasy Football Injuries: WRs

Malik Nabers, Giants

• Injury: ACL tear with meniscus damage (Sept. 28)
• Surgery: ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair (Oct. 28), second surgery in spring 2026

Outlook: When Nabers tore his ACL in the first month of last season, it was almost certain that he would be ready for Week 1 of 2026 barring a significant setback, such as a secondary surgery. Unfortunately, that small possibility became reality.

Nabers underwent a second procedure to remove a cyclops lesion, a relatively uncommon complication following ACL reconstruction. Cyclops lesions can cause joint stiffness and typically require surgical removal. Many athletes experience a quick improvement in symptoms afterward, but it is still another surgery and does create a setback in the rehab process.

Nabers has been running routes in camp, but there has not been any concrete evidence to suggest he will be ready for Week 1. It remains unlikely that Nabers will be a full go in the opener. Expect him to have his snap count limited some if he does play.

Alec Pierce, Colts

• Injury: ankle
• Surgery: left-ankle debridement (March 2026)

Outlook: Pierce has dealt with ankle issues since 2024. He appears to have continued struggling with the ankle during his offseason ramp-up, ultimately leading to a left-ankle debridement procedure in March.

During a debridement, damaged tissue gets removed rather than repaired. That typically results in a much shorter recovery timeline than procedures such as an Achilles repair. However, it's still surgery, and part of the recovery depends on how the body responds, as well as how quickly range of motion and strength return.

Pierce opened training camp on the PUP list but has a reasonable chance to be ready for Week 1. Expect a limited snap count as the Colts ease him back in.

Travis Hunter, Jaguars

• Injury: LCL tear (Oct. 30)
• Surgery: LCL reconstruction (Nov. 11)

Outlook: This was a significant injury with a grueling rehab but not quite as severe as an ACL.

Reports indicate Hunter is doing well and on track for Week 1. LCL recovery is 6-9 months as compared to 9-12 for ACL.

Don't expect any long-term effect.

Garrett Wilson, Jets

• Injury: knee hyperextension (Oct. 12)
• Surgery: none

Outlook: Wilson suffered a knee hyperextension injury early in Week 6 that he aggravated in November. No ligament damage was reported, but he likely had a significant bone bruise in the knee joint. 

The Jets shut down Wilson for the rest of the year following the re-injury, but there is no concern for 2026. He should be 100% come Week 1.

Brandon Aiyuk, free agent

• Injury: ACL, MCL, meniscus tear (Oct. 20, 2024)
• Surgery: ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair (Nov. 2024)

Outlook: Aiyuk should be back to 100% for Week 1 as he will be 22 months removed from surgery. Even if he had setbacks or issues in the past year, there should be no concern for 2026.

Aiyuk's mental health is the bigger issue at this point.

Ricky Pearsall, 49ers

• Injury: PCL tear
• Surgery: scheduled

Outlook: It's easy to look at this situation and say they should have opted for surgery when the injury first occurred. But the vast majority of isolated PCL tears heal without surgery.

Maybe the team should have tested him more aggressively during the offseason, but they also needed to give the PCL adequate time to heal. Not every case follows the expected course, and that appears to be what happened here.

Pearsall will now undergo surgery and miss all of 2026. But it should have minimal impact on his 2027 campaign.

Tank Dell, Texans

• Injury: knee dislocation, ACL, MCL, LCL tears (Dec. 21, 2024)
• Surgery: Jan. 15, 2025 and March 5, 2025

Outlook: Dell suffered a knee dislocation in late December 2024 and underwent two surgeries to repair and reconstruct three ligaments and meniscus damage.

When a player needs two surgeries, there's long-term concern. However, Dell will have 19 months of rehab behind him by the time the season begins.

Expect Dell to play this season, but expect moderate performance impact through at least the first month or two.

Tyreek Hill, free agent

• Injury: knee dislocation, ACL, and other ligament tears (Sept. 29)
• Surgery: ACL+ (Sept. 30) 

Outlook: Hill is 31 and will be attempting to return from one of the most severe knee injuries an athlete can suffer. Multi-ligament rehab is complex and slow, typically taking 12+ months.

If we ever see Hill on a football field again, expect a significant drop in production.

Calvin Ridley, Titans

• Injury: fractured fibula (Nov. 16)
• Surgery: ORIF of fibula (fixation)

Outlook: There are no concerns regarding Ridley's outlook for next season. A fibula fracture makes for a relatively easy recovery given that he will have had nine months to get ready for Week 1.

Fantasy Football Injuries: TEs

Brock Bowers, Raiders

• Injury: PCL sprain, knee joint bone bruise (Sept. 7)
• Surgery: none

Outlook: Bowers sustained a PCL sprain in Week 1, and the injury hindered him until the Raiders shut him down in December.

No surgery was needed and -- unlike the Pearsall situation -- there have been no setbacks.

Expect minimal to no performance impact this season.

George Kittle, 49ers

• Injury: right Achilles tear (Jan. 11)
• Surgery: Achilles repair (Jan. 14)

Outlook: The good news is that Kittle's tear and repair were more proximal (nearer to the center) on the Achilles, where the tendon has a better blood supply and, therefore, greater potential for healing. However, the injury occurred in the playoffs, leaving him with only about nine months of rehab before Week 1. A 10-12 month timeline would be ideal.

Even with the improved healing potential, this remains a long and challenging recovery, particularly when it comes to regaining calf power and explosiveness. Kittle opened training camp on the PUP list. Don't expect him to be ready for Week 1 as of this writing. A return in the Week 4-6 range appears more realistic.

Whenever he returns, expect a decline in production due to likely lingering deficits in calf explosiveness.

Tucker Kraft, Packers

• Injury: right ACL tear, LCL and meniscus partial tears (Nov. 2)
• Surgery: ACL reconstruction 

Outlook: Kraft is expected to be ready for Week 1 barring any setbacks in August, which isn't surprising. He'll be 10 months removed from surgery, a generally safe return-to-play timeline following ACL reconstruction.

We still expect approximately a 20% decline in production this season, which is typical during the first year after ACL reconstruction.

Sam LaPorta, Lions

• Injury: Herniated disc in lumbar spine
• Surgery: November
  

Outlook: LaPorta dealt with back issues for most of the first two months of last season before ultimately getting shut down and undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disc.

He has had ample time to recover for Week 1 and is now practicing without limitations. Don't expect any decline in production as a result of this injury, though there will always be some concern about the long-term health of his lumbar spine.

If he can make it through 2026 without any setbacks, that concern should diminish significantly for 2027 and beyond.

Kenyon Sadiq, Jets

• Injury: Hernia
• Surgery: Hernia repair (May 2026)
  

Outlook: Sadiq appears to have been dealing with abdominal or groin pain during OTAs before opting for hernia repair surgery in May.

He'll now be ramped up gradually over the next month. As long as there are no setbacks, we can expect him to be at or very close to 100% by Week 1.

What Do These Injuries Mean For Your Fantasy Team?

The smartest managers don’t just track injuries ... they act on them faster than the rest of the league.

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