David Chao, MD
2 min read • August 26, 2024
Posted in
With the NFL season rapidly approaching, our team at Sports Injury Central has you covered with all the injury insights you need when deciding which players to target or avoid in all formats of Fantasy Football.
This is a preview of our 2024 NFL Preseason Injury Guide, which will feature detailed injury insights, data and SIC Health Scores on all 32 teams. Sign up for our newsletter here to receive the guide and free injury-based picks for the 2024 NFL Season as they are released.
Here are the wide receivers whose injury concerns are in the past, so we recommend you target them in your fantasy football drafts. Note the ADP's are from Sleeper with standard scoring. If you haven't tried it for your Fantasy Football league, we recommend using it this year for the best fantasy football experience!
Chris Olave suffered an injury during weightlifting in late March and was placed on the active/non-football injury list. However, Olave has already come off the NFI list after just a couple of days. Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to begin his NFL career, Olave is expected to lead the Saints' receiver room once again in 2024.
Jayden Reed had a very productive rookie year, though he was inactive in Week 16 with chest and toe injuries. He was a surprise addition to the Packers' Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, reportedly having "tweaked something" while hosting a youth camp in the offseason. However, he has already been activated and is participating in drills during training camp. Reed was used in various roles all over the field in 2023, scoring 10 total touchdowns, and is expected to have a similar role in 2024.
Christian Watson missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury. He sustained a right knee injury in Week 7 but was deemed fit to play in Week 8. However, a hamstring strain in Week 13 ended his regular season. Watson returned for Green Bay’s two playoff games, playing roughly 50% of the offensive snaps, about half his regular rotation during the regular season. He participated in a $4 million study at the University of Wisconsin, sponsored by the NFL, to study the mechanisms of hamstring injuries. Watson discovered that his hamstrings were 'asymmetrical' and is confident that this new understanding will help reduce the frequency of his hamstring issues.
He hasn’t had a consistent season where he’s been able to develop. A 12th round pick with high expectations has dealt with a torn ACL his rookie year and a suspension to begin his second season. After a healthy training camp he’s hit the ground running and is primed to have a breakout season in year 3.
This will be Wan'Dale Robinson's second season since tearing his ACL in late November 2022. As a speedy player, Robinson wasn't fully recovered during his first year back, finishing the season with 60 catches for 525 yards and just one touchdown. With this being his second year post-ACL tear, he is expected to move quicker and be more effective. A fully healthy Robinson could be in line for career highs across the board in his third season in New York.
Here are the wide receivers whose team and individual injury concerns remain, so we recommend you avoid them at their ADP in your fantasy football drafts. Note the ADP's are from Sleeper with standard scoring.
Justin Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury in the 4th quarter of the Week 5 matchup against Kansas City, placing him on IR. He missed Weeks 6-12. Upon his return, he took a big hit to the ribs during Week 14 but missed no games afterward. Despite these injuries, Jefferson was still a top 20 receiver in receiving yards, accumulating 1,074 yards.
Jefferson always had consistent QB play with Kirk Cousins in years past, but now the team will likely start the season with Sam Darnold under center. The Vikings also drafted J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Darnold has only started 7 games in the past two seasons, 6 with the Panthers and one last season with the 49ers. The Vikings have top talent at every skill position boasting a depth chart with Jefferson, TJ Hockenson, Jordan Addison, and newly added RB Aaron Jones but with the uncertainty at the QB position we think Jefferson’s ADP is too high for 2024.
Gabe Davis signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. He suffered a sprained PCL in the final week of the 2023 season, causing him to miss both of the Bills' playoff games. Reports indicate that his recovery has been slow, and he has been unavailable for most offseason workouts. This is concerning, as this type of injury would typically have healed by now. The Jaguars will be looking to Davis to replace the statistical output of Calvin Ridley.
Steelers rookie WR Roman Wilson suffered an ankle injury during a training camp session on July 30, 2024. Initially, concerns were high as Wilson had to be carted off the field, but subsequent evaluations revealed the injury is not severe. Wilson is currently classified as week-to-week and is expected to miss approximately two weeks. The team is optimistic that he'll return in time for the regular season, possibly before the final preseason game. This is a positive development considering the initial scare.
Ensure you have a FREE Sports Injury Central account, and the 2024 NFL Preseason Injury Guide will be sent to you via email this week. Look out for an email from ProFootballDoc@sicscore.com
Later this month the guide will cost $49.99 so get set up now and take advantage of our leading injury data and analysis.
Don't have an account -
GET SIC PICKS, OUR NFL FUTURE BETS ARE NOW POSTED AT SICScore.com/picks
INSIDER INJURY KNOWLEDGE FROM FORMER PRO SPORTS TEAM DOCTORS TO GIVE YOU A WINNING EDGE IN SPORTS BETTING!
SIC PICKS are powered by the proven SIC Score algorithms from our exclusive panel of former Pro Sports Team doctors to give you a sports betting edge. Each day our team of doctors analyze the players and teams and share their expert insights to help you make informed bets on the biggest unknown to sportsbooks and sports bettors - player health and injuries!
Written by David Chao, MD
