Fantasy Football Injury Alert: Pre-Season Risks and Sleepers to Watch

The NFL pre-season is a crucial time for teams to evaluate talent, fine-tune strategies, and build momentum for the regular season. However, it’s also a period fraught with risk, as injuries can derail promising campaigns before they even begin. For fantasy football enthusiasts, staying informed about these pre-season developments is paramount. Savvy fantasy managers understand that pre-season injuries can significantly impact player values and create opportunities to snag potential sleepers.

The Injury Bug Bites Early

As training camps get underway, the injury reports are already starting to fill up. The Carolina Panthers have already ruled out running back Jonathan Brooks for the entire 2025 season after he re-tore his ACL. Brooks had previously torn the same ACL twice in 13 months, leading the Panthers to take a cautious approach and shut him down for the year. This unfortunate situation creates an opportunity for other running backs on the Panthers roster to step up and potentially become valuable fantasy assets.

Another significant injury to monitor is that of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, the Cleveland Browns’ star linebacker. Owusu-Koramoah is out for the year with a neck injury, a devastating blow to the Browns’ defense. While this injury doesn’t directly impact offensive fantasy production, it could affect the Browns’ overall team performance and, consequently, the opportunities for their offensive players.

Rashee Rice of the Kansas City Chiefs is also working his way back from a season-ending knee injury suffered last year. Rice was on a breakout path in early 2024, quickly becoming one of Patrick Mahomes’ favorite targets. However, a severe LCL injury abruptly ended his promising season. While reports suggest that Rice is rehabbing well, LCL injuries can be tricky, especially for wide receivers who rely on sharp cuts and acceleration. There is also a possible looming suspension as well that further complicates Rice’s 2025 value. If Rice isn’t fully recovered by training camp or begins the 2025 season at less than 100%, it could hinder the Kansas City Chiefs’ aerial attack. When healthy and able to be on the field, Rice will be the #1 target for Patrick Mahomes.

Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers is another key player to watch. Aiyuk tore his right ACL and MCL in Week 7 of last season. While his rehab timetable gives him a shot to return for Week 1, there’s a possibility he might not fully rebound until 2026. Fantasy managers should consider him a mid-to-late-round stash with the potential to peak late in the season.

Sleepers to Watch

Pre-season injuries often pave the way for unexpected players to emerge as fantasy football sleepers. These are the players who are currently undervalued in drafts but possess the potential to significantly outperform their draft position.

Isaac Guerendo (RB, 49ers): With Christian McCaffrey’s extensive injury history and advancing age, Guerendo could see ample playing time.
Tyler Allgeier (RB, Falcons): Even with Bijan Robinson healthy, Allgeier could see goal-line carries and produce solid numbers.
Will Shipley (RB, Eagles): If Saquon Barkley were to miss time, Shipley could become a huge producer in Philadelphia’s offense.
Dont’e Thornton (WR, Raiders): A fourth-round rookie with size and athleticism, Thornton is already practicing with the first-team offense.
Pat Bryant (WR, Broncos): An impressive third-round rookie, Bryant has drawn praise from Sean Payton and could become the No. 2 receiver in Denver’s offense.
Cedric Tillman (WR, Browns): Tillman was productive last year when Jameis Winston supplanted Deshaun Watson.
Braelon Allen (RB, Jets): A Breece Hall injury away from posting solid RB2 production.
Brashard Smith (RB, Chiefs): The Chiefs rookie has a legitimate chance to be a starter if Isiah Pacheco isn’t fully recovered from his injury.
Jarquez Hunter (RB, Rams): Given Kyren Williams’ injury history, it’s reasonable to expect Hunter to receive significant playing time.
Ray Davis (RB, Bills): If James Cook holds out or suffers an injury, Davis will be capable of producing RB2 numbers in Buffalo’s offense.
Jaylen Wright (RB, Dolphins): With De’Von Achane’s injury history, Wright could see decent action this year.
Keon Coleman (WR, Bills): Coleman did three things in his debut season that make him an intriguing 2025 fantasy football sleeper.
Trevor Lawrence (QB, Jaguars): Lawrence will also have what might be the NFL’s most explosive young WR duo in Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr.
David Njoku (TE, Browns): Njoku has quietly delivered three straight top-9 fantasy finishes despite shaky QB play in Cleveland.
Travis Etienne (RB, Jaguars): There is more competition here with Round 4 rookie Bhayshul Tuten (206 lbs), but the easiest answer to who wins this camp battle is the former 1st rounder in his athletic prime who has had 1,441+ yards of scrimmage in 2-of-3 NFL seasons.
Pat Freiermuth (TE, Steelers): His pace over his last 9 games of the season (the post-bye Russ games) was 74-735-9, and you aren’t finding that receiving production at TE or WR this late into drafts.
Rashaad White (RB, Buccaneers): If Irving goes down, White has averaged 13.1 half PPR points in the 22 games with over two-thirds snaps played on offense.
J.K. Dobbins (RB, Chargers): The history of Sean Payton at RB is a history of a committee approach.
Rashid Shaheed (WR, Saints): Over his last 9 healthy games, Shaheed is on a 57-941-9 pace, while averaging 16.6 yards per catch.
Tre Harris (WR, Chargers): Harris is going to be a great asset to this Chargers offense because we all know quarterback Justin Herbert loves to throw the deep ball, and Harris has the size and speed to connect with Herbert on the big explosive plays down the field.
Alec Pierce (WR, Colts): Pierce is my favorite Colts’ pass catcher in best ball drafts. Last year, he was the WR43, averaging a career-high 10.1 PPR fantasy points per game.
Adam Thielen (WR, Panthers): Last year, Thielen finished as the WR52, averaging 13.9 PPR fantasy points per game, his highest average since 2021.
Kyler Murray (QB, Cardinals): Now the model is expecting him to take a big step forward in 2025, which will be his third season in Drew Petzing’s offense.
Javonte Williams (RB, Cowboys): The model ranks Williams well inside its top 30 running backs despite the fact that he’s been the 33rd RB off the board on average.

Stay Vigilant and Adapt

The pre-season is a dynamic period, and fantasy managers must remain vigilant and adapt to the ever-changing landscape. Monitoring injury reports, tracking player performances in training camp and pre-season games, and staying abreast of expert analysis are crucial for making informed decisions. By identifying potential sleepers and avoiding players with significant injury risks, fantasy managers can gain a competitive edge and build a winning team.