With preseason going on and the official start to the NFL season under a month away, fantasy football drafts are ramping up.
Training camp and preseason news provide more clarity on what we can expect with the approaching season. Knowing who is starting, who is impressing coaches, and who is getting the hype on social media are just some of the things that go into managers making their decisions on draft day.
However, none of that matters when it comes to injuries, which unfortunately are a part of football regardless if it's practice, preseason, or regular season. It's crucial to know who is dealing with minor setbacks versus who is in jeopardy of missing time.
While in a perfect world, the player you get at a discount because they are banged up ends up being completely fine, that's not reality. Look at Christian McCaffrey drafters just a season ago.
Avoiding injured players at the beginning of the season can be wise. Injuries will always find you during the season, so why start with existing health concerns?
This is your complete injury guide so you know who to avoid come fantasy draft day.
PPR RANKINGS: TOP 300 Cheat Sheet | QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | PK
Top fantasy injuries to monitor for 2025 drafts
Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings (hamstring)
At the end of July, Jefferson reportedly was dealing with a mild hamstring strain. Jefferson has not practiced since the injury, but he did participate in a walk-through on Aug. 12.
Jefferson is to be re-evaluated in another week, but there is still no timetable for his return.
Managers should be cautious when it comes to this hamstring injury, although it is a positive that this injury happened as early as it did. Head coach Kevin O'Connell has stated that Jefferson will play Week 1, but that is not where the main concern lies.
According to a 2016-2019 study done by Fantasy Points, 20% of hamstring injuries are recurring from the same season or year. On top of that, 23% of players who try to play through this particular injury re-aggravate it.
The odds are still in drafters' favor, and Jefferson is such a special fantasy player, but we've seen what hamstring injuries can do to a WR's season (A.J. Brown in 2024).
MORE: Fantasy Football's 2025 Do Not Draft List
A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (hamstring)
Speaking of hamstring injuries and Brown, he's yet again dealing with one.
At the start of August, we were informed that Brown would not be practicing due to a hamstring injury. It was reported he was day-to-day and the Eagles were just being cautious with him, but as of August 13, he has missed four consecutive practices.
(The hamstring injury studying above applies to Brown as well.)
If you drafted Brown last season, something never felt right after the hamstring injury that occurred before Week 2. Brown missed just three games (Week 2-4), but he never looked 100%. Brown finished outside the WR30 six times from Week 6-17, his worst finish in this range was WR62.
This could be a result of the all-time season from Saquon Barkley, but Brown's target count fell off by 61. Brown simply did not look like his usual dominate self.
This hamstring injury doesn't seem serious, but if Brown does not log a practice before you draft, you can start to worry.
Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants (shoulder/toe)
This is one of the more confusing injuries this offseason.
On July 29, Nabers left practice early due to a shoulder injury that he sustained on a run play. Then, it was reported on Aug. 12 that Nabers would be missing practice because of a toe injury.
Nabers has not practiced as of Aug. 14, but the team says this was part of the plan for him to be limited.
There doesn't seem to be anything that suggests Nabers will miss Week 1, but take note if he still hasn't practiced by the time you draft. If not, you can get a heavy discount on a potential WR1 overall.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins (oblique)
At the beginning of August, the Dolphins noted that Hill was dealing with an undisclosed injury. A few days later, it was confirmed to be an oblique injury that the team was not going to rush him back from.
After a week of missed practices and missing the preseason opener, Hill returned to practice on Aug. 13.
With Hill continuing to age, taking minor injuries into more serious account is smart. Last season, Hill suffered a minor wrist injury of which he claimed impacted his entire season.
Before this oblique injury, investing in Hill during fantasy drafts felt shaky. Now it feels a tad worse, especially with where he is still being drafted at.
It's Tyreek Hill, so there is a level of understanding for the upside, but there needs to be some major optimism from drafters who are targeting him in 2025 drafts.
WARNING: Avoid these fantasy draft busts, including Tyreek Hill
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans (foot)
The last official report on Mixon was at the end of July: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Mixon was going to miss an extended period of time with a substantial foot injury.
His status for not just Week 1, but the beginning of the season as a whole is in question.
A 29-year-old back, with a serious injury history, dealing with another lower body injury ... there's not a lot to like about what is going on with Mixon.
On top of this, even if Mixon were somehow able to return sooner than we think, the Texans offensive line could be the worst in the league. Avoid Mixon at all costs in your upcoming fantasy drafts.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks (ankle)
At the beginning of August, reports said Walker was dealing with a foot injury. There was a lack of clarity on this injury.
The injury was initially reported as just soreness, but Walker missed four consecutive practices because of it. On Aug. 12, Walker did return to practice in full.
Walker is one of the biggest "what ifs" in fantasy football. The talent is undeniable, the production is still there despite the injuries, and this Seahawks offensive rushing scheme is basically designed with him in mind.
Last season, Walker missed six games but was still the RB12 in fantasy points per game.
If you want to take the risk, the reward is more than good enough. It is equally understandable if you have taken that risk the last few seasons and don't want to get burned again.
Rashee Rice, WR Kansas City Chiefs (groin/suspension?)
Rice missed a pair of practices at the beginning of August due to a groin injury. Rice did then return to a full participant on Aug. 11.
And of course, we still face question marks about Rice's availability due to his suspension.
While we got a fantasy update on Rice's suspension saga on Aug. 14, it didn't clear things up.
The NFL announced that Rice's disciplinary hearing would take place on Sept. 30, in the middle of the season. This is uncommon and provides a potential threat for Rice to miss crucial weeks leading up to your fantasy football playoffs.
Rice is truly the biggest high-risk, high-reward type of fantasy football player in 2025:
- Best-case scenario, Rice serves his suspension next season, and you get a league-winning wide receiver in the middle of your draft.
- Worst-case scenario, Rice misses time because of his groin injury and gets suspended to the fullest extent this season.
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ankle)
Godwin has had an unfortunate injury history and last season was no different. In case you forgot, Godwin suffered a major ankle injury in Week 7 of the 2024 season. Godwin severely dislocated his ankle, causing a high-ankle sprain and fracture.
Godwin had another surgery on his ankle in late June, but it was reported as just a "clean-out" operation and not because of a setback. Bucs GM Jason Licht said Godwin is making progress through protocols.
While things are trending in the right direction for Godwin, it's best to avoid him in 2025 fantasy drafts. It's still uncertain if Godwin will be placed on the PUP list.
It's usually smart practice to wait a full season after such an intense injury to an aging player.
Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers (calf)
Jennings has been dealing with a calf strain since the end of July.
It was considered day-to-day, but now Jennings has missed six practices. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Jennings aggravated it two weeks ago.
Soft-tissue injuries, especially on a receiver, can become complicated quickly. Seemingly, it is only getting worse as after being labeled day-to-day, there is now no timetable for his return.
Unless Jennings logs several full practices before you draft, drafters should practice extreme caution on the intriguing middle-rounds snare.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers (recovery from torn ACL/MCL)
Following the Week 7 ACL tear, Aiyuk's timetable for a return remains murky. The most recent update we have gotten stated that Aiyuk is estimated for a Week 6 return.
It's important to note that this is a complete guess at this point. There is so much that needs to happen from now until that Week 6 targeted return.
Week 6 return….Brandon Aiyuk is chopping his feet and running routes off to the side of receivers on the #49ers practice field. #FTTB pic.twitter.com/rhcMLlq8oD
— Matt Lively (@mattblively) August 12, 2025
Setbacks could easily take place that would further push Aiyuk's return back.
It's best to avoid Aiyuk going into your 2025 fantasy football drafts. There are plenty of options around where he is going that'll give you more production this season.
Najee Harris, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (eye)
After Harris sustained a serious eye injury from a firework accident, things are slowly starting to move in the right direction.
Harris finally started partaking in drills at practice on August 13. Head coach Jim Harbaugh stated that Harris has a chance to be ready for Week 1 but did not have a concrete update.
At this point in the offseason, Harris offers little reason to be drafted. Rookie Omarion Hampton has impressed coaches and is believed to eventually get a heavy majority of the carries.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams (back)
Stafford has been dealing with an aggravated disc in his back. In early August, Stafford received an epidural to help this disc issue.
Rams head coach Sean McVay should not be trusted with delivering accurate reports on injuries.
According to McVay, Stafford "feels really good." You can understand the confusion as Stafford has not logged a single practice the entirety of training camp.
The whole situation is quite sloppy and warrants drafters to stay away from the Year 17 QB. This injury is also making notable names such as Puka Nacua and Davante Adams riskier.
MORE: Matthew Stafford injury clouds fantasy value of Nacua, Adams
Khalil Shakir, WR, Buffalo Bills (ankle)
At the beginning of August, Shakir left a practice early due to an apparent ankle injury. After being looked at by the medical staff, he was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain.
Shakir has been labeled week-to-week and continues to miss time. Bills head coach Sean McDermott expects Shakir to be ready to go for Week 1.
While there's no need to hit the panic button yet, Shakir's continued efforts to get back to full strength need to be monitored by managers. If there are any setbacks before your draft day, it would be wise to stay away from the Bills wideout.
Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons (shoulder)
Mooney suffered a fairly serious shoulder injury in late July. We are still waiting on any sort of update on his health and when we can expect him to return.
At the moment, avoid Mooney in drafts as we have no clue where he's at as far as recovery goes. It was reported by the team that the update should come mid-August.
Hollywood Brown, WR Kansas City Chiefs (ankle)
Brown has been sidelined due to an ankle injury he sustained. He's missed all team activities and does not have a timetable for his return.
There's simply no need to draft an aging wide receiver who can't stay healthy on a team where he's the third option at best.
Guys like Texans rookie Jayden Higgins go in the same area as he does. Draft that guy instead.
Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets (foot/ankle)
Taylor was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain at the beginning of August. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said his rookie TE will miss some time.
What unfortunate timing: Taylor has shown some electric moments in camp and received a notable amount of buzz.
Didn't take long for Mason Taylor to get in the mix pic.twitter.com/XLJ5VVAotr
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 12, 2025
The former LSU standout has a good chance of being a solid waiver wire pickup. Monitor his recovery toward making a possible inseason pickup.
Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens (foot/ankle)
Likely underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his foot that he sustained in late July. There has been no updates on this injury.
There's no need to draft a guy such as Likely who will be available on waivers if you truly want him. It's still unclear if Likely will be good to go or not for Week 1.
MORE: How to draft Mark Andrews with Isaiah Likely injured