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Below you will find our latest fantasy football injuries report for wide receivers throughout the third week of August.
As the NFL preseason continues, the injury statuses remain murky for various NFL receivers, including Mecole Hardman, Treylon Burks, Christian Watson, KJ Hamler, and Tyquan Thornton. With peak fantasy football draft season soon approaching, these are some key wide receiver injuries to keep tabs on.
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Mecole Hardman Injury Update
Hardman was carted off the field during practice this past Tuesday. Although Hardman's early exit was concerning and he didn't suit up for the Kansas City Chiefs' second preseason game, head coach Andy Reid announced that the wide receiver is dealing with a groin spasm. The injury is not considered serious.
Entering 2022, Hardman looks like the Chiefs' biggest downfield threat after Tyreek Hill was traded to Miami. Presumably, he'll start alongside newcomer JuJu Smith-Schuster, though rookie Skyy Moore and ex-Packers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling also have a chance to carve out a large role.
Hardman sports an ADP of 154, making him the 67th receiver off the board. Given the strength of Mahomes and the Chiefs' offense (as well as Hardman's optimistic injury update), he should see an increase in production and therefore is worth stashing with one of your final draft picks.
Treylon Burks Injury Update
Burks, the Tennessee Titans' first-round pick, suffered an injury in practice this week. The team never confirmed the injury, but Burks wore a sleeve on his left leg when he returned to practice and was seen with a wrap around his left knee during Saturday's preseason game.
The fact that Burks returned to practice and played in the Titans' second preseason game suggests his injury is not serious. He played the final three quarters versus Tampa Bay, working with the second and third-team offenses while hauling in just one of three targets for four yards.
The Titans invested high draft capital into Burks, but an underwhelming camp has prompted some concerns about his outlook for 2022. Still, he was a talented playmaker in college and should see plenty of volume now that A.J. Brown is in Philadelphia. He's a solid depth pick at his current ADP of 115 (WR49).
Christian Watson Injury Update
Watson, the Green Bay Packers' second-round pick, took reps during practice on Sunday. Thanks to a knee injury, this marked his first on-field practice since being drafted by the Packers. He was recently activated from the PUP list and is trending towards being available in Week 1.
Not only did Watson return on Sunday, but he immediately took reps in the first-team offense with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Even with Allen Lazard's firm grasp atop the depth chart and Romeo Doubs' strong training camp, Watson found himself getting involved right away.
Watson's delayed return to the field dropped his ADP to 154, which equates to the WR68. Given the Packers' craving for a new alpha in the post-Davante Adams era, Watson is worth selecting in the later rounds of drafts.
KJ Hamler Injury Update
Hamler (knee) practiced in full pads this past Thursday. This represented a major step in the right direction for the Denver Broncos wide receiver, who should earn the No. 3 role after Tim Patrick suffered a season-ending ACL tear.
Hamler himself is returning from an ACL tear. He flashed potential back in 2020, catching 30 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns over the course of 10 games. Hamler's stock is trending up for multiple reasons, including Patrick's injury, his own return, and the Broncos' overall upside with Russell Wilson at the helm.
Currently sporting an ADP of 204, Hamler's big-play ability might be better suited for best-ball leagues or DFS formats when he's playing against susceptible defenses. Even if he's ready to play Week 1, it's hard to imagine Hamler offers enough production to justify rostering him in a standard-sized league.
Tyquan Thornton Injury Update
The New England Patriots selected Thornton, a speedster, out of Baylor in the second round of this year's draft. He caught his first career touchdown in Week 1 of the preseason but saw his value drop in Week 2 when he suffered a fractured collarbone in the middle of the game.
Thornton had a chance to open the season as the Patriots' third receiver in 11 personnel. Instead, he could miss up to two months, forcing him out of action until the middle of October.
With Thornton sidelined, the Patriots will look to Nelson Agholor to handle a bigger workload. Kendrick Bourne, who is currently in the doghouse, and Lil'Jordan Humphrey, who has impressed on offense and special teams, will also be tasked with increased usage.
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