RADIO
Training camp is just underway for the 2024 NFL season, which means we get insightful perspectives into the status of injured players. While players are getting official designations such as the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list or the NFI (Non-Football Injury) list, most already had some sort of timeline in regards to the start of the season.
It's unlikely any players listed in this article play in Week 1, which is why they are available at massive discounts in fantasy drafts. If they can come back healthy promptly, these are the late-round additions that can give your team a boost without a trade.
Which injured players are worth gambling on in fantasy football this year? Who is most likely to return from injury and resume their previous production? Let's take a look.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
T.J. Hockenson, TE - Minnesota Vikings
In his five NFL seasons, T.J. Hockenson finished as a top-5 PPR TE in all three years he played more than 12 games, including one year with Detroit. Although his best season came in 2022 where he played a full year with Kirk Cousins and ended as TE2, he managed to have a TE4 finish last season despite missing two games and dealing with Nick Mullens, Joshua Dobbs, and Jaren Hall as his quarterbacks.
#Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell says that T.J. Hockenson (knee) is “well ahead of schedule,” but they “want to make sure that everything is done the right way”
O’Connell has a 90% reliability rating on injury coachspeak
I believe that Hockenson is well ahead of schedule like KOC… pic.twitter.com/kYtVGRyTGA
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) July 23, 2024
Cousins signed with Atlanta in free agency, which hurts Hockenson's ceiling a little bit as Minnesota overall targeted tight ends the third most in the league in the last two seasons. Kevin O'Connell's offense is predicated on the run, which opens up the passing game, and the addition of Aaron Jones should help the run game get off to a better start.
Although Hockenson is coming off an ACL injury, quarterback play is almost guaranteed to improve with either Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy compared to the end of the season and the run game should help open up easy dump-offs to the tight ends. With Justin Jefferson commanding as much attention as he does every single snap, Hockenson looks poised to pick up where he left off whenever he can get back.
Nick Chubb, RB - Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb's Week 2 injury at Pittsburgh was one of the more devastating moments in the NFL season, as he suffered a gruesome knee injury where he tore multiple ligaments in the same knee he seriously damaged in college. Chubb has been the pillar of consistency since taking over as the lead back and appeared well on his way to another dominant season before the tragic injury.
24 is built different 😤
(via joc.films/IG) | @NickChubb pic.twitter.com/XtzHjIK4qw
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 15, 2024
Since Kevin Stefanski took over in 2020, the Browns have ranked top 10 in rush rate every season, including last year when they ranked 28th in rushing DVOA. Although the hiring of Ken Dorsey as offensive coordinator is expected to increase the efficiency of the passing game, Stefanski's offenses have always been based around the run game.
Chubb will most likely miss the first few weeks of the season, but the Browns didn't invest much in the position this offseason. Jerome Ford returns after an inconsistent season and they added veterans D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines, so he could slide back into a lead role upon returning. It's hard to imagine anyone returning to form one year removed from this severe of an injury, but if anyone can, it would be Chubb.
Mike Williams, WR - New York Jets
After being let go by the Chargers for salary-cap purposes, Mike Williams joined the Jets, who are in desperate need of a receiving threat. Throughout his career, Williams has been known as a vertical-threat, boom-or-bust fantasy player who thrives on winning one-on-one contested catches. Next to Garrett Wilson, Williams should see plenty of single-coverage looks, giving him weekly boom value.
Wilson has dominated the team's targets over the last few seasons, but New York struggled to find consistency from other pass- catchers and often found itself throwing to stay in games. While Wilson will likely continue to pace the team in targets, the attention he draws should create plenty of chances for Williams to thrive like he has in the past.
In his last full season, Williams finished as WR12 thanks to topping 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns. Currently being drafted as WR63, Williams is almost guaranteed to surpass his draft status as long as he can log 12 or more games.
Jonathon Brooks, RB - Carolina Panthers
The Panthers selected Jonathon Brooks out of Texas in the second round this past April in a room that was supposed to be led by Miles Sanders last season. After a slow start from Sanders, they ended up working in more of a split backfield with Chuba Hubbard.
Jonathan Brooks
Average fantasy finish of first RB taken over the last 5 years: RB14
Brooks in final year at Texas:
Yards/Game: 142.5
YPC: 6.1
TDs: 10
Rec: 25Comparable to Bijan’s final college season!
HC Canales just fed Rachaad White 342 opportunities.
Brooks will EAT!
— Chris O'Brien (@17gamepace) July 10, 2024
Brooks is coming off a torn ACL at Texas, which cut his final season short, but he has all the makings of a three-down back in the NFL thanks to his rushing and receiving upside. Although Carolina was forced into passing situations last season often because of how much it fell behind in games, Brooks has a very clear path to a significant role once healthy.
Brooks is being drafted as RB28 as of now, which is a pretty risky price to pay for an injured rookie running back with no timetable for a return. However, if fantasy managers can hold off his absence, he could come on strong late to end the year and give teams a boost.
Juwan Johnson, TE - New Orleans Saints
Juwan Johnson has the least upside of any player on this list, but he was recently extended and appears in line to be the starting tight end whenever he returns to the field. Johnson is coming off a TE26 finish in PPR formats and won't be a league-winner by any means; however, managers could secure some value on an insurance policy at tight end late in the draft in deeper formats.
As of now, Johnson is hopeful to be ready for the start of the season and could find himself playing in most games in 2024. The Saints targeted tight ends the ninth most in the league last year as Derek Carr's game revolved around staying in favorable situations and getting ahead of the chains. Don't expect Johnson to be the move that wins leagues, but he has a good chance to outperform his draft status if he remains healthy.
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