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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman missed nine games during the 2022 regular season and the Divisional Round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He returned for the AFC title game against the Cincinnati Bengals, but was injured and didn't participate in the team's Super Bowl LVII win.
Hardman is set to be a free agent, so the status of his health could affect his value during offseason negotiations and his fantasy football value.
Will Hardman be ready for training camp and what is his 2023 fantasy football outlook before free agency begins? Let's dive in.
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Mecole Hardman Injury Update for Fantasy Football
The Kansas City Chiefs placed Hardman (pelvis/groin) on Injured Reserve on the Monday before the Super Bowl. Hardman initially suffered a core injury back in Week 9 that landed him on Injured Reserve, but he returned to play in the AFC Championship against the Cincinnati Bengals. He didn't last long, playing only 15 offensive snaps before aggravating his injury.
Hardman recently underwent surgery after dealing with the groin injury since last preseason and he's set to be a free agent.
It's unclear how long Hardman's injury rehab will take, but it's not a major ailment like an ACL tear or torn Achilles, so there's a good chance he's back for OTAs and training camp.
Mecole Hardman 2023 Fantasy Outlook
Since the Chiefs are paying quarterback Patrick Mahomes $50 million per year and have several notable free agents coming up this offseason, they'll have plenty of decisions to make. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tackles Orlando Brown and Andrew Wiley all have expired deals, so Hardman likely won't be a top priority. Kansas City drafted Skyy Moore and traded for Kadarius Toney, so as things stand, it's probably more likely than not that Hardman sees a chance of scenery in 2023.
Based on Hardman's four-year resume (151 receptions, 2,008 yards), it seems unlikely he'll ever be a must-start stud in fantasy football. Hardman has failed to make a significant impact and post solid production since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and it's hard to imagine a better landing spot for opportunity than he already had in Kansas City.
If he lands on a team with a big-armed quarterback like Justin Herbert or Josh Allen, he could be an intriguing Best Ball dart throw, but again, there's very little chance he ever becomes a consistent volume-driven productive wideout.
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