While NFL teams treat the preseason as a proving ground for younger players, or an opportunity to work on new concepts, fantasy owners watch it through their fingers hoping major players don’t go down with injuries.
And every preseason, major players go down with injuries.
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Only two weeks into the 2015 preseason, draft boards have been altered in a big way. Here are the big injuries of note, with a grade of A through F on the importance it will have on the fantasy season. A indicates it’s a major impact, while F is negligible.
Jordy Nelson, WR, Packers (ADP: 45): Grade A
Nelson’s only dropped to No. 45 in ADP because it hasn’t been confirmed that he tore his ACL. That’s the fear, however, and if so, it is a tremendous blow to the wide receiver position. Nelson was a clear top-10 WR, and probably a top-5 guy. The impact Nelson’s injury will have on the rest of the Packers is broken down here, but it weakens one of fantasy’s deeper positions at the very top.
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Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Panthers: Grade B+
Benjamin does have a diagnosed torn ACL, and is out for the season. Benjamin was a popular pick as a back-end WR1 for owners loading up at RB, or spending early picks on a QB or TE Rob Gronkowski. His injury was the first blow to the depth of WR in fantasy, and also has a major effect on the value of QB Cam Newton. If you draft Newton, you’re picking him because of his rushing. However, QBs still have to throw, and now Newton’s top weapons are a tight end (Greg Olsen) and a rookie (Devin Funchess).
Arian Foster, RB, Texans (ADP: 64): Grade B
Foster’s injury is significant, because it removes a top-10 RB from the beginning of the draft, and pushes up some players owners might feel less comfortable taking. There’s no knowing when Foster will be back. He has a groin injury, so it may linger until very late in the year. He also may be back in eight weeks. If he misses just half the season, his owners will be getting an important talent injection as they potentially make a playoff push.
LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills (ADP: 19): Grade B-
McCoy has a bad hamstring, and he isn’t going to play for the rest of the preseason. This could be a major injury if it bleeds into the regular season, but for now the Bills are “cautiously optimistic” they’ll have him in Week 1. If so, it’s all gravy.
If McCoy is out for longer than that, however, there will be just about zero usable players in Buffalo’s offense besides maybe WR Sammy Watkins, although defenses may as well triple-team him at that point.
Maurkice Pouncey, C, Steelers: Grade C+
Pouncey himself isn’t fantasy relevant as an offensive lineman, but his value to the Steelers' O-line is great. If this line falters, that affects RB Le’Veon Bell, and could potentially get QB Ben Roethlisberger hurt, which sinks WRs Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant. Pouncey could miss up to eight weeks.
Robert Griffin III, QB, Redskins (ADP: 214): Grade C
RGIII could wind up being a big value in two-QB leagues, and leagues with four-point passing touchdowns, but as of now he’s barely being picked by owners who are sick of getting burned by his injuries. Still, Griffin’s rushing threat opens up lanes for RB Alfred Morris, and he has proven in the past he can connect for big plays in the passing game. That said, he should be ready for Week 1 so don’t worry too much.
Geno Smith, QB, Jets (ADP: 297): Grade D+
Some people might view Ryan Fitzpatrick as an upgrade over Smith for the Jets skill position players, specifically WRs Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Smith has some value in two-QB leagues because of his knack for picking up some rushing TDs, but he’s not a game-changer. It only slightly affects the receivers, and maybe TE Jace Amaro.
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