Justin Jefferson, NFL Preseason Injuries to Track Ahead of Fantasy Football Drafts

With the NFL's Hall of Fame Game set to kick off the preseason on Thursday night, we've officially reached fantasy draft season. Most fantasy enthusiasts will spend the next few weeks locked in pre-draft preparation.

This likely means diving into statistics, watching preseason games and highlights, running a few mock drafts and regularly checking the latest fantasy rankings.

Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport recently provided updated standard and points-per-reception (PPR) rankings, which can be found here.

It's also advisable to pay close attention to injury updates. Preseason game statuses don't always provide useful information, since teams are quick to hold players out of meaningless exhibitions. As Christian McCaffrey managers learned last season, though, seemingly minor preseason ailments can turn into season-long problems.

With this in mind, let's dive into the biggest injuries worth tracking as the exhibition slate gets underway.

Players Coming Off Of Significant 2024 Injuries

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

49ers RB Christian McCaffrey

We're primarily here to focus on injuries fans may have missed if they took a break between the NFL draft and the start of the preseason.

Seasoned fantasy enthusiasts will be well-aware players such as McCaffrey, Chris Godwin, Brandon Aiyuk, Rashee Rice, Isiah Pacheco and Stefon Diggs missed extended time with serious injuries last season.

For those new to fantasy or those simply in need of a reminder: It's worth taking a few moments to see how those players are progressing.

Godwin, for example, began Tampa Bay Buccaneers camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list—as did left tackle Tristan Wirfs, which is very relevant for potential Baker Mayfield managers.

McCaffrey, meanwhile, appears healthy but has been worked in slowly by the San Francisco 49ers.

"I know he is feeling good and when he feels good, he doesn't like days off, but he understands why he's got [to do it]," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters.

Not every player bounces back from a significant or season-ending injury quickly, so it's worth checking in on last year's biggest injured stars. Their situations are unlikely to catch managers by surprise, though, as McCaffrey's preseason calf injury did last year or Joe Burrow's preseason calf ailment did in 2023.

Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Stacy Bengs

Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is probably the most notable name on our list because he has such a massive fantasy profile.

A perennial high-first-round pick, the four-time Pro Bowler was Davenport's second-ranked overall player in PPR and fourth-ranked overall player in standard.

In other words, if Jefferson missed significant playing time this season, it would impact a lot of season-long leagues.

This is why managers should keep one eye on his lingering hamstring injury. The issue is considered mild and doesn't have the Vikings worried about their biggest playmaker being available in Week 1

"I have zero worry about the opener," head coach Kevin O'Connell said, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "But there's a lot of time between now and then. What that looks like, we're going to be smart."

Ideally, the 26-year-old will suit up for at least one preseason game because Minnesota isn't going to put him out there if he isn't 100 percent. His status becomes far more uncertain if he spends the next month on the sideline.

If managers don't see at least a couple of positive updates, it might be time to consider Jefferson a mild risk at the top of Round 1. It will also be harder to view J.J. McCarthy as a sleeper QB.

Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon isn't a fantasy star in the mold of Jefferson, but he's regularly been a quality starter during his time in the NFL.

Though the 29-year-old battled an ankle injury and missed three games with the Texans last season, he still finished with 36 receptions, 1,325 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns.

The issue is that the 2017 second-round pick is dealing with another lower-leg injury that could sideline him for an extended period.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Texans "plan to re-evaluate the RB closer to the regular season," and there's a chance he won't be ready for Week 1.

This doesn't mean managers should avoid Mixon, who was a top-20 RB in both PPR and standard formats last season. But it does make him even more of a risk-reward option than he already was.

His stock took a hit when Houston added Nick Chubb late in the offseason. The Texans' new-look offensive line adds further uncertainty to his outlook.

Lower-leg injuries can linger for running backs. Even if Mixon doesn't miss regular-season time, if he's not at 100 percent by Week 1, there's a chance Chubb and Dameon Pierce cut into his workload significantly.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford finished last season as QB19, so he's probably not viewed as much more than a high-end backup this season.

However, the two-time Pro Bowler's availability and play could have a substantial impact on the fantasy value of players like Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Tyler Higbee and Davante Adams, who has a tremendous amount of upside in Los Angeles.

"There is no more undervalued fantasy receiver this year than Adams, who has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in five straight seasons while averaging almost a dozen scores a year over that span," Davenport wrote.

Unfortunately, Stafford is currently sidelined with a back issue, and the Rams have been less than forthcoming about it.

"What I don't want to do is give you guys a date and then, you know, if that does change, then there's assumptions that I would imagine that I would have if I was in your guys' shoes that can lead you to think, 'Oh man, something’s really up,'" head coach Sean McVay said, per Dan Greenspan of the Associated Press. "So we are week to week with him."

The Rams may only be exercising caution with their most important offensive player, and McVay said he's "confident" Stafford will start in Week 1. At the same time, though, we're talking about a 37-year-old quarterback who suffered back fractures in 2018 and 2019, along with a spinal cord injury in 2022. The situation can't simply be ignored.

Managers can find other backup QBs, but they'll want to adjust the values of players such as Nacua, Adams and Williams if Jimmy Garoppolo appears set to run the offense for an extended stretch.

Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

While Stafford can largely be viewed as a backup only, New York Jets signal-caller Justin Fields has some real sleeper potential.

We've never seen the 2021 first-round pick in New York's offense before, but he's shown glimpses of promise in past stops.

Though his three-year stint with the Chicago Bears was underwhelming overall, Fields showed elite scrambling ability on multiple occasions—he even topped 1,100 rushing yards in 2022. With the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, he showed improvements as a passer.

In New York, Fields has been reunited with former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson and may benefit from a more innovative offense than he had in Chicago or Pittsburgh.

New offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand spent the last two seasons as the Detroit Lions' passing game coordinator.

Of course, Fields' upside isn't as high if he can't bring his signature dual-threat ability. This is why his recent toe dislocation was noteworthy. The good news is that it doesn't appear to be serious.

According to Zach Braziller and Brian Costello of the New York Post, the 26-year-old will wear a protective plastic sleeve on his foot "for the next few weeks" but has been participating fully after initially missing one practice.

Disaster averted? Maybe, but toe injuries can become problematic for players who regularly run, especially if they alter their mechanics to compensate. While Fields has gotten better as a pocket passer, he'll have practically no sleeper potential if he can't chew up rushing yards.

Managers should get a look at Fields in the preseason and gauge his speed and mobility before settling on his fantasy upside.

Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants

AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

The New York Giants will also have a new starting quarterback in 2025, though Russell Wilson's ceiling is far below Fields'.

However, the veteran should provide an upgrade over last year's collection of Giants quarterbacks—at least until rookie Jaxson Dart is prepared to take the reins.

If the 36-year-old can provide steady QB play, it'll be great news for second-year wideout Malik Nabers. Despite catching passes from Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito and Tim Boyle last season, he finished his rookie campaign with 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns.

Heading into the preseason, the LSU product is Davenport's 10th overall player in both standard and PPR formats. Unfortunately, he's also dealing with a shoulder injury after spending most of the offseason battling a toe issue.

The Giants are not "overly concerned" that the shoulder injury is serious, according to Jared Schwartz of the New York Post.

Managers might want to be more concerned with the toe ailment, which has apparently lingered since Nabers was in college. According to the wideout, he has considered surgery to resolve the issue in the past but isn't currently doing so.

"There's been talk about [surgery]—just never really came to complete thought in mind for me to do it. I've been managing it well," he said, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.

Neither of Nabers' injuries should impact his draft stock right now, but managers should pay attention to any health updates. If his toe issue somehow gets worse, surgery might not be completely off the table.

Najee Harris, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

The Los Angeles Chargers signed running back Najee Harris early in the offseason but he hasn't participated in training camp.

The 27-year-old sustained what was called a "superficial" eye injury in a Fourth of July fireworks accident and has been sidelined since.

The Chargers insist they're only being cautious.

"He's getting better," L.A. general manager Joe Hortiz told Amber Theoharis of SiriusXM NFL Radio. "We're going to be cautious and precautious with it and let him get healthy. There's no rush."

Harris, who rushed for at least 1,000 yards in all four of his seasons with the Steelers, should interest managers as a potential flex option if healthy. But managers may be more concerned about his impact on the stock of rookie Omarion Hampton.

The No. 22 overall pick was a high-volume runner and receiver in college who topped 280 touches and 1,700 scrimmage yards in each of the past two seasons. If he becomes an every-down back in Jim Harbaugh's run-oriented offense, he should have top-10 fantasy potential.

If Harris gets back on the field soon, though, he could carve out a substantial role in the offense, too. His place on the roster shouldn't be ignored, regardless of managers are considering Harris or Hampton.

Of course, it would be beneficial to see Harris on the field and get an idea of how L.A. plans to use its top two ball-carriers.

*Fantasy scoring information via FantasyPros.