How do you measure risk versus reward? Do you select players coming off serious injuries? As we reach the halfway point of the season, let’s look back at the top dozen injury candidates from August.
With the benefit of hindsight, we can now see which ones should have (and should not have) been selected.
Jamaal Charles, K.C. Coming off an ACL injury, he’s been babied all along. Entering Week 8, still hasn’t seen significant playing time. Picked too early in every league.
Sammy Watkins, Buff. Broke his foot in the offseason. Was supposedly healthy early in camp, but the foot started giving him problems in the first game. On injured reserve now. Picked too early in every league.
Jordy Nelson, G.B. A 31-year-old receiver coming off ACL surgery, he was held out of almost all practices in training camp. He’s been playing well, with 5 TDs in six games. Probably selected too late in most leagues.
Kelvin Benjamin, Car. Not only coming off an ACL reconstructive, but also a huge receiver who’s had some weight issues at Florida State and Carolina. He’s been very good in most games. Selected too late in every league.
Melvin Gordon, S.D. Underwent microfracture surgery on his knee (and also simply wasn’t any good as a rookie). Relative to where he was chosen, has probably been the MVP of most fantasy leagues.
Jimmy Graham, Sea. Held out all of training camp as he tried to work his way back from a torn patellar tendon (and injury that’s given fits to players such as Cadillac Williams and Victor Cruz). Eased into action the first couple of games, but he’s now played well in four straight games. Looks like a good pick relative to where he was chosen.
Arian Foster, Mia. A 30-year-old back trying to come back from a ruptured Achilles. Never got it going and retired on Monday.
Victor Cruz, NYG Torn patellar tendon in 2014 and missed all of 2015 with a calf injury. He hasn’t been great, but he’s been able to start all seven games and catch a few balls – 24 receptions for 331 yards and a touchdown.
Julian Edelman, N.E. Edelman broke his foot last year and underwent an additional surgery in the offseason. (He’s also gotten hurt a bunch of other times in his career.) He’s held up fine and done his thing, catching 37 passes. Should have plenty of games with a half-dozen catches in the second half of the season.
Thomas Rawls, Sea. Coming off a broken ankle, he was supposed to be the new Marshawn Lynch. They babied him all through camp. Never got going and was outplayed by Christine Michael before suffering a hairline fracture that’s sidelined him for most of the season. He’s practicing now and Pete Carroll suggests he’ll have a big role in the second half of the season. Drafted too early.
Mark Ingram, N.O. Three years in a row Ingram has missed at least three games. He’s held up fine thus far, starting all six games. He hasn’t knocked it out of the park but has outperformed most other running backs selected in that area of the draft, with 334 yards rushing, 154 yards receiving and 3 TDs.
Jonathan Stewart, Car. Stewart gets hurt every year, missing at least three games four years in a row. He’s played only two full games so far, getting sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury.