Dynasty Fantasy Football: Wide Receivers Returning from Injury in 2022
As the season approaches and startups are in full flow, it is important to know the likely availability of the player you are about to draft. I’ll cover key wide receivers who are recovering from significant injuries. One major note to make is a change that the NFL made this off-season: The Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) requirement has been changed from a minimum of six games missed to a minimum of only four games missed. If a player is placed on PUP to begin the season, they can return off of the list this year by week five now.
The following information is estimates based on typically timeline for recovery from these injuries. It’s important to monitor their practice status leading up to the season for updated information from the team.
Chris Godwin, WR TB
Godwin tore his ACL and MCL on 12/19/21, with surgery delayed until 1/3/22 in order to allow for enough time for the MCL to heal on its own (a standard procedure if the MCL is not completely torn). This means that from the surgery date to week one, he only has eight months and nine days to return to play.
We should not completely rule Godwin out from being active for week one, but historically players typically require at least nine months to return to play, and that is not even to “full form” to their prior level of play. Due to the above-listed changes to the PUP, I believe there is a high likelihood that Godwin is placed on PUP until at least week five. However, there is a chance that his return to play could take longer, closer to ten months which would be a possible week eight return.
His status should be closely monitored as we get closer to the start of the season, but if you are drafting now for best ball or redraft leagues, I would recommend avoiding him at his current ADP in round four/five.
Estimated return to play (RTP): Week 5-8
Targets: Russell Gage
Michael Gallup, WR DAL
Gallup had a pretty interesting timeline from injury to surgery. He suffered his ACL tear on 1/2/22, however surgery was delayed until 2/10/22. There have been no reports on further damage, but typically surgery is delayed if there is MCL damage or persistent swelling with emphasis on obtaining full range of motion and reducing swelling prior to surgery.
The good: he is expected to make a full recovery to prior form. The bad: the long delay in surgery puts his timeframe from surgery to week one at seven months and two days. Gallup will most definitely begin the season on PUP, but will likely stay there much longer than the minimum four-week requirement. I would expect him to be out until likely 9.5 months, which would place his return roughly around week 12.
Key note here if this is the case: the Cowboys play on Thanksgiving that week, so the team could opt to give him an extra ten days to recover until week 13. Monitor closely, but I would avoid in redraft and only take Gallup in best ball if he falls near the end of your draft. There is typically a production dip as it is, so you’re drafting a player who likely misses over half the season and does not give you significant production upon return.
Estimated RTP: Week 11-13
Targets: Dalton Schultz, Jalen Tolbert (great late-round add), James Washington (deep leagues)
Robert Woods, WR TEN
Woods suffered his ACL tear during a Friday practice on 11/13/21 and had his surgery within that following week (specific date not confirmed). His timeline places him as the “most likely” of the ACL group to be active for week one of the season, placing his return to play at roughly nine months, 26 days. He was spotted running drills in camp practice while noticeably favoring his left leg in cutting and lateral movement. He is roughly where he should be at this current stage for seven months out from surgery. Barring any setbacks, I expect Woods to be ready week one and safe to draft.
Estimated RTP: Week 1
Jameson Williams, WR DET
Williams suffered a torn ACL on 1/10/22 and had surgery on 1/17/22, placing his return to play by week one at seven months and 26 days. He is expected to begin the season on PUP as well, and is another receiver who likely requires more than the four minimum weeks. If he returns around week eight, his return to play will be roughly nine months and 14 days. Monitor his return, however given his rookie status and the tendency for limited production in year one, you may be best off avoiding Williams in best ball at cost and monitoring in redraft for a mid-season pickup.
Estimated RTP: Week 8-10
Targets: Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Chark
John Metchie, WR HOU
Metchie suffered his torn ACL just over a month before his Alabama teammate Williams, on 12/4/21, and had surgery the following week (unconfirmed date). His return to play from surgery to week one would be roughly nine months and two days, placing him right on the edge of potentially being active. Out of this group of players, I do believe that Robert Woods and Metchie are the two most likely players to be active week one, however with very different production ability early on.
Given his rookie status and limited ability to practice leading up to the season, I would not bank on early-season production. If I were to guess, the team likely eases Metchie into a slow ramp-up in snap percentage behind Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, and Chris Conley or Chris Moore. If he is good to go, the door is relatively wide open for Metchie to take control of the slot role as early as this season, but I would not expect fantasy-worthy production until late in the season. He may be worth a late-round best ball add, but I would stay away from him in redraft outside of 16-team leagues.
Estimated RTP: Week 1-5
Targets: Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, Brevin Jordan
Odell Beckham Jr, WR FA
Beckham Jr unfortunately suffered his second left ACL tear since 2020, suffering this most recent injury in the Super Bowl on 2/13/22. This would place his week one return to play at roughly six months and 20 days. In fact, it would take until week 15 for OBJ to reach the preferred nine-month, 26-day mark (preferred meaning close to ten months). Given this is his second reconstruction in two years, there is the risk that it may take him close to a full 12 months to return to his prior level and feel comfortable with his knee once again.
At this point, I would recommend avoiding OBJ in drafts, and if you roster him in dynasty, use the hype to sell the minute he signs with a team. The downside is, teams could wait until late in the season during a playoff push to sign him for any potential playoff production.
Estimated RTP: Week 15-18
Michael Thomas, WR NO
I am adding MT because I know someone will ask me about him in the comments, and my response would be… I honestly have no idea. His ankle should be healed by now, but word is he is still limited leading up to camp. You probably will not be able to trade him for what he could possibly be worth if he does wind up returning to the field for week one, so I would recommend continuing holding and hoping for good news over the next few months.
Estimated RTP: *Chris Farley No Idea Gif*
- Dynasty Injury Forecast: Week 16 - December 21, 2024
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- Dynasty Injury Forecast: Week Seven - October 19, 2024
