2024 Injury Breakdowns: Wide Receivers Returning from Injury

Christian Watson | Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Mueller Posted On April 11, 2024

Every NFL season comes with star players finding their way onto season-ending IR and question marks through the off-season and preseason as they near the following season. This series discusses key details in the player’s current recovery tract and injury projections for the 2024 seasons and for their dynasty value.

Let’s dive in.

Keenan Allen, WR CHI

Entering his 32-year-old season, Allen is coming off of missing seven games in 2022 due to a significant hamstring ailment and then four games in 2023 due to a heel bone bruise injury. While healthy, he has immense PPR upside and is a high-end route runner who can sustain high production for fantasy. While both of these past injuries have not been recurrent and typically have low future risk, missing a chunk of time in back-to-back seasons at his age should be somewhat concerning. Add in going to a new team with a new offensive coordinator with a rookie quarterback, it would likely be safe to project Allen as a low-end WR2 with DJ Moore projecting as a high-end WR2 as the deep threat. I would exercise caution on acquiring Allen in dynasty but if there is any kind of discount, he could pay off as an upside PPR option, just hope for no lower extremity injuries in 2024.

Christian Watson, WR GB

While extremely dynamic within the Packers offense, he continues to be cursed with hamstring ailments that cost him significant time throughout the season. He missed another eight games this past season after dealing with multiple hamstring strains in previous years since being drafted. Typically we fade these kinds of cases, however, given his current cost given potential upside along with pursuing a specialist to determine the root cause of his hamstring ailments leave me holding on to hope. I believe he can overcome the recurrent hamstring strains and find a way to remain healthy. The other downside that is not injury-related is that the Packers offense will likely be very boom-bust on a weekly basis, having to guess on the best play between Watson, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Romeo Doubs. They all may be better for Best Ball, but if you have been holding Watson in your dynasty leagues, this could very well be his best and healthiest year yet.

Tank Dell, WR HOU

First lesson of the day, please do not ask your small wide receivers to block at the goal line in the direct line of fire where your running back is running. Thankfully, these Tightrope procedures for wide receivers provide very good outcomes with a return to play and zero to minimal production dip in the first year of return to play. I have seen a lot of content creators using Tony Pollard as a comparison for Dell, however, this is a bad comparison considering Pollard had more ligament damage, is bigger, and plays a different position. The best return-to-play comparison for Dell would be Jaylen Waddle, especially when comparing athletic metrics. I would anticipate that Dell is a full-go for preseason and week one of the season with minimal reinjury concerns. Unfortunately, the addition of Stefon Diggs likely causes Dell to take more of a hit than Nico Collins in terms of production.

tank dell | thomas shea-usa today sports

Marquise Brown, WR KC

After yet another disappointing season dealing with injuries, Brown found himself having to take a one year prove it deal. Thankfully, that deal comes with an attachment to the best quarterback in the NFL, but that will not change his injury history. He has an extensive list of prior foot, ankle, and this past season’s heel bruise ailment that places him at further risk for lower extremity injuries. It may be because he is a speedster, or may be due to his past Lisfranc fracture and subsequent aggravations, but if Brown suffers any further injuries I would bet it will involve lower extremity. Right now may be a great time to sell Brown off of the hype of landing in Kansas City, paired with the uncertainty of Rashee Rice’s driving incident. If he does perform fairly well in his first few games, there will likely be another sell window but you are banking on consistency without reinjury.

Mike Williams, WR NYJ

By week one, Williams will be near a full year out from ACL reconstruction and a full return to play. Unfortunately, the majority of wide receivers continue to experience a production dip and efficiency per touch dip for several more months after returning to play. Given his age and the fact that he will be on a new team within a new offensive scheme behind Garrett Wilson on the depth chart, I like Williams better as a cheap Best Ball option. If you are holding him in dynasty, hope for a few big games as the season goes on and then sell for what you can get. There should be a window to pivot at some point and turn him into a younger asset.

Hopefully, this information is helpful. Feel free to follow me @jmthrivept for injury content.

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Jeff Mueller

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

Jeff is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with a specialty as a Certified Speed & Agility Coach. He enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking in Yosemite with his wife and dogs and has been an avid football fan since birth (go 49ers!). He also firmly believes that everyone needs to invest in a home gym with multiple TVs to watch all of the games on Sunday while working out.