PlayerProfiler is home to award winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out. Below, Jonathan Lange breaks down key injury recoveries to watch this offseason, including Kirk Cousins‘ achilles tear and other key fantasy assets.
The offseason has been a thrilling ride, with plenty of changes for the NFL. Now how do we handle the players that were unable to finish the 2023 regular season? We’re outlining the players who ended the 2023 season with an injury. We’re going to observe where they are in their rehabilitation process. We’ll also project if they can replicate fantasy point production similar to previous seasons. Let’s get started with the big free agent quarterback.
Kirk Cousins – Torn Achilles Tendon
Kirk Cousins appeared to be well on his way to another top-15 finish when he tore his Achilles in Week 8. The standard timeframe for Achilles tears is 9-11 months, and September 1st would be 10 months exactly from the date of the injury. Cousins himself said in March that he is confident in his ability to drop back and operate in the pocket, but when he must scramble or move, you can tell there is an existing problem.
.@ItsTeraTime LOVES Kirk Cousins in Atlanta🔥#WatchProfiler pic.twitter.com/Tjo8bp3pru
— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) March 20, 2024
Something I learned while reading into Cousins career stats is that he has a top-10 career Passer Rating on throws outside of the pocket. The move to the Falcons brings much needed stability as every starter from 2023 is returning along with the position coach. If Cousins can remain upright, we could see another top-12 QB finish.
Joe Burrow – Torn Wrist Ligament
The strangest injury of 2023 had to be the wrist injury of Joe Burrow. Burrow threw a touchdown pass to Joe Mixon, then began shaking his head and throwing hand and left the field. His injury caused an investigation by the NFL when he was spotted before the game with what appeared to be a wrap around the same wrist. Burrow said he will be at 100-percent in May and should have no limitations. While I do have no concerns about his wrist, I do have concerns about his overall health. In his five-year career in the NFL, he’s now had two seasons cut short due to injury. Earlier this offseason,
Josh Larky said he would consider selling Burrow for Caleb Williams. I would echo that sentiment simply because we are one injury away from having the “is he injury-prone” conversation. He should be a full-go and 100-percent for the 2024 season, but be aware that other injuries could pop up.
Anthony Richardson – Sprained AC Joint
A-Rich was coming into his own as a professional passer until he suffered a grade three AC sprain to his throwing shoulder in Week 5. Two other quarterbacks had grade 1 AC sprains (Trevor Lawrence and Derek Carr), and they both missed one game combined. This was an injury that could heal on its own, but the surgery ensured that there would be no long-term damage to Richardson’s throwing shoulder. He’s already throwing medicine balls in weight rooms and looking sharper than ever before. I am more confident in Richardson than I am in any other player in this article in terms of staying healthy or having no complications in 2024. His rushing ability, paired with the creativity of play caller Shane Steichen, has him locked in as a top-ten QB for 2024.
Deshaun Watson – Broken Bone in Shoulder
Many in the fantasy space veiwed the 2023 season for Deshaun Watson as a prove-it year. He suffered a rotator cuff contusion injury in Week 4 and then returned to the team and played well against a poor Cardinals secondary. The following week against the Ravens, he suffered a minor ankle injury and a broken bone in his throwing shoulder, but he stayed in the game and led the Browns to a comeback victory against the Ravens. Watson had season-ending surgery following that comeback performance.
Watson said he’s been at 100-percent recently, and there are no long-term health concerns for him. In the five full games Watson played, he finished with three top-10 fantasy QB performances. The team added Jerry Jeudy, and the early absence of Nick Chubb could lead to more pass friendly formations. A more pass-heavy, open offense could be on the table after Joe Flacco succeeded in late 2024. Watson is an incredibly risky investment, but the reward could be massive.
Nick Chubb – Dislocated Knee/Torn MCL
There are a handful of injuries that can look so gruesome they can elicit a physical reaction upon viewing them. Nick Chubb experienced one of those types of injuries in 2023, when he had his MCL torn and his knee dislocated. It was a troubling injury to witness. Chubb has made progress under a “cautious rehabilitation program,” and Browns GM Andrew Berry said they would know more in three months. We will see if Chubb takes snaps in the 2024 season, but I would expect the team to handle his recovery with incredible caution.
To add more intrigue to the issue, mocks from people that regularly communicate with team employees have linked the Browns to taking a running back in the Draft. 2024 will be a massive year for Chubb, and he will need to escape the year without any injury to retain any dynasty value.
Tank Dell – Broken Fibula
Tank Dell was forgotten about relatively quickly when you consider how good of a season he was having. He was off to a scorching start until Week 13 when he suffered a broken fibula which ended his season. He is coming along well in his recovery, but there is an interesting thing to note regarding his injury. Jeff Mueller identifies a possible correlation between players getting the “tightrope” procedure and having hamstring injuries following.
Add another to the list.
Hamstring injury after having a tightrope procedure. Very interesting trend 🧐 https://t.co/0OUapfDKby pic.twitter.com/sVAj74aTeh
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) March 13, 2024
Dell had the “tightrope” procedure done, so he could be vulnerable to a soft tissue injury in 2024. Even with the arrival of Stefon Diggs, I’m still bullish on acquiring Tank Dell. I do prefer Dell slightly more than Collins, but be aware that there is a possibility that you may not get rely on Dell until 2025.
Read Theo Gremminger’s breakdown of the latest mock draft showdown with Fantasy Pros here: Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: *3 FULL ROUNDS* Rookie Draft Tips and Strategy – PlayerProfiler and FantasyPros!
