The 2025 NFL regular season is fast approaching and chances are you’re preparing for your fantasy football draft. If that’s the case, be sure to check out Yahoo’s fantasy football draft kit for all the latest analysis.
When it comes to fantasy football draft prep, being aware of all the most notable injuries is of the utmost importance. Yahoo analyst Scott Pianowski always says that injuries will happen throughout the season, they’re inevitable — but don’t draft into one before the season even begins.
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This tracker will be a helpful tool to make sure you’re up-to-date on all the latest injury news from around the NFL before you head into your draft room.
NFL preseason injury tracker
Quarterbacks
Overall Ranking: 26
ADP: 21.5
Update — Jackson was forced to leave practice this week after a teammate stepped on his foot. The Ravens downplayed the injury and it appears to be nothing, but this is Lamar Jackson we’re talking about, so it feels worth noting at least.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers — thumb
Overall Ranking: 110
ADP: 116.1
Update — Love underwent a procedure to repair some torn ligaments in his non-throwing thumb last week and isn’t expected to play until Week 1. He’s been practicing this week and it doesn’t appear that this will be an issue once the regular season gets underway. Similar to the Jackson news, it’s worth noting given how important Love is to the Packers offense and some of the receivers you may end up drafting in fantasy.
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Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams — back
Overall Ranking: 158
ADP: 126.6
Update — Stafford’s back has been one of the bigger storylines in terms of injuries this preseason for fantasy football. The trickle-down effect it would have on top WRs Puka Nacua and Davante Adams has many concerned about drafting both of them as highly as they’re projected. Well, Stafford was back at practice on Monday and is being considered both day-to-day and week-to-week by head coach Sean McVay.
That doesn’t really help us narrow down Stafford’s status for Week 1, so for now, it’s a wait-and-see type of situation. If we don’t have much clarity by the time drafts start, the best way to approach this situation is be prepared; if you’re going to take Nacua or Adams, have a backup plan. If one of them drops a bit from their ADP, take advantage of that (but again, be prepared). Have a contingency plan at WR if this back injury takes a wrong turn.
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Running Backs
De’von Achane, Miami Dolphins – Calf
Overall Ranking: 16
ADP: 16.4
Update — Achane remains out of practice and was deemed day-to-day and week-to-week. It doesn’t appear as if Achane will see action in the preseason finale for the Dolphins this week. But there’s still plenty of time before the Dolphins face the Colts in Week 1 on Sept. 7. Head coach Mike McDaniel said the team is approaching Achane’s practice participation in a “preventative” nature. So for now, all signs point to Achane being ready for Week 1, yet we’re all proceeding with caution in drafts.
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Similar to the Stafford-Rams situation, if you’re targeting Achane in your draft 1) have a plan and 2) look for value. If Achane’s injury is scaring managers off, you may be able to get him at a discount in your draft. If that’s the case, be sure to snag his backup or just have plenty of RB depth on your roster.
Overall Ranking: 122
ADP: 71.6
Update — Mixon remains sidelined while on the active/non-football injury list for the Texans during the preseason. It’s unclear at the moment if Mixon will be ready for Week 1. If that’s the case, the Houston backfield appears to be wide open with veteran Nick Chubb, rookie Woody Marks, Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale all in competition for carries.
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It makes it tough to trust any of those names in fantasy until we get some more clarity. Mixon feels like an OK player to stash if he plummets in your draft; just add some additional depth at RB. Trying to figure out which of those other four backs would be in line to start if Mixon isn’t ready for Week 1 might be difficult. But if Mixon ends up returning at some point early in the regular season, he could be a steal.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans — ankle
Overall Ranking: 127
ADP: 129.5
Update — Spears sustained a high-ankle sprain in the Titans’ preseason opener and was ruled out for the remainder of the preseason. He’s considered week-to-week and his status for Week 1 is in question. With that news, it’s bumped Tony Pollard up draft boards with less competition for carries/snaps out of the backfield if Spears misses any time. Julius Chestnut and Kalel Mullings are the other two backs on Tennessee’s roster worth noting. Chestnut could get some run if Spears is out as the change-of-pace back behind Pollard. But expect the veteran to handle most of the heavy lifting.
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Najee Harris, Los Angeles Chargers — eye
Overall Ranking: 166
ADP: 118.2
Update — Harris is back at practice doing drills during training camp as we approach the end of preseason. We’ll see if he can get back into shape and ready for Week 1, when the Chargers face the Chiefs on Sept. 5. That gives Harris about two weeks to get back into game shape. This should bode well for Omarion Hampton’s prospects of beginning the season as the RB1 for Los Angeles. Hampton’s ADP has risen to around 33.7 over the past week, which would suggest he’s an RB1/2 option. There’s a chance Harris returns and they form some kind of committee, although that may be tough if Hampton hits the ground running. Plus, the Chargers spent a first-round pick on the back. Either way, if you’re eyeing Hampton early in your draft, be sure you’re up-to-date on Harris’ status.
Wide Receivers
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — ankle
Overall Ranking: 109
ADP: 99.3
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Update — We got some clarity on Godwin’s status going into the season via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday morning. The Bucs plan to activate Godwin off the PUP List before the start of the season. The wideout still is unlikely to play until October, per Schefter. That would mean Godwin misses the first four weeks of the regular season (if not more).
Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka is already being talked up big time if you’re reading plenty of Yahoo Fantasy Football content. He’ll have a real shot at being the WR1 for the Bucs if Mike Evans shows any sign of slowing down at 32 years old. WR Jalen McMillan is also worth a quick mention as he was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury.
Overall Rankings: 106
ADP: 105.7
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Update — Reed is out of the walking boot we saw during the Packers’ preseason opener. But he’s still not back at practice yet. This is another injury to monitor very closely, because if we catch wind that Reed is back at practice and in line to be ready for Week 1, it could boost his ADP quite a bit. If you can get ahead of that curve, it could mean you’re getting a potential No. 1 WR on a good offense at a discount in your draft. Foot injuries are tough for any wide receiver but the fact Reed is out of the boot is encouraging.
Because of all these injuries, rookie WR Matthew Golden is being talked up big time as a fantasy sleeper. His ADP is up to 113.2 over the past seven days and he’s performed well enough in camp that even if Green Bay’s receiving corps wasn’t ravaged by injuries, Golden may in the conversation as the WR1. We know the Packers will spread the ball around and lean on RB Josh Jacobs, but Golden and Reed could be the primary pass-catchers along with TE Tucker Kraft. If that’s the case, all of them appear to be strong values if the injuries subside.
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Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills — ankle
Overall Rankings: 107
ADP: 118.9
Update — Shakir went down with a high-ankle sprain at the beginning of the month and was declared week-to-week. The wideout hasn’t suffered any setbacks in his recovery, which is encouraging for his status for Week 1. For someone who has the potential to be the No. 1 receiving option for QB Josh Allen in what should be a very good offense, Shakir is still going overlooked in drafts. If Shakir can shake off this injury, it would impact how we view second-year WR Keon Coleman, who is getting some hype as a sleeper/breakout candidate.
Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Overall Ranking: Jennings (83), Aiyuk (139)
ADP: Jennings (104.3), Aiyuk (128)
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Update — We’re including both Jennings and Aiyuk, though their situations are a bit different. Aiyuk, we know will be out until at least mid-season. Jennings is dealing with a calf injury and has a contract dispute. This has opened things up for Ricky Pearsall to start the season as the No. 1 WR while TE George Kittle remains the top receiving option for Brock Purdy. Behind Pearsall and Kittle — if Jennings can’t get healthy — things become very murky. The Niners just traded for Skyy Moore because depth wideout Demarcus Robinson was suspended for the first three games of this season.
If Jennings is out, the 49ers’ offensive touches should be very condensed to Kittle, Pearsall and Christian McCaffrey. Right now, Pearsall’s ADP is on the rise, up to 91.3 on Yahoo over the last week. He’ll continue to be a strong value pick so long as Jennings is sidelined.
Tight Ends
Overall Ranking: 187
ADP: 130.4
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Update — Likely underwent surgery to repair a fractured foot at the end of July and was ruled out for at least six weeks. So chances are Likely will miss the first few games of the regular season for the Ravens. Because of that, Mark Andrews doesn’t have Likely breathing down his neck for snaps and targets in what should be a top offense in Baltimore. As a result of the Likely injury, Andrews will enter 2025 as the TE6 in Yahoo’s rankings at the position. He’s being selected around the 63rd pick in drafts and is an appealing TE target in the middle rounds considering his red-zone role.
