This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
Zack Martin and the Dallas Cowboys
It's rare that I start the year breaking down an injury for an offensive lineman, but Martin's COVID-19-related absence could have a trickledown effect on multiple high profile fantasy weapons entering Week 1. Martin, a six-time Pro Bowler at guard, tested positive for the virus over the weekend. Martin is vaccinated but he will not have time to complete even the truncated return to play protocol for those who have received the vaccine. Vaccinated players can resume playing in just five days if they remain asymptomatic and produce two negative COVID-19 tests in consecutive 24-hour periods. However, Dallas faces Tampa Bay in Thursday's season kickoff, making it impossible for Martin to receive clearance in time.
Dallas' offense is filled with elite talent including Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and CeeDee Lamb. However, the starting unit did not appear in a single preseason game together due to injuries along the line and to Prescott. The team will have to kick off any lingering rust against a Buccaneers defense that finished fourth in total sacks in 2020 while allowing the fewest rushing yards in the league.
I mentioned last week that I'm not worried about Prescott's health. Last year's ankle injury and his preseason latissimus dorsi strain appear to be behind him. However, the team's conservative management of his workload following the low-grade strain prevented him from getting valuable reps. As a result, I'm more concerned about early-season timing issues that may cap his fantasy
Zack Martin and the Dallas Cowboys
It's rare that I start the year breaking down an injury for an offensive lineman, but Martin's COVID-19-related absence could have a trickledown effect on multiple high profile fantasy weapons entering Week 1. Martin, a six-time Pro Bowler at guard, tested positive for the virus over the weekend. Martin is vaccinated but he will not have time to complete even the truncated return to play protocol for those who have received the vaccine. Vaccinated players can resume playing in just five days if they remain asymptomatic and produce two negative COVID-19 tests in consecutive 24-hour periods. However, Dallas faces Tampa Bay in Thursday's season kickoff, making it impossible for Martin to receive clearance in time.
Dallas' offense is filled with elite talent including Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and CeeDee Lamb. However, the starting unit did not appear in a single preseason game together due to injuries along the line and to Prescott. The team will have to kick off any lingering rust against a Buccaneers defense that finished fourth in total sacks in 2020 while allowing the fewest rushing yards in the league.
I mentioned last week that I'm not worried about Prescott's health. Last year's ankle injury and his preseason latissimus dorsi strain appear to be behind him. However, the team's conservative management of his workload following the low-grade strain prevented him from getting valuable reps. As a result, I'm more concerned about early-season timing issues that may cap his fantasy productivity over the first few weeks. This an even more true with Martin, a top-ranked lineman who surrendered just one sack last season, unavailable. Adjust your expectations on Prescott, Elliott and the rest of the Dallas offense accordingly.
The 49ers receiver was able to take part in limited practice activities on Monday and is trending toward playing in Week 1. Aiyuk has battled a hamstring strain over the last few weeks but has progressed nicely. Look for him to take the field with an elevated level of injury risk.
While Aiyuk's situation appears to a favorable one, I want to use it to warn about the possibility of a noticeable jump in soft tissue injuries over the next few weeks. Other sports leagues, including the NBA and MLB, recorded sizeable increases in muscle strains in their first full season after a pandemic-shortened 2020. Hamstring and groin strains were particularly problematic with the MLB seeing increases in reported cases by more than 100 percent when compared to 2019. The NBA's regular season total for games lost due to soft tissue injuries was the second-highest total since 2005, even more alarming when you consider each team played 10 less regular-season contests.
It's hard to blame the increase on one particular reason, and it seems more likely multiple variables are influencing player health. Changes in offseason preparation, time allotted for preventative care, and the lingering effects of an altered 2020 season are just a few of the likely contributing factors attributed to the increased injury rates. The NFL seems best prepared to buck the trend as teams have resumed operating on a close to normal schedule. However, I suspect ramifications of the pandemic linger and I wouldn't be shocked to see a noticeable jump in soft tissue injuries, especially to players like running backs, wide receivers and defensive backs.
Turf Burns
Saquon Barkley: It appears Barkley will take the field in Week 1, though the team has suggested he will likely see a limited workload to start the year. I've said multiple times that anyone open to invest in Barkley must be willing to play the long game. He will likely produce below average numbers in the first few weeks of the season, but I expect him to return to top form as the season progresses. Remain patient here.
A.J. Brown and Julio Jones: The Titans wide receiving duo has returned to practice and should be ready for Week 1. Brown has battled lingering knee discomfort linked to an offseason surgery. The newly acquired Jones has been limited by an undisclosed injury, a designation that appears to have followed him from Atlanta. Anyone who has ever invested in Jones knows that he is a regular on weekly injury reports but routinely plays on Sunday. While that wasn't necessarily true last year, as he battled recurring hamstring injuries, Jones has missed more than two games just three times in his 10-year career. I expect the Titans to adopt a similar approach with Jones' care and may even handle Brown in a similar fashion. It can make for an unnerving week, but both players should be ready by game day and capable of putting up fantasy friendly numbers.
Stefon Diggs: I wish we knew more specifics about the mysterious knee injury that has limited Diggs over the past few weeks, but the Bills seem confident he will be ready to roll for Week 1. He's averaged double digit weekly fantasy points for three straight seasons and remains a top tier wide receiver.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire: The Chiefs will have their feature back in the lineup against the Browns. Edwards-Helaire suffered a low-grade ankle sprain during preseason play but has been an active participant in practice and should be in line for his normal number of carries.
T.Y. Hilton: The veteran wideout has undergone surgery to address a disc injury in his neck. The Colts placed him on the injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the first three games of the year. The primary area of concern with disc-related injuries is any potential nerve impingement. If the displacement is minimal and nerve damage is minmized then a quick recovery is possible. However, any prolonged nerve issues can result in functional limitations in the upper extremities. Even worse, nerve tissue is often slow to heal. While Indianapolis has downplayed the severity of the problem, I'm guessing his absence extends beyond three weeks. Look for Michael Pittman and Zach Pascal to receive the bulk of the targets for the Colts in the weeks ahead.
Justin Jefferson: Jefferson's Grade 2 acromioclavicular (AC) sprain has healed nicely, and the Vikings receiver will be active for Week 1 against the Bengals. His return to the field got easier when it was reported Monday that Cincinnati's Trae Waynes will not play in Week 1 due to a hamstring strain. AC injuries can be braced, and additional modifications can be made to the shoulder pads to protect the area, meaning Jefferson should be set to build on his record-breaking rookie campaign.
