With the NFL season rapidly approaching, our team at Sports Injury Central has you covered with all the injury insights you need when deciding which players to target or avoid in all formats of Fantasy Football.

Running Backs To Target In Fantasy Football Drafts

Here are the running backs whose injury concerns are in the past, so we recommend you target them in your fantasy football drafts.

Christian McCaffrey

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey appears to be in strong physical condition this offseason after dealing with Achilles and knee issues in 2024. He participated fully in OTAs and minicamp, increasing his workload and reporting no setbacks. McCaffrey said he challenged his body during those sessions and was encouraged by how it responded. While he has not played in the preseason, he has been a full participant in training camp. A dual-threat back with elite volume and efficiency, McCaffrey offers both floor and ceiling at the position. At ADP 10.5, he’s a rare value with RB1 overall upside late in the first round or early in the second.

Isiah Pacheco

Isiah Pacheco has returned to action for the Kansas City Chiefs following a significant injury in 2024, where he suffered a fractured fibula in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals, requiring surgery and a six-game absence before returning in Week 9. This preseason, Pacheco has been a full participant in training camp and played in the Chiefs' first two preseason games, recording one rush for eight yards against the Arizona Cardinals on August 9 and one reception for 22 yards against the Seattle Seahawks on August 15, with his limited snaps reflecting the team's cautious approach to managing starters. We expect Pacheco to retain his role as the Chiefs’ lead back and return to the form that nearly produced a 1,000-yard season before his injury.

Running Backs To Avoid In Fantasy Football Drafts

Here are the running backs whose injury concerns are still a concern, so we recommend you avoid them in your fantasy football drafts.

Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon’s injury situation has raised questions, particularly with his placement on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. Typically, players cannot reach full NFL shape by relying only on organized team activities (OTAs), which are limited in scope, so additional independent workouts are essential. Penalizing players for training outside team activities with an NFI designation could create unrest in the locker room, which makes Mixon’s case unusual. The specifics remain unclear, but possible explanations include a workout-related injury, lingering issues from last season, complications from treatment, an injury sustained outside of football activities, or a delay in reporting the injury. Until more information is revealed, expectations for Mixon should be tempered, as uncertainty continues to surround his availability heading into the season.

De'Von Achane

Has a soft tissue lower body injury that will keep him out between “days & weeks”, HC Mike McDaniel told reporters the injury isn't serious, but it's nonetheless concerning to see the undersized starting running back nursing a soft-tissue injury as Week 1 looms nearer.

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