This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
Odell Beckham Jr.
The gravity-defying Beckham is dealing with a familiar foe as hamstring problems continue to be his kryptonite. Beckham dazzled last season despite missing the first four games of the season nursing a strained hamstring. He admitted after the season ended that the muscle never did feel 100 percent, and the soreness has lingered into summer workouts. The injury forced Beckham out of OTAs and the team's minicamp, and his availability for the start of training camp is uncertain.
The reason hamstring injuries tend to be so problematic for receivers and running backs alike is because the muscle group works in both ways to accelerate and decelerate the leg while running and cutting. The healing process is easily disrupted and it can take up to a year for scar tissue to exhibit the same biological properties of the original muscle tissue. As a result, an injured individual often needs a considerable amount of time to move past the initial injury. Even then, those with previous strains tend to be more susceptible to re-injury, something fantasy owners who previously invested in Arian Foster, Miles Austin or Darren McFadden are all too familiar with.
The Giants are likely playing it safe with Beckham, but his draft price becomes riskier the longer the injury lingers into training camp. And even when he returns healthy, he will still carry a high degree of inherent risk.
DeVante Parker
The Dolphins drafted Parker 14th overall this year with hopes he would serve as
Odell Beckham Jr.
The gravity-defying Beckham is dealing with a familiar foe as hamstring problems continue to be his kryptonite. Beckham dazzled last season despite missing the first four games of the season nursing a strained hamstring. He admitted after the season ended that the muscle never did feel 100 percent, and the soreness has lingered into summer workouts. The injury forced Beckham out of OTAs and the team's minicamp, and his availability for the start of training camp is uncertain.
The reason hamstring injuries tend to be so problematic for receivers and running backs alike is because the muscle group works in both ways to accelerate and decelerate the leg while running and cutting. The healing process is easily disrupted and it can take up to a year for scar tissue to exhibit the same biological properties of the original muscle tissue. As a result, an injured individual often needs a considerable amount of time to move past the initial injury. Even then, those with previous strains tend to be more susceptible to re-injury, something fantasy owners who previously invested in Arian Foster, Miles Austin or Darren McFadden are all too familiar with.
The Giants are likely playing it safe with Beckham, but his draft price becomes riskier the longer the injury lingers into training camp. And even when he returns healthy, he will still carry a high degree of inherent risk.
DeVante Parker
The Dolphins drafted Parker 14th overall this year with hopes he would serve as a major building block and help ease the loss of Mike Wallace. However, the rookie experienced pain in his left foot shortly following OTAs, and it was determined he would need surgery to replace preexisting hardware in his foot. Parker initially injured the area as a senior at Louisville and needed surgery to repair the fracture in his fifth metatarsal. Miami opted to be aggressive in its treatment plan and sent Parker under the knife instead of waiting to see if the area would improve on its own.
Fifth metatarsal fractures are common in the NFL, especially amongst wide receivers. The bone, which sits on the outside of the foot, is placed under high amounts of stress with cutting and jump. Certain individuals place even larger loads on the area, based on the shape of their foot.
Parker's situation is similar to that of former first-round pick Julio Jones. Jones broke his fifth metatarsal prior to the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine and underwent surgery shortly there after. Two years later, Jones needed an additional procedure to replace the surgical hardware.
The Dolphins hope Parker will be ready after just eight weeks, but that estimate is likely optimistic. I expect the situation to carry on a bit longer and wouldn't be surprised if it threatens his availability for Week 1. The fact that the Dolphins are already being proactive with Parker's treatment is a good sign and would prove even more beneficial if they are conservative with his rehab. The risk for re-injury will also linger and Parker's overall value should be adjusted accordingly.
Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas
Bryant and Thomas aren't dealing with a specific injury, but both Pro Bowl receivers are involved in contract disputes that could ultimately affect their health. Holdouts alter an individual's normal offseason routine. The player may continue to workout during their time away from the team, but it is hard to simulate the rigors of OTAs and training camp. As a result, a truncated training camp or preseason can lead to injuries as the involved player rushes back or is unable to gradually bring his body up to full speed
I would compare a receiver holding out to a major league pitcher that misses spring training. They may physically be in good shape, but the time missed is difficult to make up. Instead of steadily building up a workload, the muscles and ligaments become taxed from a sharp increase in stress and load. Numerous wide receivers have suffered injuries, primarily to the muscles of the lower extremities, after ending a prolonged contract dispute. The list includes Javon Walker (hamstring, ACL), Mike Wallace (groin), Vincent Jackson (calf), DeSean Jackson (knee) and Michael Crabtree (knee). Bryant and Thomas remain elite options at the wide receiver position, but the amount of associated risk with each player will continue to rise the longer they hold out.
Adrian Peterson
The Vikings decision to withhold Peterson from all preseason action could create a scenario similar to that discussed with Bryant and Thomas. However, Peterson will have the advantage of participating in camp and practices and a sense of familiarity having sat out every preseason game since tearing his ACL in 2011. Still, given that the former league MVP has not played a snap since September of last season, it would ease some concerns of fantasy owners if they could see Peterson get a carry or two against real competition before Week 1.
Darren McFadden, Ryan Williams
The Cowboys let DeMarco Murray walk in the offseason after the running back led the league in rushing. Instead of overspending to keep Murray in Dallas, the team opted to invest in McFadden at a far less expensive price. However, McFadden was available on the cheap because of his inability to stay healthy while with the Raiders and is already spending time in the Dallas athletic training room. McFadden is nursing a hamstring strain suffered in OTAs and was limited throughout minicamps.
Another back competing for the starting role in Dallas is hampered as well as Williams continues to experience swelling his surgically repaired knee. Williams who ruptured his patellar tendon during the preseason of his rookie season has spent the last three seasons trying to reestablish himself. Unfortunately, his injury was extremely significant and has stalled any real comeback attempts. The fact that he is still dealing with fluid in the joint is a bad sign, and it's hard to imagine him merging as a real threat to McFadden or the healthy Joseph Randle.
