The season is getting closer, and some fantasy football owners have switched from draft mode to Week 1 start 'em, sit 'em mode. Whichever camp you're in, injury updates remain crucial, and three key players -- Brian Robinson Jr., Jaylen Waddle, and JK Dobbins -- have all made headlines lately with news that could affect their season-long and Week 1 fantasy rankings.
Below, we'll give you the latest news on these players and break down how their injuries could potentially affect their fantasy outlooks heading into the season.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2022 fantasy cheat sheet
Brian Robinson injury update
After suffering two gunshot wounds on Sunday night, Robinson was released from the hospital on Tuesday and wound up making the Commanders' 53-man roster. This means he will definitely return this season, and there's even some speculation he won't go on IR at all.
Obviously, this is great news for Robinson, who should still be viewed as a potential starter later in the season. We have no idea when he'll be back, but he's still worth drafting and stashing. Antonio Gibson's draft value takes a slight hit with this news, but he should still be considered a a low-end RB2/flex, as he'll start the year as Washington's primary RB. Given his fumbling history, though, he's not a lock to stay in that role, especially with J.D. McKissic lurking and Robinson potentially returning early in the season.
2022 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers | Top 200 | Superflex
Jaylen Waddle injury update
Waddle continues to deal with a mysterious "soft-tissue, lower-body" injury that's caused him to miss practice for the past three weeks. At this point, it's fair to wonder if he'll suit up for Week 1.
Dolphins' head coach Mike McDaniel has downplayed the injury, but obviously lower-body injuries are a big concern for speedy WRs. We haven't downgraded him from a WR2 in our overall rankings, but this bears watching. If Waddle misses time, TE Mike Gesicki and WR Cedrick Wilson would soak up more targets, putting both on the start/sit bubble every week.
2022 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers | Top 200 | Superflex
JK Dobbins injury update
The injury updates keep getting more ominous for Dobbins (knee), who is in real danger of missing Week 1, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
2022 FANTASY SLEEPERS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | One from each team
Dobbins is over a year removed from his ACL tear, so it was believed he wouldn't have a problem making it back in time for the start of the season. Even if he misses a game or two, he still has tremendous upside going forward and should be drafted as an RB2, but clearly he would need to get downgraded. If Dobbins does miss Week 1, Mike Davis and Kenyan Drake would likely split carries, rendering both as little more than low-end flexes.
