Stock watch

By: Josh Frey-Sam

It’s time to turn injuries off.

If only this were a video game. The last couple of weeks have been devastating for injuries. Every year it feels like we’ve set a new high for pre-season ailments, and this year is no different.

It seems like the groin is the new ACL, because there are close to a dozen high-profile players who are working back from a groin injury right now.

That, and a few late off-season free agency signings have forced me to change my tune on how I view some players.

Here are a few I want to highlight…

TE Tyler Warren, IND

This pains me to write, because if you had asked me a week ago, Tyler Warren would’ve easily been the pick at tight end for MY GUY this season.

The situation was setting up beautifully, with Alec Pierce still dealing with an ankle injury and Josh Downs being the real threat to Warren in the receiving game.

Enter Keenan Allen.

Allen, affectionately known as S13YER, is one of my favourite players of all time, but he’s lived up to his nickname in his twilight years, as he’s consistently slayed some fantasy darlings from having big seasons.

Think DJ Moore in 2024 and Ladd McConkey in 2025. Well, I think Warren could be Allen’s next victim — to an extent.

I still think Warren will get his, but his massive projected ceiling has dropped significantly now that Allen is in the fold. Also does help that Warren is now dealing with a groin injury.

I am no longer drafting Warren.

TE Sam LaPorta, DET

LaPorta’s injured again. This time, it’s his hip.

LaPorta had back surgery this off-season, and after returning briefly to camp, now has a hip ailment that will probably keep him out until Week 1 at least, if not longer.

Dan Campbell said he’s unsure whether this will keep LaPorta out beyond the pre-season, but either way, at his current price, I’m not sure I feel comfortable taking him.

This is another tough one because LaPorta was setting up to be one of the best TE values of the year. Now he might need to slide another round in order for me to consider taking him.

WR Terry McLaurin, WAS

Similar to the effect Keenan Allen will have in Indy, Stefon Diggs has significantly dampened Scary Terry’s outlook.

Again, McLaurin will be a focal point in the passing game, but adding a player like Diggs, now two years removed from his ACL injury, should soak up around 100 targets.

What I’m most fearful of is how the Commanders use these two WRs now. Is McLaurin working deeper areas of the field while Diggs eats up in the short-intermediate routes? That would make Terry a rather boom/bust pick.

I’m out.

RB Cam Skattebo, NYG

It could be nothing. It could be something.

In any case, something is fishy in East Rutherford.

Najee Harris signed this week, and while many people suspect that could be a direct result of Tyrone Tracy’s pass-protection blunder in last week’s pre-season contest, I’m not ruling out the possibility that Harris eats into Skatt’s workload.

I was in on Skatt at his price, but now he seems like the beginning of the RB dead zone.

RB Jeremiyah Love, ARI

Blame the Cards' incompetence on this one.

Love suffered a high-ankle sprain in last week’s pre-season game, and that is an injury that is notorious for limited explosivness for RBs.

I was actually warming up to Love a bit, too, at the 2-3 turn, but I just can’t make that click anymore.

WR Chris Godwin, TB

A player I wouldn’t consider myself “in” on, but with Emeka Egbuka dealing with what could be a turf toe injury, Godwin all of a sudden becomes an enticing value in the eighth round.

This could just be one of those unsexy picks who has an incredibly high floor and is a reliable WR2/flex option all year.

WR Jordyn Tyson, NO

This was tough to read. Tyson, who I believe is the best WR in this rookie class, is already dealing with a rather serious hamstring injury that will keep him out at least a couple of months.

This was actually Tyson’s other hamstring, not the one he had issues with over the course of his collegiate career.

If you want to take a swing on him in hopes he pops near the fantasy playoffs, be my guest, but this season might be a dud, and let’s try again in 2027.

I was already in on Chris Olave. He’s now a borderline MY GUY after Tyson’s injury.

Thanks for reading and, as always, have a great day.

Josh