Injured Fantasy Football Players | When Will Christian McCaffrey, Nico Collins, Jonathon Brooks, Isiah Pacheco, Aidan O'Connell and Others Return?

A couple weeks ago, we took a look at fantasy football players who were on the injured reserve list and when they might return. We’re back with another one of those stories.

This won’t cover every player, but some of the biggest fantasy players and names instead.

Explore the best in-season fantasy football tool to manage your team and get league rankings with the Fantasy Assistant. Use our  trade analyzer and trade value charts to break down trade scenarios with Fair Trade ratings. Need a fantasy expert on call for waivers specific to your league? Our AI Fantasy Expert can break down any player for you inside the Fantasy Assistant.

Running Backs

San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey still hasn’t played this season because of his calf and Achilles injuries. There’s rumblings that he could return as early as week 10, after the team’s week 9 bye.

Jordan Mason has been serving as the team’s starting running back, while Isaac Guerendo has backed him up. McCaffrey would likely at least return to being the No. 1 back when he’s activated, although he could still split the workload with Mason. Guerendo would likely only get a couple snaps a game if both the other backs were active.

I’m not sure if CMC will ever retain his workhorse role this season, but with his big-play and scoring prowess, McCaffrey could still be one of the better fantasy backs in the game.

Carolina’s Jonathon Brooks is really close to returning from the non-football injury list. He’s questionable for week 9, but more likely to debut in week 10.

He was drafted with the 46th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and is looked to as Carolina’s back of the future. Chuba Hubbard and Brooks might split the workload with the Panthers out of the playoff picture, while Miles Sanders will fall into the No. 3 role, or maybe be cut or traded.

Kansas City’s Isiah Pacheco is still on IR with his fractured fibula. He appears to be getting close, but also hasn’t started practicing yet.

With the Chiefs still being undefeated, the team can afford to take things slow with Pacheco. That’s not what his fantasy owners want to hear, but if you can tread water a bit longer, Pacheco might be able to power your fantasy team to a title with a surge in the latter part of the regular season.

Los Angeles Chargers’ Gus Edwards is on IR with an ankle injury. He’s still got to miss another game before he can return.

J.K. Dobbins has served as the team’s workhorse back all season, but an injury to him could thrust Edwards into the spotlight. Edwards’ injury also opened the door for Kimani Vidal, so the veteran and rookie will be battling for the No. 2 role when Edwards returns.

Baltimore’s Keaton Mitchell is nearing a return from his knee injury and could be back any game now. 

Derrick Henry is the clear backfield leader for the Ravens, and Justice Hill has also carved out a role, so it will be interesting to see how Mitchell can factor in.

Green Bay’s MarShawn Lloyd is still on IR with an ankle injury.

Lloyd was expected to serve as the top backup to Josh Jacobs this season, but has only gotten one game in. He’s a name to keep an eye on, although we haven’t received any updates on him since he was placed on IR.

Wide Receivers

Houston’s Nico Collins had to miss week 9 with his hamstring injury, but could return as early as week 10.

In the first five games of the season, Collins had 567 yards and three touchdowns across 32 catches and 45 targets. He’ll immediately go back to being a top-end fantasy wideout when he’s activated, especially now that Stefon Diggs is out for the rest of the season.

Carolina’s Adam Thielen is nearing a return from his hamstring injury. He is doubtful for week 9, but should be back sooner rather than later.

In the first three games of the season, Thielen had 109 yards and a touchdown on eight catches and 12 targets. He could be pretty involved when he’s ready to go now that Diontae Johnson was traded away.

Dallas’ Brandin Cooks has to miss week 9 with an infection in his knee, but could return as early as week 10. 

In the first four games of the season, Cooks had 91 yards and a score on nine catches and 19 targets. He could slide right back into a meaningful role on a Dallas offense searching for more playmakers.

New York Jets’ Allen Lazard was just placed on IR. He missed week 9 and will have to miss the next three weeks as well.

Lazard was putting up solid numbers early in the season, but the trade for Davante Adams hurt his fantasy outlook. Lazard could still be a deep league starting option, but it’s unlikely he’s a standard league possibility again this season.

Tight Ends

The only real big-time tight end to mention is Minnesota’s T.J. Hockenson, who is ready to debut in week 9.

In 15 games last season, Hockenson had 960 yards and five touchdowns on 95 catches and 127 targets. Justin Jefferson will always lead Minnesota, but after him, nobody has consistently stepped up, so Hockenson has a chance to make a difference right away.

Having Jefferson, Hockenson and Jordan Addison all out there should open things up for that trio.

Quarterbacks

Las Vegas’ Aidan O'Connell broke his thumb and was placed on IR a couple weeks ago. He could return in week 13, but there’s also a chance he misses additional time.

O’Connell had taken the starting job from Gardner Minshew before the injury, but Minshew could retain the job for the rest of the season if he starts playing better over the next couple weeks.

O’Connell was just a starting option in deeper leagues, and only was a standard league option in super favorable matchups and in a pinch.