Fantasy Football Impact of Travis Hunter and Joe Mixon Dealing with Injuries: When Will They Be Back?

Jacksonvile Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter is set to miss his second straight preseason game with an upper-body injury. It sounds like this is more of a preemptive move than something that is expected to linger, but it is always noteworthy when a football player sustains an injury of any kind; it's a brutal sport, and the NFL season is long, even if 17 games don't seem like it compared to the MLB season, for instance.

What does this do to Hunter's fantasy draft value? And what about another major fantasy player dealing with an injury and an uncertain status to start the season? Let's look at where Hunter stands and also what to expect from Joe Mixon as we get closer to Week 1.

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Travis Hunter to miss second straight game

Again, this is said to be more about being smart than a real issue for Hunter, so his draft stock shouldn't feel any effects. The second overall pick in the NFL Draft, Hunter is a great athlete and expected to be on the field both offensively and defensively right away. That creates some fantasy benefits as well as a possible downside.

I've been talking about that downside a lot in the preseason: If Hunter is playing snaps on both sides, he will probably miss plays and/or series on the offensive side while monitoring his workload. If he's on the field less, it means less chances to put up offensive stats and score fantasy points.

The difference comes if you play in an IDP league (individual defensive players). Different platforms might have different rules, but in ESPN IDP leagues, Hunter will be able to score fantasy points both offensively and defensively in the same game. The best way to use him in that case is to slot him into your defense and reap the benefits on both sides. That makes Hunter maybe the best defensive back in IDP and a guy worth drafting in the early-mid rounds.

Even if you play with a team defense rather than individual players, Hunter will still get credit for all touchdowns scored. That means if he picks up a fumble or intercepts a pass and runs it back for a TD, you get six points, even if he's in a WR slot. That again gives him a slight bump, though defensive touchdowns are rare and not something to count on. I'm more worried about the plays he is going to miss on offense than the outside chance of a score on defense, and that's causing me to skip Hunter in most cases.

He might look like a star right away and make all this a moot point. If so, then owners who take a chance on him in the middle rounds won't care about any managed snaps. The type of league you play in makes a difference in his value, though, so it's important to be aware of the rules. Don't worry about his injury status as much as how he can factor into your lineup.

Joe Mixon remains out

One of the most impactful preseason injuries in the fantasy world has been that of Mixon, who is dealing with a foot injury and might not be ready for Week 1. That throws a lot of things into flux, most of all his fantasy draft value.

Mixon is currently being drafted around the RB25-RB30 range. Without the injury, he would be in the top 20 at the position. At 29 years old, it's reasonable to expect Mixon to feel the effects of age, both in terms of injury possibilities and slowing down physically. Starting the season with health issues is a bad sign, but don't let it tank your view of him over the full season.

Fantasy football is a 14(-ish)-week regular season followed by several more playoff weeks. Week 1 matters but not as much as the full season. Mixon is still expected to be Houston's top back with lesser guys behind him. The one monkey wrench that could be thrown into the mix is Nick Chubb, the former Cleveland star.

Chubb suffered a horrific knee injury early in 2023 and didn't return until the middle of 2024, often looking like a below-average player when on the field. Returning from a major knee injury is tough for any player, particularly a guy going on 30 years old, which he will turn in December. There's hope that he can look more like himself now another year removed from that injury, but it's a risky proposition.

The most likely running back in Houston to have a good fantasy season is Mixon. I like him more than other guys being drafted in his range, including Tyrone Tracy, Brian Robinson, and Kaleb Johnson. You might not have him in your lineup in Week 1, but Mixon could be your RB2 for most of the season while only costing an eighth- or ninth-round pick; that's a valuable player.