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Below, you will find our updated fantasy football injuries report for running backs in the 2022 NFL preseason as of Wednesday, August 17th. The injury statuses for various NFL running backs are up in the air during training camp, including Najee Harris, J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, James Robinson, Kenneth Gainwell, Elijah Mitchell, Cam Akers, and Darrell Henderson.
With the draft season in full swing, these are some key running back injuries to keep track of throughout the week.
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Najee Harris Injury Update
Harris left practice last week on Monday, August 1st with a foot injury and did not return. When asked, head coach Mike Tomlin said "he got his foot stepped on" but did not seem particularly concerned.
Last week, Harris returned to practice but wasn't in full pads.
featuThis week, Harris was a full participant at practice on Monday for the first time since the injury.
This bodes well for Harris being fully healthy and available prior to Week 1, providing him a chance to get some reps with new quarterback Mitch Trubisky before the season begins.
J.K. Dobbins Injury Update
Dobbins has been battling his way back from an ACL (knee) tear that occurred last August, so seeing him placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start training camp was a red flag; however, last week he was removed from this list, with all signs pointing towards him being ready to go for Week 1.
Additionally, he returned to practice this week on Monday, further signaling optimism for his Week 1 status.
This is another significant step for Dobbins, who is increasingly likely to play in Week 1. The next factor to consider and monitor will be how explosive and efficient he looks entering Week 1. Despite the continued flow of positive updates, Dobbins remains a draft value with an ADP of 55 overall since August 1st. This should start to climb but it may not reach the top-30, which is where he would've been drafted without any injury concerns. At full health, in this offense, Dobbins is a strong candidate to crack the top-12.
Gus Edwards Injury Update
Unfortunately, Dobbins's running mate Edwards, who also suffered an ACL (knee) tear last August, is trending in the opposite direction. This was the post from two weeks ago that described Edwards as "farther behind."
This was from last week, further casting doubt about his availability for Week 1.
There hasn't been any significant news or updates but this tweet did come through a couple of days after the one above, creating additional ambiguity.
Edwards remains a name to avoid entirely, shifting our focus to Mike Davis, Tyler Badie, or Justice Hill as the second Ravens back to target. Based on the first week of preseason action, Davis will begin with the role, which makes sense given the Ravens' propensity to utilize veteran running backs.
James Robinson Injury Update
Robinson suffered an Achilles injury in December, leading many to believe he would miss most, if not all of 2022. Yet, Robinson avoided the PUP list for training camp and seems increasingly likely to be available for Week 1.
The historical data on Achilles injuries is not great for running backs regaining their efficiency and productivity but with modern science and multiple players currently recovered from the injury, including D'Onta Foreman, Marlon Mack, and presumably Cam Akers, there is a reason for optimism.
Last week, Robinson was not only back at practice but actually competing with Travis Etienne for first-team reps.
After missing their preseason game against the Browns, Robinson rejoined the team on Monday for practice taking part in individual drills, some of which featured contact.
Robinson is showing continuous progress each week, inching closer and closer to full health. It would be nice to see him cleared for full contact and even take a couple of snaps in the preseason but the progress is encouraging.
Kenneth Gainwell Injury Update
Last week, Gainwell was listed as one of the individuals who would not practice on Tuesday, as a result of a hip issue. This was the first report of an injury for him.
Fortunately, another update came through on Sunday citing him "appearing" to be ready to take part in practice.
It seems like the injury was minor and won't impact Gainwell's availability moving forward. This is significant because Miles Sanders is continuing to receive negative reports from training camp, opening the door for Gainwell to take on a larger role in his sophomore year. His third-down role and involvement in early downs, behind this talented offensive line, make him the most intriguing Eagles back and a great target in the middle of your draft.
Elijah Mitchell Injury Update
A report about Mitchell came out on Friday, August 12th, citing a hamstring injury. The more concerning part was that the 49ers immediately decided to shut him down for the preseason.
Hamstring injuries have a high risk of re-injury, which was a problem for Mitchell last season, missing six games. Mitchell seemed like a great value as the lead back in the 49ers' rushing attack, but this adds an additional level of concern when selecting him in your draft. He's still likely to be a top-24 back with top-12 upside when healthy, it's just a matter of how many games he plays.
Cam Akers Injury Update
Both Akers and Darrell Henderson Jr. popped up unexpectedly on Monday, which is concerning as the depth chart is not deep.
Thankfully, a report came out on Tuesday that the injury is not considered serious.
Akers returned from an Achilles injury for the playoffs and did not look himself but is expected to now be fully recovered. This injury could entice the coaching staff to take more of a committee approach, even though this has not historically been their preference. Akers is becoming a risky draft pick he projects more as top-30 back with top-20 upside, limiting his ceiling.
Darrell Henderson Jr. Injury Update
As mentioned above, Henderson Jr. is also dealing with this injury but there has not since been an update for him, which could mean his injury is more serious.
Henderson Jr. was touted by the coaching staff as a "lead back" recently, creating the possibility that he could be more than just an insurance back. That still seems reasonable to expect but he'll need to get back to full health first.
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