Check out all of Stephania's injury outlooks by position: QB | RB | WR | TE
Running back is one of the most important positions in fantasy football, but it's also arguably the most difficult and dangerous. Fantasy players need the big upside of these backs, but constant concerns about missed games and injured reserve mean that it's always tough to decide on the backs to build around in the preseason.
Before you draft your 2017 teams, here's a list of notable backs coming off of injuries in 2016 and my assessment of their health and outlook for the year ahead.
Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
There is no doubt that Bell's talent and points production as a runner and receiver make him an easy No. 1 pick. But that pick doesn't come without an element of risk.
Bell has had some type of injury that has cost him playing time in three of his four professional seasons. In 2013, he suffered a foot injury in the preseason that resulted in three missed games. In 2015, his season ended prematurely when he suffered a sprained PCL and MCL that required surgery.
Despite being limited to just six games in the season prior by the knee injury, Bell was impressive in 2016 in his recovery, and when he took the field there was no evidence of a drop-off in performance. He almost made it through the 2016 season unscathed (he missed the first three weeks due to suspension and was rested in the final regular-season game) until a groin injury in the AFC Championship forced him to make an early exit.
Ultimately, Bell underwent a core muscle repair surgery in March. He has had ample time to recover and it should not limit him coming into the season.
Although Bell is known for his training regimen, it's worth noting that being absent for all of training camp -- which is a possibility due to his contract situation -- translates to less football-specific activity heading into the season. The positive is less physical contact prior to the start of the season, but some would argue there is an increased injury risk associated with a more rapid ramp-up to game play.
David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals
Despite becoming an increased target of opposing defenses, Johnson remained remarkably healthy in 2016 until the final week of the season when he suffered an MCL sprain. Fortunately for Johnson this was a non-surgical injury to his left knee, and the offseason has given him plenty of time to recover from the injury and resume normal training. He enters camp healthy and, after back-to-back 16-game seasons, he's as strong a candidate as you'll find when it comes to combining talent and durability at the position.
Last season was a big test for McCoy in the health department after he missed four games in 2015 due to a significant hamstring injury. He answered the bell, playing in 15 games in 2016 -- but it should be noted that he still racked up some injuries along the way.
Another hamstring injury (far less serious than in 2015) caused him to miss a game. In November a thumb dislocation led to surgical repair (although he did not miss time), and in the final week of the season McCoy suffered a high ankle sprain. At age 29, McCoy is likely entering the twilight phase of his running back years, but he is still putting up big numbers (over 1,200 yards on the ground) and he scored the second-most touchdowns of his career in 2016. Now, if he can just stay healthy ...
Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers
In 2016, Gordon became the star everyone was searching for in 2015, but his season ended under the shadow of an injury. In Week 14, he left the game with simultaneous hip and knee injuries that ultimately cost him the remaining three contests.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported the knee injury as a PCL sprain. Both issues were managed nonoperatively, and the 24-year-old Gordon says he's ready to roll and wants to continue his high utilization. Whether that happens under new head coach Anthony Lynn remains to be seen, but Gordon's health at the start should not be a factor.
DeMarco Murray, Tennessee Titans
Why list Murray here? After all, he played in all 16 games last season. He rushed for over 1,200 yards, had 377 yards receiving and double-digit touchdowns.
But it was the specter of injury that hung over him for a good portion of last year because, well, he was injured, something the Titans acknowledged as the season progressed. He had a right toe injury that restricted his practice and led him to evaluate the possibility of offseason surgery, and he had an injury to his ring finger that he did have surgically repaired in June.
While it's impressive that he played through these ailments and still put up terrific numbers, it does compound Murray's injury history. At 29 years old and with foot, knee, toe and finger injuries in his past, Murray's talent does come with some risk.
Ajayi's three games of immense productivity in 2016 helped erase the memory of just nine games played in 2015 due to a short-term IR designation resulting from a rib injury and a degenerative knee condition that caused Ajayi's NFL draft stock to fall.
He played in 15 games in 2016, an encouraging note when it comes to his health. While his knee issue has not gone away, it seems Ajayi has offered reassurance that he can be productive nonetheless, at least in the near term.
Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers
For the second year in a row, the 49ers' lead back ended his season with an injury. To be fair, the sprained MCL came in Week 16, resulting in an absence in a meaningless final contest (except for fantasy owners whose championships took place that week).
Hyde had missed two games earlier in the season, however, due to a shoulder injury, and a concussion cost him some preseason time. The prior year Hyde also ended the season on injured reserve, having played in just seven games because of a stress fracture in his left foot that ultimately required surgery. An ankle injury led to two missed games in his rookie season, meaning Hyde has not yet put together a complete season.
He has had plenty of time to recover from last season's knee injury, but his history certainly raises some questions about his durability at the position.
Danny Woodhead, Baltimore Ravens
Like his former Chargers teammate Keenan Allen, Woodhead has had some seriously bad luck when it comes to injuries. Twice his season has ended prematurely due to severe lower extremity injuries requiring surgical repair.
In 2014, Woodhead suffered a severe right high ankle sprain and fractured fibula in Week 3. He returned with a vengeance in 2015, leading all running backs in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns. Then, in 2016, one week after Allen tore his ACL, Woodhead followed suit, tearing the ACL in his right knee.
Given his success the year after his last major injury, perhaps there's reason to be encouraged. Early reports are positive, not only in that he is resuming football activity but also because he is developing chemistry with the quarterback of his new team, Joe Flacco, who needs another underneath passing outlet. Woodhead's recent injuries and his age (33) increase his risk, but the reward he can provide may outweigh it.
Spencer Ware, Kansas City Chiefs
(As of Aug. 26) Ware went to the ground with a knee injury in the first quarter of the Chiefs' third preseason game Friday night, and had to be carted off the field. There were no immediate reports regarding the severity of the injury but Ware did not return to the game. After the game, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Chiefs believe Ware suffered a PCL injury, but he is slated to undergo an MRI on Saturday to further evaluate the injury.
Anderson's 2016 season ended in Week 7 with a torn meniscus in his right knee. He underwent surgery to repair the meniscus in late October and was placed on injured reserve. By January he had started running and was able to participate in the team's OTAs. As camp opens, Anderson is not restricted in his activity, but he may be in for some competition with teammate Jamaal Charles. Devontae Booker was also expected to compete for a role during camp, but he unexpectedly underwent surgery to repair a fracture of one of the small bones in his wrist. The recovery will cost Booker at least six weeks, so he'll have to wait for his opportunity to compete. Meanwhile, Anderson's performance will be worth watching as training camp progresses.
A combination of injuries to his ankle and wrists held Riddick to just 10 games last season. The Lions remained very quiet about the nature of the injuries, but Riddick did undergo surgery on both wrists. He is not expected to be restricted when training camp opens, but his status is worth monitoring. After all, he needs those wrists to catch passes.
The news is always about Lacy's weight, but he suffered a significant ankle injury in 2016 that seems to have been largely overlooked. Appearing in just five games, Lacy underwent surgery in October to have hardware inserted to stabilize his left ankle. The Seahawks must have been pleased with his progress since they elected to sign him with, of course, incentives tied to his weight.
He's already achieved the first weight milestone, but training camp will provide the first opportunity to see how his ankle looks during football activity. Until 2016, Lacy proved remarkably durable; the questions about his performance were always tied to his conditioning. If he can maintain his weight and stay healthy, Lacy could enjoy a resurgence in Seattle, even in a timeshare.
Ameer Abdullah, Lions
Abdullah injured his left foot in Week 2, never to return in the 2016 season. As is often the case with the Lions, Abdullah's injury was shrouded in secrecy and it wasn't until this year that the diagnosis (Lisfranc injury) and treatment (surgery) were revealed.
It was Abdullah who reported to OTAs, having been medically cleared to return, pronouncing himself healthy and ready for the season. He certainly has the support of the Lions, who have pronounced him their starter for the upcoming season.
Lisfranc injuries, sprains of the midfoot, have a variety of presentations, and the more severe cases leave the foot unstable. An athlete with this injury may have pain and/or weakness as he attempts to put weight through the foot to advance the body. If left untreated, abnormal motion can eventually lead to arthritis in the foot, hence the surgery required to restore stability.
Plenty of NFL athletes have returned to successful careers following this type of surgery and Abdullah should be no exception. After playing all 16 games as a rookie, he sat for the bulk of last year due to the injury. His body should be restored after the forced rest.
Adrian Peterson, New Orleans Saints
He's not done yet. The 32-year-old running back has a new home in New Orleans, and while he may not be what he once was, he still could have a surprisingly good season.
Last year can be chalked up as a lost season for Peterson, who tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee in Week 2. After undergoing a surgical repair, Peterson was absent from the field until Week 15. A groin ailment surfaced upon his return and the decision was made to shut him down for the remainder of the season.
Of the three games he played, none was particularly memorable. Consider, though, that Peterson played in all 16 games just one season earlier, amassing over 1,400 yards on the ground and scoring 11 touchdowns. At age 30.
He's just not built like the rest of us, something that became evident when he returned eight months post-ACL/MCL surgery to rack up over 2,000 yards in 2012. It's not the norm ... and it also can't last forever.
His injury last season superimposed on the physical wear and tear accumulated simply by being a nine-year veteran running back undoubtedly takes a toll. But even a percentage of Adrian Peterson is still better than most.
Yes, his durability may be on the decline, but he did play all 16 games just two seasons ago. He will have others around him in the Saints' offense to share the workload, and as long as he avoids major injury, Peterson offers the potential for reasonable production at the position.
Forte looked like a running back passing the 30-year-old mark last season, but it's not clear how much of his struggles were injury-related. He was bothered by his right knee all season, appearing on the injury report intermittently, until his season ended in Week 14. Forte underwent arthroscopic surgery to address the meniscus tear that was the source of his discomfort and is on track to start the season healthy.
Overall, he has been quite durable; across nine seasons in the league, Forte had perfect attendance for five of those and has missed only 10 games total. That longevity in a running back is particularly impressive.
The uncertainty for this year lies in what sort of productivity can be expected of a healthy Forte and how much work he will share with teammate Bilal Powell. This may be a running back-by-committee situation, which would help decrease the injury risk for Forte but also take away point-garnering opportunities.
C.J. Prosise, Seahawks
Prosise had to be frustrated with the range of highs and lows he experienced last season. At times, he was a star delivering in both the running and the passing game. At others, he was a silent observer, sidelined by unusual injuries for the majority of the season.
It began with a hamstring ailment in the preseason. Then there was the cracked bone in his right hand in Week 1 that resulted in a five-week absence. In Week 11, a fractured scapula (shoulder blade) officially ended his season.
Other than the hamstring, these are not the types of injuries that should cause problems for Prosise into this season. But the concerns about another injury potentially sidelining him are valid given his history.
Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals
A torn left ACL ended Bernard's season in Week 11. He has reportedly progressed well throughout the offseason, but the team has left his return-to-action date open-ended. It would make sense that his activity in training camp will be gradually ramped up.
Bernard already has rehabbed from an ACL tear once, while in college, so he may have an even better understanding of what needs to happen before he is game-ready. Bernard has had two 16-game seasons and two seasons in which injuries have cost him time. In 2014, he missed three games as the result of a rib and shoulder injury.
There also will be competition for touches between veteran teammate Jeremy Hill and rookie Joe Mixon. Bernard may even find himself squeezed for opportunity if he is not able to start the season on time or if he shows any lingering deficits.
Latavius Murray, Minnesota Vikings
Murray had offseason surgery (in March) to address bone spurs in an ankle. His new team placed him on the physically unable to perform list to open training camp, but it is not yet clear how long this designation is intended to stand. The longer he is out, the more reps draftee Dalvin Cook gets, so this is a situation to watch.
Jamaal Charles, Broncos
Charles is proof that no two ACL surgeries are identical, even in the same patient. After bouncing back to a 1,500-yard season in 2012 following his first ACL reconstruction, many expected surgery on the opposite side would yield similar results. He struggled in camp, however, and was not ready to start the season on time. When he did make an appearance in Week 4, it quickly became clear that things were not right and he was ultimately shut down, returning to surgery for arthroscopic procedures on both knees. Now Charles has moved on to Denver, where his role is unclear at this point. There will be eyes on Charles and C.J. Anderson (coming off a meniscus surgery of his own) during camp to see how things shake out. Devontae Booker was also expected to compete during camp, but his recent wrist surgery is expected to keep him sidelined until September.