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Below you will find our updated fantasy football injuries report for running backs in the 2022 NFL preseason as of Friday August 12th. The injury statuses for various NFL running backs are up in the air during training camp, including Najee Harris, Antonio Gibson, J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, James Robinson, and Kenneth Gainwell.
With peak draft season rapidly approaching, 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.
Harris has since returned to practice but isn't in full pads. He worked out on Monday for the first time and will hopefully continue to progress in his recovery this week. Based on the clip from Friday, the injury does not seem significant enough to worry about his status for Week 1 but it will be worth monitoring his practice reports.
The options behind Harris include Benny Snell Jr. and Anthony McFarland Jr., neither of whom pose a threat to steal work or earn a larger role in the offense. Thus, Harris will likely take his time recovering.
Antonio Gibson Injury Update
Gibson originally left practice on Wednesday, July 27th, because of an injury to his hamstring.
The most recent report was on Friday, which confirmed Gibson has returned to practice and is participating in live drills.
This is good news for Gibson, who needs to get healthy and get reps in this offense, with new quarterback Carson Wentz. He'll still need to hold off rookie Brian Robinson, who has impressed the coaching staff and poses a real threat to the goal-line role, but returning to practice is a great first step. Gibson continues to be a difficult player to trust, but his ADP is beginning to reflect that feeling and he could become a value in your draft.
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. The good news though is he was actually removed from this list on Monday, with all signs pointing towards him being ready to go for Week 1.
The update here confirms this optimism, which would make Dobbins a massive bargain at his current ADP of 58 overall. He was electrifying in his rookie season, leading the NFL in yards per carry with 6.0, and finishing with nine rushing touchdowns. He will resume his role as the lead back in the league's most explosive rushing attack, offering top-12 upside once healthy.
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 last week that described Edwards as "farther behind."
His Week 1 status is now looking more doubtful, based on this update from Monday.
Edwards being the furthest behind of the group and doubtful for Week 1 is a huge red flag. He has increased competition this season including free agent Mike Davis and rookie Tyler Badie, plus his efficiency and explosiveness could take a hit early in his return, as a result of the injury.
Edwards is now a name to avoid entirely, shifting our focus to Davis, Badie, or Justice Hill as the second Ravens back to target.
James Robinson 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 completing drills and running routes.
This week, Robinson is not only back at practice but actually competing with Travis Etienne for first-team reps.
Robinson was incredible for fantasy in 2020, finishing as the RB7 in a half-PPR scoring format. He was also the RB16 through the first 16 weeks last year before getting injured. Robinson must now be considered as a late-round pick who could return value in your fantasy drafts. It's still wise to exercise some caution given how Akers looked in the playoffs, but as long as ADP stays lower, he'll be worth taking a shot on.
Kenneth Gainwell Update
Gainwell was listed as one of the individuals who would not practice on Tuesday, as a result of a hip issue. This is the first report of an injury for him, so it's difficult to assess the extent.
Gainwell has been receiving a lot of hype during training camp, as someone who already projects to be the pass-catching back, but could also receive more early-down work. The injury will limit him from continuing to challenge Sanders for the lead-back role, at least for the time being. Assuming this is a minor issue, Gainwell is still a player to target later in your draft, because he has the most upside in this backfield and the Eagles' offensive line is one of the best in the NFL.
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