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The NFL season opener is getting closer and closer, which means that fantasy managers everywhere have difficult decisions to make.
Some of the most crucial things fantasy players need to stay informed about are injury statuses. With every week being important in fantasy football, having the most up-to-date information on these matters is essential.
One player who is worthy of discussion is new Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz. Wentz was traded from Indianapolis to Washington this offseason, marking the second time he has been dealt in as many years. The passer also has had a somewhat extensive injury history throughout his career, which can be a major cause for concern for fantasy managers. With his new scenery and injury situation, how should managers approach Wentz in their fantasy drafts?
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Is Carson Wentz Healthy for the Start of the NFL Season?
While anything can change between now and Washington's regular-season opener against Jacksonville on September 11, Wentz is currently uninjured and participating fully in training camp and the preseason.
The team's new addition had a solid performance in his preseason debut with the squad. Wentz completed 10 of 13 passes for 74 yards against Carolina before exiting the game.
Carson Wentz in his Washington debut:
🪖 10/13
🪖 74 yards
🪖 89.9 passer rating(📸 @Commanders) pic.twitter.com/XnUdVdQJ2t
— PFF (@PFF) August 13, 2022
However, it is important to note that Wentz has been injured quite a bit in the past. Last season, he injured his foot in training camp and missed the preseason. He also suffered a high ankle sprain in September of 2021, although he did play through the ailment.
Some of Wentz's injuries in previous seasons include a rib fracture in 2016, ACL and LCL tears in 2017, a vertebral fracture in 2018, and a concussion in the 2019 postseason. Moreover, he fractured his wrist while in college at North Dakota State.
All in all, Wentz's availability is a question mark for him entering 2022. He does have a reputation for toughness, as he continued playing with the vertebral fracture for seven games in 2018 before being shut down for the season. Still, the wear and tear he has had to deal with is not a good sign moving forward.
Nonetheless, Wentz is slated to start Week 1 without any injury designation. Injury concerns exist, but they should not be the primary factor in a fantasy manager's evaluation of him for 2022. Rather, one should mainly consider how he will fit in Washington's offense and the quality of his weapons now that he is in the nation's capital.
Is Carson Wentz Worth Drafting For Fantasy Football in 2022?
To put it bluntly: Wentz is probably not worth drafting this season. Outside of Two-QB/Superflex formats or very deep leagues, Wentz should not be on fantasy managers' radars. He is the 26th quarterback and 238th player overall in the latest RotoBaller rankings, which puts him outside the range of consideration for most league configurations. He is on the same tier as Davis Mills of the Texans and Marcus Mariota of the Falcons, neither of whom are generating fantasy buzz either.
Part of the reason for the low projection is his poor performances in recent seasons. In 2021, Wentz only managed to finish as the QB14 despite starting all 17 games. Among passers who played at least 10 games, Wentz was the QB18 in points per game. Similarly, in 2020 he was 17th on a per-game basis among qualifying quarterbacks. With a new team and an unremarkable group of weapons to work with, there's little reason to expect that Wentz will improve.
Carson Wentz 2022 Fantasy Football Outlook
Carson Wentz is currently projected to pass for 4,415 yards and 32 touchdowns this season for the Commanders. The yardage figure would be a career-high, and the touchdown total would be close to his 33 in 2017. It's important to note that these numbers would not be reached if he misses any time due to injury; given that this has happened in three of his six seasons in the NFL, this possibility cannot be discounted. Moreover, the recent expansion to a 17-game schedule makes total statistics appear slightly inflated.
Wentz does have a solid WR1 to pass to in Terry McLaurin, but the rest of his wideouts are uninspiring. Jahan Dotson is promising, but he is just a rookie and will likely have an adjustment period before producing at a high level in the NFL. Another option, Curtis Samuel, has been a perennial breakout candidate, but an emergence has never really materialized. Sophomore wide receiver Dyami Brown is talented but unproven, and the team's top TE, Logan Thomas, is on the PUP list as he recovers from a torn ACL.
The Commanders also drafted quarterback Sam Howell in the fifth round out of North Carolina this offseason. Howell has reportedly impressed observers in training camp, and he looked sharp in his preseason debut. If Wentz struggles, or if Washington is eliminated from the playoff race, there is a chance the coaching staff gives Howell an opportunity to lead the team.
Worth pointing out Sam Howell’s preseason debut:
- 10-of-18, 145 yds
- 12.8 air yds per throw (most of QBs min 15 att)
- 55.6% completion, 64.7 adjusted
- 57% of yards through air, 56% of throws behind sticksHe’s a late season threat to Carson Wentz I’d say
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) August 15, 2022
There are many options at the quarterback position with better outlooks than Wentz for fantasy managers to consider. With the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr, and Kirk Cousins available as backup passers in single-QB formats, there is little reason to take a chance on Wentz unless you are in a Two-QB or Superflex league. Even in those, he would ideally be a bench option to start only as a bye week fill-in or as a streamer.
Conclusion
Carson Wentz is indeed healthy for the 2022 season and is participating fully in preseason activities. This is despite his past struggles with injuries, including an ankle sprain last year and torn knee ligaments in 2017. Still, Wentz is not a strong fantasy option for the upcoming season. He has not been productive for fantasy managers in years, and that shouldn't change in 2022.
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