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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver James Washington earned his fair share of hype during the offseason. After leaving the Steelers and joining Dallas' high-powered offense, his stock started to grow. Then, with Amari Cooper traded to the Browns and Michael Gallup recovering from a torn ACL, it looked like Washington had a chance to carve out a large role with the Cowboys.
Then, on the first day of August, Washington's entire outlook changed. He lept up for a contested pass in training camp and tumbled down to the ground, fracturing his foot in the process.
Is James Washington out for the season? Should you draft Washington in fantasy football? Who will take his place in the Cowboys' offense? Let's answer those three pivotal questions to understand what 2022 could look like for Washington and his fellow receivers.
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Is James Washington Out for the 2022 NFL Season?
Washington was officially diagnosed with a right foot fracture. Although an exact timetable isn't available yet, the expectation is that he will miss six to 10 weeks from the time of the injury.
As Jon Machota of The Athletic observed, Cowboys defender DeMarcus Lawrence suffered a similar injury in 2021 and was ultimately sidelined for 10 weeks.
Six to 10 weeks on the sideline would delay Washington's Cowboys debut until sometime between Weeks 2 and 6. Presumably, he would be on the later end of that window given Lawrence's recovery and the Cowboys' lack of urgency to rush him back into action prematurely.
Ultimately, while Washington won't miss the entire season, he won't be ready for Week 1 against Tampa Bay.
Which Wide Receivers Will Replace James Washington on the Cowboys?
This is a dynamic question considering Washington's role wasn't etched in stone.
On one hand, he had the chance to open the year as Dallas' No. 2 receiver if he outperformed his teammates and Michael Gallup isn't fully recovered. If that was the case, rookie Jalen Tolbert would now replace Washington, fetching the starting job alongside CeeDee Lamb and leaving sixth-year receiver Noah Brown in the No. 3 role.
On the other hand, there was a scenario in which Washington dropped to fourth on the depth chart if the Cowboys signed a veteran receiver and Tolbert looked strong during the preseason. In that scenario, Brown and T.J. Vasher would both bump up a rung while Simi Fehoko also secures a roster spot.
Should I Draft James Washington In 2022 Fantasy Football Drafts?
By the time Washington is ready to return from his injury, Gallup could be on the field. It will be interesting to see how much the remaining phases of their recoveries parallel each other, but for now, assume that Gallup has a decent shot to see the field before Washington does.
Not only does Gallup's recovery impact Washington, but Washington's injury opens the door for Tolbert to see far more meaningful snaps. Tolbert has drawn plenty of praise this offseason, so if his first few weeks of the regular season go as well as his training camp, he will likely fend off Washington and secure a key role.
Washington currently sports an ADP of 262, making him a 22nd-round pick in 12-team leagues. Considering Gallup's health and Tolbert's success are not guaranteed, stashing Washington isn't an outlandish idea. However, he's being drafted ahead of Cedrick Wilson, A.J. Green, Zay Jones, Devin Duvernay, Bryan Edwards, and Marquez Callaway. Players like these should be prioritized over Washington considering their health and clearer paths to success.
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