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It's safe to say that if you spent a third-round pick on Keenan Allen this season, you're not happy about it. The five-time Pro Bowler has yet to play a full game in 2022. After suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1, he missed the next five games before returning in Week 7.
It is always tough to tell just how healthy a player is when returning from a multi-game absence, especially when the injury is of a soft tissue nature. It also doesn't help when the player is 30-years-old.
So, just how healthy is Keenan Allen? Can we count on one of the top wide receivers in the game going forward?
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Keenan Allen Injury Status
Keenan Allen's age was of course a concern during draft season, where it was a tough decision to go with one of the more reliable players in the game or a young up-and-coming player with more upside. Sometimes the past success is just too much to overlook, especially when you could grab the PPR machine as your WR2.
Fantasy managers thought they had hit a home run almost immediately to start the season, as Allen was torching the Raiders in Week 1. Until the dreaded hamstring injury. At that point, it was impossible to overlook the fact that this was sure to be worse for an older player.
After weeks of cryptic updates from Head Coach Brandon Staley calling Allen day-to-day, we finally saw some positivity regarding the wide receiver's health going into Week 7.
Keenan Allen running full routes today. pic.twitter.com/8bpea7RVO8
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) October 20, 2022
Following a week of limited practices, we received the common injury designation of "Questionable." It was later reported that Keenan Allen would be a true game-time decision. As we usually assume players need to go through pregame warmups with soft tissue injuries such as a hamstring and truly test if the muscle is game ready.
#Chargers WR Keenan Allen, hoping to return for the first time since Week 1 with a hamstring injury, has been limited all week and is considered a game-time decision, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 23, 2022
Allen ended up getting the green light to return to the field in Week 7. It was good news that he was able to get some game action in after such a long absence. However, it was bad news for fantasy teams, as he did not play in the second half. It was certainly in the cards for him to be on a snap count as he finished with just two catches for 11 yards.
Keenan Allen (hamstring) tried to gut it out yesterday, but only ran 14 routes on 57 Justin Herbert dropbacks. Now has bye to try to get right.
Meanwhile, Austin Ekeler is on pace to catch 128 balls, run for 922 yards and score 19 TDs. King shit.
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) October 24, 2022
Keenan Allen Fantasy Football Outlook
The important thing to remember when analyzing the Chargers' number one receiver going forward is that they are on a bye in Week 8, making it even more noteworthy that the team chose to get him some game reps. This puts him on track to return to full health following the bye.
We cannot completely bank on that, though, as it was stated initially after Week 1 that the injury "was not believed to be serious." I would say that missing five games proves that statement incorrect. As much as we hate to keep going back to it, this is where the age concerns continue to resurface. The team has given the veteran all the time he needs and this time they certainly need him.
#Chargers yet again buried by injuries to their best guys:
* OLB Joey Bosa (groin surgery, out indefinitely)
* LT Rashawn Slater (biceps, out indefinitely)
* CB JC Jackson (knee, out for year)
* WR Mike Williams (high ankle)
* WR Keenan Allen (hamstring, played 45 snaps so far)— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) October 25, 2022
Unfortunately, the Chargers' offense will not be completely healthy coming out of the bye regardless of Allen's return. Mike Williams suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 7 and is expected to miss at least a month. Even with Mike Williams, the offense had been sputtering as of late and desperately needs Keenan Allen. With Williams now out, the targets will be there for Justin Herbert's favorite target.
His team and fantasy managers alike have missed him in the lineup. The current situation presents an opportunity for him to make up for the lost time and return that third-round value. At this point, it is safe to consider Keenan Allen a WR2 going into Week 9. But it is important not to take his health for granted. If he does come out of the bye as a full practice participant and indicates full health, the upside is still a WR1 for fantasy.
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