X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Valuing Injured Players Returning In 2022

ronald acuna fantasy baseball rankings MLB Injury news DFS lineup picks

Jacob Taylor reviews big-name MLB players who missed much of last season with injuries to determine their fantasy baseball value in 2022.

Last year's season-ending injury list is an All-Star team. It holds three of the best players in the game and plenty of other superstar adjacent players.

Now, heading into the 2022 fantasy baseball season, we have to evaluate the value of these injured players. Should we be concerned about Ronald Acuna Jr? Is Jacob deGrom starting to age? What about Dustin May?

It's time to figure out where we should be taking these guys in our fantasy baseball drafts.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves

Ronald Acuna Jr. is one of the most dynamic players in baseball when healthy. Unfortunately, in July of 2021, he suffered a complete ACL tear in his right leg. This is Acuna's first ACL tear which means he should be able to return to full strength. Furthermore, Acuna is only 23 years old so he has the age factor on his side. Unfortunately, early reports from this offseason stated that Acuna could miss part of the season.

Steamer projections gives Acuna 557 plate appearances, .285 average, 35 home run(s), 99 run(s) scored, 78 run(s) batted in, 25 stolen base(s), and a 4.2 fWAR. There should be concerns that Acuna runs significantly less than before following a leg injury. The projection, based on the number of plate appearances, seems to assume a full, normal season from Acuna which should be in serious doubt. Furthermore, Acuna's NFC ADP sits at 12.12 which has him going at the end of the first round.

There are so many ways this could go wrong and the projection/ADP has Acuna playing through a full season. If Acuna slips past his ADP feel free to pick him up but do not draft Acuna at his current ADP.

 

 

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

The greatest player of this generation and possibly the greatest player of all time will be returning from his first season-ending injury in 2022. In May of 2021, Trout suffered a right calf strain and he was unable to return. This could be worrisome as Trout, 30, is no longer the young kid we all remember.

There is always inherent injury risk with any player that is 30 plus years old. Yet, Trout is expected to be a full go for 2022 and has had no setbacks following his injury. The legend is projected for 649 PA, .271 AVG, 37 HRs, 102 R, 102 RBIs, seven SB, and a 6.1 fWAR. There should be much more certainty involving Trout than there should be with Acuna. Trout's injury was relatively minor and halted a 2021 comeback due to the Angels' contention status. Furthermore, Trout's NFC ADP sits at 15.24 which is three selections behind Acuna and leaks into the second round.

Trout should be the selection over Acuna at this moment as the certainty with Trout is much better. That said if news breaks that Acuna will be healthy and ready for the 2022 season then Acuna should be the selection.

 

 

Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

Jacob deGrom was the best pitcher in baseball when healthy last year. He produced a 1.08 ERA and a 4.9 fWAR across 92 IP. Unfortunately, deGrom left a start in July and never returned to the mound. There were contradicting reports about what exactly the damage was to deGrom's elbow. However, it has been confirmed that there was only a partial UCL tear. A complete UCL tear would have resulted in Tommy John surgery. deGrom is now expected to be ready for the 2022 season.

There is concern that the issue with deGrom's elbow could return and at his age, 33, there is always room for other issues. That said, deGrom is by far the best pitcher in baseball when he's on the mound. Furthermore, nearly every top pitcher has similar issues. Steamer projections have deGrom pitching 152 IP, 2.32 ERA, 228 strikeouts, and a 6.1 fWAR. That is a perfect middle ground as deGrom topped 200 IP in his last two healthy seasons but finished at 68 IP and 98 IP in each of the last two.

Currently, deGrom has an NFBC ADP of 22.27 which has him going before Zack Wheeler and after Brandon Woodruff which is the perfect spot for him to land. The valuation of deGrom by the fantasy baseball community seems spot on.

 

 

Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels

Anthony Rendon makes the second Angel on this list. Rendon was a perennial MVP candidate from 2017 - 2020 when he produced a 6.0 fWAR or higher every full season and was on pace for a similar number in the shortened 2020 campaign. However, the 2021 season brought on the first signs of decline.

Rendon struggled mightily across 249 PA producing a .240 AVG, six HRs, 24 R, 34 RBIs, zero SBs, and a .7 fWAR before succumbing to a right hip impingement. The season from Rendon prior to the season-ending hip surgery is worrisome on its own. Now, hip surgery could mean one of two things: Rendon is now completely healthy or this is the beginning of the end. Steamer projections split the middle giving Rendon 575 PA, .271 AVG, 21 HRs, 76 R, 79 RBIs, two SBs, and a 4.3 fWAR. That puts Rendon in the "still very productive but not what he once was" category. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training and he should get ample playing time to prove that 2021 was a fluke.

Rendon's current ADP sits at 113.33 which has him going behind Alex Bregman and in front of D.J. LeMahieu. This is another case of the fantasy baseball community properly evaluating an injured player. That said, there is some serious risk in Rendon's profile considering his recent injury history and his advanced age (31).

 

Kyle Lewis, Seattle Mariners

Kyle Lewis is the epitome of a player with every tool in the toolbox if he can stay healthy. Unfortunately, he has failed to top 300 PA in each of his first three seasons. He suffered a bone bruise on his right knee in June and was unable to return from the injury. The 26-year-old Lewis has been extremely productive when on the field managing a career 121 wRC+ across 464 PA. Furthermore, the reports have been favorable as he is expected to be ready for Spring Training and he could spend more time at DH in an attempt to keep him healthy in 2022.

That said, current Steamer projections give Lewis 571 PA, .238 AVG, 20 HR, 64 R, 69 RBI, 5 SB, and a 1.3 fWAR. The projection for Lewis is extremely strange. It gives him a full season of PA but keeps his production level down far below what you would expect in that scenario. For example, Lewis managed a .262 AVG, 11 HR, 37 R, 28 RBIs, 5 SB, and a 1.7 fWAR across only 242 PA in 2020. His current ADP sits at 276.27 which has him going after Julio Rodriguez and before Wil Myers. Lewis's projection is close to what you would expect from Lewis if he only managed 350 PA. Yet, if he manages a full season he could be a top 100 player by the end of the year. Don't rely on Lewis but understand his possible outcomes.

 

Noah Syndergaard, Los Angeles Angels

Noah Syndergaard, a.k.a Thor, is the third Halo listed but the first one on this list to finish the 2021 season on the diamond. However, Syndergaard managed only two IP as he missed all of 2020 and most of 2021 due to Tommy John surgery and various setbacks. On the bright side, Syndergaard is still just 29 years old and signed a one-year, $21 million contract with the Angels this free agency.

The change in teams is notable for multiple reasons. First, the Mets are notorious for having one of the worst medical staffs in baseball and have shown time and time again that they can not keep players healthy. Secondly, Syndergaard had to pass a physical in order to sign his deal with the Angels. Syndergaard is expected to be ready for 2022 with the biggest question being workload.

Steamer projections have Thor with 163 IP, 4.53 ERA, 133 SO, and a 2.3 fWAR. The IP is a perfect medium between his last two healthy seasons (154.1, 197.2) and the last two seasons (0, 2). However, the ERA feels a bit high and the strikeouts a bit low. Syndergaard's highest ERA to date is 4.28 in 2019 and prior to that, he had never topped 3.24. Furthermore, he has topped 155 SO in every full season. His current NFC ADP sits at 191.94 which has him going before Hyun Jin Ryu and after Tarik Skubal. There should be a lot of love for Syndergaard at his current ADP as it seems many have forgotten how dominant he was before his injury. There will always be injury concern in a profile like Syndergaard's but the upside is astronomical at his ADP.

 

Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

Strasburg could become one of the biggest "what ifs" in MLB history. The former 1st overall selection has had brilliant seasons but his entire career has been plagued by injuries. Strasburg has managed only 5 and 21.2 IPs in each of the last two seasons. In 2021, he suffered from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and has surgery to replace the issue in July. The 33-year-old should be ready for Spring Training in 2022 but what will we be getting?

Steamer projections give Strasburg 153 IP, 4.15 ERA, 154 SO, and a 2.6 fWAR. That projection screams the best-case scenario. Strasburg has topped 150 IP only five times across 12 seasons and only once since 2018. That said, he has never produced an ERA above 4 or had less than 150 SO in any season with at least 100 IP (8/12 seasons). Strasburg's NFC ADP currently sits at 366.47 which has him going after Dinelson Lamet and before Chris Paddack. Lamet and Paddack would both be preferable to the aging Strasburg but if his ADP starts to slip more then interest should pique. Strasburg around picks 380 where Patrick Corbin and Anthony Bender are going feels much better.

 

Dustin May, Los Angeles Dodgers

Dustin May is the only player on this list that we know won't get a full 2022. May was preparing for a bigger role in the Dodgers' rotation before having to undergo Tommy John surgery in May of 2021. Outside of the Tommy John surgery, May has not suffered from a wide array of injuries. Furthermore, he is only 24 years old implying he should be able to return from surgery with any issues. However, the Dodgers have stated that May will not return until after the all-star break which suggests he will miss the first half of the season. The Steamer projections give May 51 IP, 3.16 ERA, 61 SO, and a 1.0 fWAR. We should expect May to have wonderful ratios when he is on the mound but we shouldn't expect that to occur frequently.

May's current NFBC ADP sits at 571.94 which has him going before Reiver Sanmartin and after Cade Cavalli. May is being taken next to prospects who have no guarantee to see big league time this season. At his current ADP May is still valuable and should be taken as the final pitcher on your roster. There's a case to be made to take May as much as 20-30 picks earlier considering what we know about his abilities when he is healthy.

More Fantasy Baseball Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Darren Waller

Not Expected to Play in Week 3
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
Jameson Williams

Records Long Touchdown in Week 2, Still Limited to Downfield Role?
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Jayden Daniels

Considered "Day-to-Day" with Knee Injury
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Jonathan Taylor

Tops 200 Yards From Scrimmage in Week 2 Win
Joe Burrow

Could Miss Three Months if he Requires Toe Surgery
Davante Adams

Headlines Rams Receiving Corps Sunday
Wan'Dale Robinson

Explodes for 142 Yards, Touchdown in Overtime Thriller
Joe Flacco

Browns Not Considering Benching Joe Flacco After Week 2
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
Luis Arraez

Takes a Seat on Sunday With Head Injury
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Activated, Starting on Sunday
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
Bryan Woo

Records Career-High 13 Strikeouts
Max Muncy

Exits Early on Saturday
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Salvador Perez

Reaches 300 Home Runs, 1,000 RBI
Jose Altuve

Exits Early With Foot Discomfort
Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
Tarik Skubal

Avoids Serious Injury, Expected to Make Next Start
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
Tanner Bibee

Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
CFB

Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
CFB

Billy Edwards Jr. Unlikely to Play on Saturday
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Questionable to Make Debut Against Georgia
Lauri Markkanen

Big at Both Ends as Finland Books Place in EuroBasket Semis
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
NBA

Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
NBA

Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
Charles Bassey

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hawks
Sacramento Kings

Terence Davis Waived by Kings
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
Cameron Champ

the Ultimate Wild Card at Procore
Cameron Young

Looks to Extend Momentum in Napa
Davis Thompson

Searching for a Spark at Procore
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Reignite Form at Procore
Mackenzie Hughes

Aims for Another Strong Showing at Procore
Luke Clanton

Brings Ball-Striking Upside to Napa
Seamus Power

Looking to Overcome Poor Course History at Procore
Joe Highsmith

Hoping to Find Form in Napa
Kristaps Porzingis

Reportedly Still Not Completely Healthy
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Reportedly on the Trade Block
Andre Drummond

Future in Philadelphia in Doubt
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Helps Greece Reach Semis at EuroBasket
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Posts Historic Triple-Double

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP