Injuries remain one of the most unpredictable variables in fantasy football, often turning seasons upside down in a matter of weeks. With the 2025 season approaching, staying informed on the health status of key players is critical for smart drafting and roster planning. The second volume of Blitz “Health Checks” takes a closer look at some of the most impactful injury comebacks, offering updates on their recoveries and what fantasy managers should expect heading into the new year.
WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Brandon Aiyuk’s 2025 outlook remains clouded by uncertainty as he continues to recover from a torn ACL and MCL suffered last October. The 6th-year veteran underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee last November, about a month after sustaining the injury. According to the 49ers, his surgeon has expressed optimism about his recovery this spring, though the team has yet to set a firm timetable for his return.
On The Pat McAfee Show last week, 49ers general manager John Lynch offered an encouraging update, noting “Brandon is doing a tremendous job coming back. It’s kind of incredible how well he’s healing.” Still, Lynch acknowledged that a return likely won’t come until around midseason.
Aiyuk, who dealt with a contract standoff last summer, was limited to just 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns across seven games before the injury cut his season short in 2024. With George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and rookie Ricky Pearsall all in the mix, Aiyuk will face stiff competition for targets once he’s back in the fold.
His status will remain uncertain heading into training camp, but even if Aiyuk returns earlier than mid-season, a gradual ramp-up in workload should be expected. Despite the optimism surrounding his recovery, there are too many unknowns to put fantasy stock in Aiyuk currently.
WR Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill revealed in Week 10 of last season that he had been playing through a torn ligament in his wrist, an injury that lingered throughout the year. Despite being a regular on the injury report, Hill managed to appear in all 17 games for the Dolphins, though his weekly performance was highly inconsistent and hugely frustrating to fantasy managers.
He finished with a respectable 81 catches for 959 yards and 6 TDs, but his 2024 performance was a far cry from his two straight 1,700 yard seasons from years prior.
At times, the wrist seemed to limit him, while in other games, the absence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa seemed to have a more noticeable impact. When Tua was healthy, Hill averaged a modest 12.4 fantasy points per game (FPPG), indicating a healthy wrist may have been all he needed to get him closer to his career-average of 17.9 FPPG.
Hill underwent multiple offseason surgeries to address the wrist issue, but is expected to be fully cleared for training camp. Head coach Mike McDaniel previously noted that Hill sat out passing drills this spring, but had been active at the team’s facility.
It seems as if Hill’s recovery is on schedule — he was spotted catching passes during individual drills at the team’s June minicamp. If healthy, Hill has the potential to be quite the bargain with his current 3rd round ADP.
WR Chris Olave, Saints
Chris Olave sustained two concussions last season, with the second coming just three weeks after the first. The latter incident was particularly concerning, as it required Olave to be stretchered off the field and hospitalized. He later returned to practice during the final two weeks of the season, but the Saints opted to keep him sidelined, prioritizing his long-term health. With four documented concussions over his first three NFL seasons, Olave’s history of head injuries remains a significant storyline entering 2025.
According to Luke Johnson of NOLA.com, Olave is participating in OTAs without restrictions, and has even taken reps fielding punts. Even if Olave can stay healthy, he was overshadowed by Rashid Shaheed last season, who out-paced the former first rounder in targets, air yards, and top-12 fantasy finishes. With a history of underwhelming fantasy ceilings and uncertainty under center in New Orleans, Olave’s path to consistent value looks as cloudy as ever.
