This training camp series will provide you with in-depth analysis of key injuries and their resultant implications on a players draft value. This information comes straight from my perspective as a physical therapist and collegiate athletic trainer of ten years. Over that time, I have seen and treated almost every injury that can occur in this violent sport. Hopefully this piece gives you a little more insight into the anatomy of an injury.

Player: Peyton Manning
Injury: Disc excision, cervical spine
Healing time: 12-16 weeks
Impact on your cheatsheet: Red flag. There has been optimism in the Manning camp the last few days, and now Manning has been activated from the PUP list, allowing him to practice on a limited basis. He is desperately trying to come back for Week 1. Nonetheless, he is starting to slip in drafts, but I still think it’s foolish to let him go too far. Even if he misses a few weeks, he will still have great production this season. Although, it may not be a bad idea to draft other positions first and take a QB in the later rounds instead.

Player: Arian Foster
Injury: Hamstring strain
Healing time: 3 weeks
Impact on your cheatsheet: Red flag. This is the second strained hamstring that Foster has had in four weeks. I know, I sound like a broken record, but I can’t help myself. These muscle pulls have to heal fully before a player returns to competition. If Foster returns too early, he risks playing at less than optimum performance and has a higher chance of re-injury. Foster is a fantasy star. He just needs to stay healthy. I hope they keep him out as long as they have to so he is healthy for the entire year. My guess is that he rushes back for Week 1 and the threat of re-injury or not being at 100% is still there.

Welker's neck injury - no worries.

Player: Wes Welker
Injury: Neck sprain
Healing time: Day-to-day
Impact on your cheatsheet: Unchanged / Undervalued. Welker injured his neck on Saturday night, but this should not be a concern. He is slipping in drafts, but I am not sure why. He is now two years removed from ACL reconstruction and he plays in an elite offense.

Player: Kellen Winslow
Injury: Ankle sprain
Healing time: Day-to-day
Impact on your cheatsheet: Unchanged. Any injury news on this guy is never a good sign. But he always plays. This injury will not affect his draft status. He is still option number two in the passing game.

Player: Marion Barber
Injury: Calf strain
Healing time: 3 weeks
Impact on your cheatsheet: Unchanged. Barber’s role, not his injury, is where the uncertainty comes in. He pulled his calf, which will take a few weeks to heal, but his role behind Matt Forte is a complimentary one at best, so you shouldn’t be drafting him for his Week 1 value anyway.

Player: Jeremy Maclin
Injury: Unknown, Mononucleosis
Healing time: Back to competition
Impact on your cheatsheet: Undervalued. I wrote last week that Maclin’s value was falling fast. This week he is undervalued. Amazing how much things change in a week. He is now back at practice and putting on lost weight. He will be slow to regain his form early in the season, but gradually he will return to his previously productive self. I think he will be Vick’s primary target, and considering where he is being drafted because of his virus, he could be a nice bargain; you just have to be patient.

Player: Jermichael Finley
Injury: Ankle sprain
Healing time: Day-to-day
Impact on your cheatsheet: Unchanged. Finley suffered this minor injury in Friday’s preseason game. He missed practice on Sunday, but there’s no indication that this is a big deal. He has tremendous upside, but he is a bit risky because of his tendency toward injury.