Ben's Bounce Back Candidates in 2024
As a physical therapist, my passion is rehabilitation and seeing individuals perform at their peak physical ability. It’s why I enjoy consuming sports as a fan, especially football.
With the regular season only weeks away, I wanted to cover 3 players who are slated to have bounce back years following injury in 2023
Joe Burrow Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals
Entering 2024 with bleached hair and a surgically repaired wrist, Joey B is back baby! Burrow was looking to be a perennial 4,000+yd, 30+TD thrower after consecutive seasons. On November 16, 2023, that would all change and we’d be left with Jake Browning as the starter for the remainder of the season.
Burrow took a hit against the Ravens where he would tear the scapholunate ligament in his throwing hand. He underwent surgery later on in 2023 and was put on injured reserve.
From my experience with wrist and hand surgeries with my own patients, it is a more complicated recovery process. His own surgeon, Jeffrey Kutsikovich, had stated that Burrow will have “on-and-off problems from a soreness standpoint for about a year...” This tracks to what I’ve seen in rehab. While Burrow may have a slow start to the year, I see him finishing off 2024 strong.
In redraft, I believe there are other available quarterbacks available that will keep you out of Burrow’s recovery situation. In dynasty though, he provides a buy low opportunity. That buy low in SF leagues still may equate to three 1sts or two 1sts and another young asset. Burrow will climb back to the early to mid 1st in SF startups if he balls out this season. He’s also a favorite to win comeback player of the year this year.
The Bengals are my favorite to win the AFC, and I see the path for Burrow to win his first MVP title...only to lose to my Lions in New Orleans!
TJ Hockenson Tight End Minnesota Vikings
TJ Hockenson is a top 5 dynasty tight end when healthy. He was brought into Minnesota after a trade with the Lions. Hockenson was then paid, at that time, the highest salary for tight ends in the league.
On December 24, 2023, Hock suffered an ACL and MCL tear of his knee. He received a surgical repair not long after and is expected to play sometime in the first quarter to first half of the 2024 season.
Hockenson suffered a gruesome knee injury, but based on reports of his recovery, he has been doing well to bump the timeline up. Him and the Vikings have not given a timetable, but if you ask me, I’m guessing he’ll be back by weeks 4-8. The average recovery for an ACL reconstruction with or without MCL tear is around 9 months.
With extrapolated stats, 2023 would’ve been a top tier season for Hockenson. He already had a better season in 15 games than any previous season in his career. He was on pace for 108 receptions,1,088 yds, and 6 TDs. I expect Hock to come back strong for the 2024 season and this is the lowest you’ll be getting him!
Hockenson is going as early as beginning of the 6th round or as late as end of the 7th round in TEP startups. This is a steal!
Jaylen Waddle WR Miami Dolphins
Jaylen Waddle was the WR7 in 2022... It is possible for him and Tyreek to be WR1s on the same team.
In 2023, Waddle missed time with two injuries. A concussion in week 2 that led to him missing one game and a high ankle sprain in week 16 that kept him out for the remainder of the regular
season. High ankle sprains are buggers of an injury and Waddle is no stranger to ankle injuries. I think Jaylen has had optimal time to rehab his ankle and come into 2024 strong.
Miami knows what it has with its offense. Tua tossing the ball to his speedsters in Tyreek and Waddle. Another season under the belt of Achane and Mostert the vet bolstering their RB room. Waddle has the potential to reach WR1 status again. Tyreek may have signed the extension, but so did Jaylen Waddle and Miami believe in its strong core of players.
Waddle is going in the mid to late 4th round in Superflex startup drafts in 2024. I’m high on all three of these gentlemen ahead of the 2024 season with each of them on my radar.
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