Explore NFL ACL injury episodes, recorded time missed and fantasy performance after return for quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and tight ends.
75 recorded episodes · Updated November 11, 2026 · Half-PPR fantasy scoring
How does fantasy production change after return?
| Position | Episodes | Avg games missed | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | 9 | 9.9 gamesn=9 | -22.0%n=9 · small sample | +5.7%n=9 · small sample | +12.9%n=9 · small sample | -0.5%n=8 · small sample | +5.0%n=7 · small sample | -15.0%n=7 · small sample |
| RB | 20 | 15.1 gamesn=13 | -25.0%n=15 | -49.1%n=14 | -58.8%n=11 | +7.1%n=8 · small sample | +8.0%n=6 · small sample | -10.2%n=6 · small sample |
| WR | 34 | 12.0 gamesn=27 | -39.3%n=19 | -35.2%n=18 | -35.4%n=18 | -8.7%n=17 | -10.2%n=17 | -48.0%n=17 |
| TE | 12 | 14.1 gamesn=11 | -34.6%n=12 | -30.8%n=12 | -43.9%n=12 | -27.4%n=10 | -43.7%n=10 | -9.2%n=9 · small sample |
Each game has its own eligible sample. These are historical comparisons, not a prediction for an individual player.
QB: first game back
-22.0% fantasy production change across 9 eligible observations.
9.9 games missed on average across 9 recorded values.
Small sample: interpret cautiously.
RB: first game back
-25.0% fantasy production change across 15 eligible observations.
15.1 games missed on average across 13 recorded values.
WR: first game back
-39.3% fantasy production change across 19 eligible observations.
12.0 games missed on average across 27 recorded values.
TE: first game back
-34.6% fantasy production change across 12 eligible observations.
14.1 games missed on average across 11 recorded values.
What the numbers mean for fantasy football
An ACL injury can create a prolonged rehabilitation process. Restoring strength, movement control and confidence in changing direction matters beyond the return date. These records may span seasons, and associated injuries or different treatment approaches can change recovery. Do not treat the category average as an individual surgical timeline.
Role, age, workload, associated injuries and the type of treatment can all differ between episodes. Read the diagnosis and practice report alongside these data; the averages cannot confirm readiness or a return date.
Shareable first-game comparison
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Credit: Fantasy Injury Team. Link to this page when citing the chart; the chart includes the source date and sample sizes.
The people behind the percentages
Individual player episodes
Select a player to expand their injury timeline, baseline, and return-game outcomes.
Aggregate position data · ACL
| Position | Episodes | Avg games missed | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | 9 | 9.9 gamesn=9 | -22.0%n=9 · small sample | +5.7%n=9 · small sample | +12.9%n=9 · small sample | -0.5%n=8 · small sample | +5.0%n=7 · small sample | -15.0%n=7 · small sample |
| RB | 20 | 15.1 gamesn=13 | -25.0%n=15 | -49.1%n=14 | -58.8%n=11 | +7.1%n=8 · small sample | +8.0%n=6 · small sample | -10.2%n=6 · small sample |
| WR | 34 | 12.0 gamesn=27 | -39.3%n=19 | -35.2%n=18 | -35.4%n=18 | -8.7%n=17 | -10.2%n=17 | -48.0%n=17 |
| TE | 12 | 14.1 gamesn=11 | -34.6%n=12 | -30.8%n=12 | -43.9%n=12 | -27.4%n=10 | -43.7%n=10 | -9.2%n=9 · small sample |
75 matching episodes · ACL · All positions.
| Player / team | Injury timing | Games missed | G1 PPG Δ | G2 PPG Δ | G3 PPG Δ | G4 PPG Δ | G5 PPG Δ | G6 PPG Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Robert WoodsACL | 2021 Week 10 | 9.0 | -85.9% | -53.7% | -17.6% | -13.7% | -55.3% | -67.8% |
KJ HamlerACL + hip dislocation | 2021 Week 3 | 14.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Odell Beckham Jr.ACL tear | 2020 Week 7 | 11.0 | -10.8% | -67.3% | -76.1% | -17.2% | -73.7% | -91.2% |
Courtland SuttonACL | 2020 Week 2 | 14.0 | -83.7% | — | — | — | — | — |
Preston WilliamsACL | 2019 Week 9 | 8.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Cooper KuppACL | 2018 Week 10 | 6.0 | -47.8% | -2.8% | +77.7% | +44.3% | +43.0% | -76.2% |
Will FullerACL | 2018 Week 8 | 8.0 | -31.7% | -48.1% | -34.3% | -67.1% | +303.7% | -40.3% |
Eli RogersACL | 2017 Playoffs | 13.0 | +100.7% | +35.5% | +341.6% | — | — | — |
Jaelen StrongACL | 2017 Week 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Allen RobinsonACL tear; reconstruction | 2017 Week 1 | 15.0 | -20.4% | +30.7% | -36.1% | -8.6% | +46.4% | -91.2% |
Cameron MeredithACL | 2017 Preseason | 18.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Julian EdelmanACL | 2017 Preseason | 20.0 | -19.7% | +23.1% | +5.6% | +41.4% | +25.7% | +31.8% |
Chris BellACL tear | 2025 Week ? | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Zach ErtzRight knee ACL tear | 2025 Week 14 | — | -83.2% | -72.3% | -100.0% | — | — | — |
Tucker KraftACL | 2025 Week 9 | 9.0 | -43.0% | -82.2% | -67.2% | -3.8% | -35.1% | -55.8% |
Tyler HigbeeACL + MCL + meniscus | 2023 Wild Card, 2023 postseason | 14.0 | +34.1% | -66.5% | +131.2% | — | — | — |
Taysom HillACL + posterolateral corner multiligament injury | 2024 Week 13 | 9.0 | -94.5% | -48.9% | -84.9% | -85.8% | -74.9% | -83.3% |
Erick AllACL | 2024 Week 9 | 25.0 | -100.0% | -46.4% | -100.0% | -100.0% | +42.9% | +46.4% |
Brevin JordanACL | 2024 Week 2 | 35.0 | +125.0% | -100.0% | -50.0% | -100.0% | -100.0% | — |
Zach ErtzACL + MCL tears | 2022 Week 10 | 7.0 | -49.2% | -14.4% | -84.1% | -17.4% | -20.4% | -68.1% |
Logan ThomasACL + MCL + medial/lateral meniscus injuries | 2021 Week 13 | 5.0 | -7.1% | +73.4% | -76.8% | -31.9% | -100.0% | -100.0% |
Robert TonyanACL | 2021 Week 8 | 9.0 | +2.0% | -58.0% | +34.0% | +84.0% | -14.0% | +180.0% |
Blake JarwinACL tear; reconstruction | 2020 Week 1 | 15.0 | -20.0% | +18.9% | -45.1% | +89.7% | -100.0% | +50.9% |
James O'ShaughnessyACL | 2019 Week 5 | 11.0 | -92.6% | -11.4% | -35.1% | -54.2% | -48.3% | -100.0% |
Hunter HenryACL | 2018 Preseason | 16.0 | +7.3% | +248.7% | +70.3% | -10.2% | +59.6% | +47.5% |
Snapshot updated November 11, 2026. All tables use the same 2,413-episode source snapshot. Historical comparisons are observational; they do not establish that an injury caused a particular performance change. Read the methodology and limitations.