Fantasy Baseball: Which Injured Players Should You Draft and Stash?

Jimmy Nelson, SP, Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers ace Jimmy Nelson was having a Cy-Young-caliber season last year before a shoulder injury sidelined him in September. Before he hit the shelf, Nelson had an ERA of 3.49 and a FIP of 3.05 and was striking out a whopping 27.3% of hitters while walking only 6.6%. That strikeout-to-walk percentage was 12th-best in baseball among qualified starters.

He underwent surgery and is currently recovering, with no exact return date as of now. He could return at some point in the first half, but he hasn't even started throwing yet, so there's no way to know how he'll bounce back in 2018. He's currently the 117th pitcher being taken in fantasy drafts, and we project he'll only throw 102 innings this year with an ERA of 3.86 and 89 strikeouts.

Nelson should only be drafted in the very last rounds as a potential lottery ticket, who, if he hits, can help in the second half.