Fantasy Football Week 13: Injured Players to Buy, Sell Before Thursday Night

We're nearing that point in the season where every roster spot is crucial, every waiver edition could make or break your season and every injury feels like a bicycle kick to the abdomen. For many leagues, the fantasy playoffs are just around the corner, so things are pretty real now for those teams on the bubble.

With that in mind, we'll take a look at a few players either dealing with injuries, returning from injuries or whose status remains undetermined heading into Week 13 and decide whether you should "buy or sell" on those players. 

Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots: "Sell"

This is a little twist on the "buy or sell" format, as Rob Gronkowski obviously won't be available to buy on waivers and you shouldn't be dropping him anytime soon. But his situation is a unique one, so he deserves examination. And I would operate under the assumption that Gronk won't be playing this week, so I'd be preparing accordingly.

Let's consider what we know. For starters, the Pats aren't going to rush back a player with Gronk's history until he's 100 percent healthy. And Gronk wouldn't allow himself to be rushed back, as he essentially asserted to Bleacher Report: 

Then there's the fact that the Pats are playing the dreadful, slumping Philadelphia Eagles this week. New England doesn't need Gronkowski to knock off the Eagles.

Then there's the strange way the Patriots have handled this entire injury. The team has been rather transparent with Gronkowski's situation, labeling him week-to-week. Why be so upfront?

Because the Patriots know the media will dig around for any possible information on Gronk's readiness. Getting in front of this story by essentially saying Gronk will be evaluated on a weekly basis still allows the team to disguise Gronk's actual injury status and keep opponents guessing each week. 

In other words, the Patriots found another way to control the message. The fact they felt the need to get out in front of this injury suggests Gronk is probably looking at a week or two on the bench, at least.

Obviously, you have to start him if he plays. And we don't have enough information to suggest that he'll miss enough time to make him a worthy drop. But you absolutely should be preparing as though you won't have Gronkowski available for your team down the stretch, hence the somewhat unique "sell" designation.

Danny Amendola, WR, New England Patriots: Buy

Steven Senne/Associated Press

With Julian Edelman still out of action and Gronk likely to sit as well, Danny Amendola should see a heavy dosage of Tom Brady targets against a weak group of Eagles corners.

Remember, the Eagles are giving up a league-worst 27.8 fantasy points per week to opposing wideouts. Make sure Amendola is good to go, but if he is, absolutely get him in those lineups. If he's still available in your league for some reason, snatch him up.

Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos: Sell

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

It's time to say goodbye.

We don't know when Manning will be healthy enough to play again or if he'll even get his job back from Brock Osweiler. Even when he was playing, he notched 15 or more fantasy points in standard leagues just three times and scored 20 points just once.

He's been a bust all season long. At this point, he simply doesn't need to be owned. 

Alfred Blue, RB, Houston Texans: Buy

Blue was limited at practice on Wednesday with a back injury, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, but he should be good to go this week.

He should also be owned in all formats, especially since an elite or starter-worthy running back seems to get hurt every week. Blue has notched double-digit fantasy points two weeks in a row and might actually be available in your league, though savvy owners likely snagged him weeks ago. 

Grab him if you can and get him in those starting lineups against a Buffalo Bills defense that has given up 17 or more fantasy points to opposing running backs seven times this year.

All fantasy stats and points-against totals via ESPN standard leagues. You can find Timothy Rapp on Twitter and on Twitch.