Jordy Nelson: Pros and Cons of Benching Packers Star WR in Fantasy Week 8

Injuries suck. 

Whether on your fantasy team or your favorite team, injuries can derail an entire season. Ask the 2008 New England Patriots. 

So what do you do with Jordy Nelson? He's dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of practice Thursday and threatens his availability for this Sunday.

Let's check out the pros and cons.

Pros

Obviously, if Nelson can go, he's one of the best receiving options out there. Despite his injury status, the fellas at ESPN.com have him ranked as the sixth-best receiving option. 

It's difficult to disagree with that ranking. Aaron Rodgers has rekindled his love affair with his favorite No. 2 receiver (although Nelson has been No. 1 considering Greg Jenning's ongoing injury woes). Over the last two games the pair have hooked up 17 times for 243 yards and four touchdowns.

To add some seasoning to this delicious stew, let's take notice of Sunday's opponent: the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags have been extremely accommodating to opposing aerial attacks this year, allowing a healthy 264.5 yards per contest.

If Nelson is your top receiver, you're team is in good shape. If he's your second option, you're a heavy favorite for the title so long as Tim Tebow isn't your starting quarterback.

Cons

Again, obviously, there is no way to know for certain that Nelson is going to go this week. Not practicing and seeing how he feels on Saturday or Sunday isn't exactly encouraging.

Plus, even if Nelson does play, it is difficult to prognosticate his effectiveness. Hamstrings are tricky. If the strain is great enough, it could keep him from being able to fully explode, limiting his ability to get separation or snare jump balls.

And those back-shoulder passes that the Green Bay Packers love so much will pretty much be impossible going to the hurt side (since he won't be able to push off that leg). This is assuming the injury still nags him.

Then again, how much separation does one need against the Jags?

Would I play him this week? So long as he can get on the field, the potential pros outweigh the cons.

He's too good to risk sitting on the bench, unless you have incredible reserve wide receivers.