AJ Green Too Valuable to Sit in Fantasy Leagues Despite Stubborn Toe Injury

It's simple. If A.J. Green is active in real life, then he belongs in your starting lineup. 

That statement is typically more obvious than Shaquille O'Neal trying to hide among a group of kindergartners, but it will be tested in Week 3. Green missed all but six plays of Week 2 after aggravating a toe injury, and his status for Sunday's matchup with the Tennessee Titans is as clear as mud. 

At first, he was believed to have turf toe—a nasty injury that tends to linger. Then it was diagnosed as a ligament strain, but after he missed practice Wednesday, there was still concern he wouldn't be ready until after Cincinnati's Week 4 bye. 

Now the outlook is a bit more optimistic after he participated on a limited basis during Thursday's practice, per ESPN's Coley Harvey:

"If it's feeling good, then I'm going to go," Green said simply, via Harvey.  

It's a tricky situation that has been difficult to read, but the good news here is Cincinnati plays during the early batch of games. That means that if he is ultimately deemed inactive 90 minutes before kickoff, you'll have your entire bench to choose from as a replacement. 

Green is a physical specimen. Even if he's at 75 percent, he's better than most wide receivers in the league. He first suffered the injury in the first quarter of Week 1, according to Harvey, but he proceeded to play the entire game, finishing with six catches, 131 yards and the game-winning 77-yard touchdown reception. 

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The one concern here is that he starts but once again exacerbates the injury and is forced to leave early. However, after that exact situation happened last week, you get the feeling the Bengals won't trot him out there unless he's confident he can manage the pain. Moreover, with the bye week on the horizon, they'll make sure to play it safe. 

At the end of the day, this is one of the best receivers in the league going up against a defense that Dez Bryant torched a week ago. You drafted him in the first or second round for a reason, and that's to play him no matter the situation. 

Even if he's less than 100 percent.