Fantasy Football Week 9: Buying or Selling Top Injured Players

Injuries are the worst.

For starters, you feel terrible for a player who has been injured. Nobody likes to see someone kept from his livelihood. Nobody likes to see someone who has put countless hours into training, conditioning and studying film forced out of action in one fateful moment.

Then, you feel terrible for the team because that player had a specific role to fill and, in many cases, can't be easily replaced. The best-laid plans of more than a few teams have vanished in a single moment after injuries to key players.

And finally, you mourn for your fantasy team. We've all lost superstars. We've all seen good teams go south. We've all scrambled like crazy people to add replacements. 

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But not every injury is created equal, and not every injury will cost a player his season. More often than not, an injury is a temporary setback, leaving owners to figure out what to do next. Do you stick with the injured player, or do you cut him loose? Do you trust him when he returns from an injury, or do you roll the dice with his backup?

Nobody is a more interesting case this week than Robert Griffin III. On Wednesday evening, there were conflicting reports about RG3's potential return this week. Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4 in Washington D.C. reported that Griffin would start:

Albert Breer of NFL.com reported that it wasn't a done deal, however:

I'm not starting RG3 in his first week back, especially after he struggled to pick up Jay Gruden's system in the first place. And the Minnesota Vikings are giving up just 13 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per week, second in the NFL.

But I'm absolutely buying him after the bye, when he's had an extra week to get back into the swing of things and Washington has had an extra week to prepare for the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If you own Griffin and you've held on to him this whole time, I would encourage a bit more patience. 

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Sometimes, players can see their starting gigs stolen while they are out with injuries. Look no further than Drew Bledsoe. And one player I'm not buying anymore is Montee Ball. 

Why? 

Because Ronnie Hillman has been excellent in his stead. Hillman has rushed for 283 yards and two scores in the past three games, and his speed and shiftiness have given the Denver Broncos a dimension the team didn't have with Ball crashing through the tackle box. Frankly, Hillman has just looked like a better fit for the team. 

Ball was a nice complement to Knowshon Moreno a year ago and would give the team a grinder in short-yardage and goal-line situations. But Hillman has played too well to see his touches diminish significantly when Ball returns.

Two other players who could return from injury to diminished roles are Khiry Robinson and Pierre Thomas. Per Mike Triplett of ESPN.com, Robinson is officially listed as questionable but unlikely to play and Thomas is out this week.

That gives Mark Ingram another chance to shine. In the four games he's played this year, Ingram has rushed 58 times for 331 yards and four touchdowns, and he's been shedding blockers like it's his job—which, actually, it is. 

Still, he was brilliant in Week 8. Just consider this stat from Pro Football Focus:

"

Big week for Mark Ingram. His 10 forced missed tackles rushing twice the amount of next highest back for the week. Highest grade RB of week

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) October 27, 2014"

If he keeps playing like that, Robinson and Thomas are going to have a great view from the sidelines of Ingram tearing it up.

As for Rashad Jennings, I'm all about getting him back in my starting lineup when he returns. Andre Williams rushed for a total of 110 yards in two games as the starter on 35 carries, hardly inspiring stuff. When Jennings is healthy, he's the guy you want in the New York Giants backfield. Williams showed little in his audition. 

And then there are the two star receivers, Calvin Johnson and A.J. Green. This one is pretty simple: The moment they are healthy, they must be in your starting lineup. Keep in mind that in all three games Green has played, he's scored double-digit points.

Buy, buy, buy! 

All point totals and points-against statistics via ESPN standard scoring leagues. Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and make some corny jokes, too. It's more fun than a J.J. Watt selfie.