Fantasy Football Week 11: Buying or Selling Top Injured Players

Letting go is the hardest thing to do. They've meant so much to you, after all, given you so much over the years. You don't want to just quit on them. You don't want to say goodbye.

But sometimes, you have to cut a player loose in fantasy football. It isn't easy, but sometimes, an injury is the last straw and you have to cut ties. 

Of course, sometimes you don't. It isn't always easy to know the difference, so below I've gone over the injured players I'm still buying this week and the injured players I'm selling. Get the tissues ready.
 

Buying

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Consider me completely on board with both both Ryan Mathews and Kyle Rudolph, who should return this week. Mathews will go back to being San Diego's featured back while pushing Branden Oliver to the supplementary Danny Woodhead role after Oliver struggled in recent games. 

Rudolph, meanwhile, has always been a bit touchdown-reliant as a fantasy commodity, but he should give Teddy Bridgewater a steady presence in the passing game, especially in the red zone. A position that once seemed surprisingly deep early in the year for fantasy owners has thinned out, and Rudolph has the ability to post TE1 numbers the rest of the way. 

Montee Ball returns this week as well, but I'm not so sure I'm buying on him. Even if Ronnie Hillman doesn't play this week, C.J. Anderson earned himself some touches given his performance against the Oakland Raiders. I'd expect Ball to enter a committee situation upon his return.

Speaking of Hillman, I'm still buying on him even if he can't go this week. He proved enough while Ball was hurt to remain the starter, even if Ball takes the short-yardage work and Anderson gets some touches, too. Don't sell on Hillman just yet.

Don't sell on Lamar Miller, either. He might not have the backfield to himself this week, but he should play, per Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

"

Miller's status was uncertain because the former University of Miami standout has been nursing a shoulder injury for the past two weeks, and the injury limited him to 11 snaps against Detroit.

Even though he's been cleared to play expect the Dolphins to continue using Daniel Thomas and Damien Williams in a rotation of the tailbacks. The Dolphins also promoted LaMichael James up from the practice squad, and it is possible he could be on the game day roster.

"

Given that, I'm not necessarily buying on Miller as a starter this week, but moving forward he's still the man in Miami.

Rashad Jennings' injury has lasted longer than expected, but I still want him on my roster. Remember, when he was healthy he scored 46 fantasy points in his first three games. 

This tweet from Tania Ganguli of ESPN has me a little worried:

"

O'Brien calls Arian " Foster definitely" day to day. Seemed less optimistic than with Clowney/Cushing. #Texans

— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) November 12, 2014"

Still, if Arian Foster plays, you absolutely, positively start him. He may be injury prone at this stage of his career, but he's phenomenal every time he steps on the field.

I can't buy on Giovani Bernard this week after this tweet from Albert Breer of NFL.com:

Of course, his recent injuries aren't enough to keep me from selling on him moving forward. He's been awesome this season. You're going to want to buy, buy, buy on Jeremy Hill this week if that report holds up.

Selling

Reinhold Matay/Associated Press

Stop me if you've heard this before, but I'm done with Doug Martin. Done. Even when he returns from injury, I wouldn't be surprised if he was Tampa Bay's third choice at running back. He doesn't need to be rostered.

Reggie Bush is getting close to that point. Already mired in a committee with Joique Bell on a passing offense, Bush's injury woes this year have given Theo Riddick a chance to show what he's capable of, and it's been promising. I would imagine Bush will return to a three-headed platoon at running back, and I'm not buying on that. No thank you.

Jordan Cameron's lingering concussion symptoms and his disappointing play in general are a cause for concern. He simply isn't a player that needs to be owned at this point.

Ditto for Vernon Davis, who has been playing but looks like a shell of himself this year. More than likely, he's battling through a slew of injuries. At some point, a player's past can't dictate how you utilize them in the present in your fantasy lineup. Davis' past doesn't justify a roster spot at this point.

All 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 passing drill against the Chicago Bears defense.