Fantasy Football Week 15: Buying or Selling Top Injured Players

Nobody wants to see a key player go down to an injury at this point in the season, not only because real football teams are trying to make the real playoffs but also because fantasy football players are trying to win in the fantasy playoffs. 

But injuries happen and owners are left wondering how to approach the bigger names that are battling back from injury. Below, I'll break down if you should be buying or selling on some of this week's notable injured players.

Buying 

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If Julio Jones is on the field this week, you absolutely have to start him. But you probably already knew that, seeing as he has 21 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns in his past two games. To put those numbers in perspective, Percy Harvin has 439 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown this season.

There are more than a few owners in the playoffs desperately hoping Jones can play this week.

I feel like I've been saying this for a month, but, again, if Julius Thomas is healthy enough to play, you buy, buy, buy on him and get him in that lineup. I know I personally could really use him in a playoff semifinal this week. Don't forsake me, Orange Julius.

Don't forsake me.

Torrey Smith was limited this Sunday due to an injury, ending a pretty hot streak for the receiver. Monitor his situation carefully. If he ends up being a game-time decision, you may want to stay away. But if he's cleared to play in advance of Sunday, you'd be hard-pressed to find a good reason for sitting him against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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I'm not buying on any of the Washington quarterbacks because that situation is a mess, but if DeSean Jackson plays you pretty much have to start him. Whenever a player has his game-breaking ability, he's just one play away from offering you 12 or 13 fantasy points, no matter who the quarterback. 

Washington may be a mess, but D-Jax is worth the gamble for fantasy owners.

Normally in this article I focus on players you should be buying on for the upcoming week, but with the season nearing a close, let's focus on a few potential keepers you should be buying on.

Fantasy owners shouldn't hesitate to keep Brandon Marshall, Victor Cruz, Denard Robinson—one of fantasy's biggest surprises this season—Andre Ellington or Jerick McKinnon. All of these players are worthy of keeping around for your team next season, namely if your keepers only cost you the draft pick where you selected them. 

That will make Robinson and McKinnon, in particular, solid options. 

Selling

It's hard to buy on Cam Newton after his car accident, especially since we already know he'll be missing in action in Week 15. At this point, what purpose does Newton really serve taking up a place on your roster? He's been erratic all year, he won't be healthy even if he does return to action and Week 14's offensive explosion seems like an aberration, not the norm, for a team that has limited weapons on offense.

Newton is going to be ending his season as one of fantasy's biggest busts. There's always next year.

Reggie Wayne's best days are behind him, folks. Battling a partially torn triceps, he simply hasn't been that effective while T.Y. Hilton continues his career year as Andrew Luck's favorite target. Wayne doesn't need to be owned at this point.

I know this is hard to believe, but I'm selling on Colt McCoy, folks. Seriously. I swear, I'm quitting him. Haha, you guys, I'm just kidding—I would never have bought on him in the first place. The fact that Jay Gruden did makes you wonder just how long Gruden will be patrolling the sideline in Washington.

Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and tweet some corny jokes too. It's more fun than a Colin Kaepernick press conference.