Fantasy Football Week 16: Buying or Selling Top Injured Players

NFL players deal with bangs and bruises all season long. Some players don't even practice for much of the week to keep their bodies fresh, namely veteran stars at more demanding positions like running back. So deciphering what individual injuries mean in the middle of the week is often a fool's errand. 

Still, we sometimes have enough of an indication to know there are certain players worth avoiding. And we can also make assessments about whether players are worth starting or not if they are indeed able to play. 

Below, I'll attempt to do just that, buying or selling on the biggest names out there currently dealing with injury.

Buying 

Obviously, I'm going to buy on DeMarco Murray. It seems likely he'll at least try to play against the Indianapolis Colts given the relatively non-serious nature of his injury, and if he plays you can't sit the NFL's leading rusher and one of the most consistent fantasy performers this year. 

It's an easy call, really.

Ditto for Julio Jones. He was on a tear against the Green Bay Packers before he was injured late in that contest, causing him to miss last week's game against Pittsburgh. A game against a New Orleans Saints secondary giving up 23.7 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers per week, 25th in the NFL, means even a somewhat hobbled Jones should have a big afternoon.

It remains to be seen if T.Y. Hilton will be able to play as well, but if he does, you absolutely should be buying on him. He's been a terror down the stretch this season. 

Peyton Manning very obviously hasn't been himself in recent weeks, but a huge game against the Cincinnati Bengals seems like the perfect time for him to break out of his slump (please, break out of your slump—I'm starting you in my championship matchup this week).

The moral of the story is stick with Manning.

Selling

There are plenty of players to sell on this week.

Even if Ryan Mathews plays this week, I wouldn't recommend playing him against a San Francisco defense giving up just 101.1 rushing yards per game, eighth in the NFL. Coming back from injury against a physical defense like the Niners isn't exactly most players' idea of a good time.

You really can't trust San Francisco's running backs this week, either. For one thing, Carlos Hyde doesn't even think he'll be able to play, per Mindi Bach of CSN Bay Area:

"

#49ers Carlos Hyde says he received good news on his MRI but barring a miracle does not expect to play v #Chargers

— Mindi Bach (@MBachCSN) December 17, 2014"

So there's that. But the truth is, even if he and Frank Gore can play, neither player has been particularly trustworthy for fantasy owners this year. I'd look elsewhere for running back production. 

DeAndre Hopkins may or may not be able to play this week, but who cares? His quarterback is going to be either Thad Lewis or Case Keenum, meaning starting him over championship week is quite the gamble, even in a favorable matchup against Baltimore.

Finally, I'm pretty much done with Rashad Jennings this season. He hasn't been able to stay healthy all season long, and at this point, the New York Giants probably just want to let Andre Williams carry out his audition for next year's starting job the rest of the way. 

Williams is arguably the more talented runner anyway, even if Jennings does more for the team in the passing game. Fantasy owners should concern themselves with owning and starting Williams, not Jennings, this week.

All point totals and points-against statistics via ESPN standard-scoring leagues.