Fantasy Football Week 17: Buying or Selling Top Injured Players

Even though most fantasy leagues had their championship game in Week 16, there are still plenty of games left out there to be played. That also means the injury report is your best friend or worst enemy, depending on who you are looking to start and have to go against. 

The other problem with playing fantasy in Week 17 is trying to figure out which coaches will keep their top players in the game long enough to rack up points. Fortunately there are enough meaningful games, either to get in the playoffs or set positioning, that it shouldn't be a huge issue. 

Teams are working through injuries in preparation for a jam-packed Sunday. The official status won't be known until game day, but this is advanced preparation to let you know what is going to happen with plenty of time to figure out what you want to do. 

A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

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The celebration hasn't ended in Cincinnati after the Bengals secured their fourth straight trip to the playoffs with an impressive win over Denver on Monday night. 

However, the party is slightly muted as star wide receiver A.J. Green injured his right biceps in the win and left in the third quarter. The Pro Bowler said after the game, via Richard Skinner of the Cincinnati Enquirer, that he thinks "he'll be fine" and it was "just a bruise."

That's a relief for Bengals fans and fantasy players, as the team is fighting to win the AFC North and get a first-round bye against Pittsburgh. They get the division with a win, and a bye with a win and some help from Oakland against the Broncos. 

It's also good news because the last time Green played the Steelers three weeks ago he finished with 224 yards and one touchdown on 11 receptions. The Steelers have been vulnerable to the pass all year, as this graphic from StatMilk illustrates:

The problem for fantasy owners arises when examining how the Bengals will run their offense. Since Jeremy Hill took over as the starting running back in Week 15, Cincinnati has run the ball 82 times for 451 yards and scored 67 points. 

There's no doubt that Green will want to play this game because of what's at stake. If the Bengals are going to make plays in the passing game, it will come from the star wide receiver. Look for him to have a solid but not spectacular effort against the Steelers. 

Verdict: Buy

LeGarrette Blount, RB, New England Patriots

Steven Senne/Associated Press

Fantasy players have to hate Bill Belichick more than any other coach. He turned Jonas Gray into an icon for one week before forgetting the former Notre Dame running back existed. 

Now, the New England Patriots are in a spot where they have nothing to play for. By virtue of Denver's loss in Week 16, the Patriots have locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC before facing Buffalo on Sunday. 

The Bills defense has emerged as one of the best units in the league this season, though its strength has been against the pass, via StatMilk:

That makes LeGarrette Blount a hard fantasy player to categorize. He missed the Patriots' game against New York on Sunday with a shoulder injury. The difference in New England's running game was noticeable, as it was limited to 85 yards. 

Blount had as many carries of at least 20 yards (three) in four games with the Patriots as the entire team had prior to his arrival. His three touchdowns ranks second on the team, behind the aforementioned Gray. 

In other words, Belichick loves Blount's bruising style and what it brings to the offense. He's been more successful in this system than any back on the roster, which makes him a fantasy dream. 

Yet, it's hard to get excited about Blount against the Bills. Even though Darren McFadden rose from the ashes to remind people he's still in the NFL last week against Buffalo's defense and the Raiders had 140 yards on the ground in the 26-24 win, Belichick isn't going to test his favorite running back in a meaningless game. 

One would think Belichick learned his lesson in that case with what happened to Rob Gronkowski in that blowout win against Indianapolis two years ago. Regardless, don't count on Blount doing much in Week 17 if he suits up. 

Verdict: Sell

Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers

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The perpetually injured Ryan Mathews is everything that drives fantasy players nuts. When he plays, you can see the brilliance on display and how different San Diego's offense looks when the 27-year-old is in the lineup. 

Sadly, that hasn't happened much in 2014. Mathews has played in six games due to various injuries, yet the Chargers have been so inept at running the ball without him that he's only 181 yards behind Branden Oliver for the team lead. 

There seems to be good news on the horizon for San Diego in a must-win game against Kansas City. Head coach Mike McCoy said earlier this week, via Michael Gehlken of The San Diego Union-Tribune, his star running back is likely to play:

That's music to fantasy players on the fence about playing Mathews, because the Chiefs are 28th in run defense. Andy Reid's defense has done a good job of preventing opponents from scoring touchdowns on the ground, allowing three this year, so the Chiefs are a top-10 fantasy run defense, per ESPN.com. 

Even though that number might scare fantasy players, Mathews' overall performance and Kansas City's inability to get stops away from the end zone are enough to make him a must-start option in Week 17 as a No. 2 running back. 

You will need a strong No. 1 just in case something happens to Mathews, but the reward if he is on the field all four quarters will be huge. 

Verdict: Buy

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