Fantasy Football Week 7: Buying or Selling Injured Stars Before Thursday Night

A recently injured player on your fantasy football team may be returning to the field, but that doesn't mean they should always return to your starting lineup.

In the NFL, anything from a tough matchup to another player from the same position emerging can turn someone from being a consistent starter into a fantasy afterthought. While all of these players will be notable throughout the rest of the season, not all of them should be looked toward in Week 7.

Let's get into an injured-players version of buy or sell for the upcoming NFL weekend.

Buy: Steve Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

You just knew broken bones in his back wouldn't deter Steve Smith from the field for too long, not in his last season in the league.

Not only did he return to the field in Week 6 against San Francisco, but he did so in style, catching seven of his 10 targets for 137 yards and a touchdown. Smith immediately proved in the process that as long as he's on the field, he's a guaranteed starter as easily the Ravens' best offensive playmaker.

A Monday night meeting with the Arizona Cardinals looks tough on paper, but it's a secondary that was just gashed by Pittsburgh Steelers third-stringer Landry Jones. Joe Flacco should have even more success and allow for Smith to be a fantasy stud once again.

Sell: Ryan Mathews, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Eagles rusher Ryan Mathews didn't miss his team's Monday night win over the Giants after being questionable all week with a groin injury, but you could hardly tell from his output.

He got just nine carries in the win despite Philadelphia leading for the majority of the game, taking them for 40 yards and being a fantasy dud in Week 6. Folks shouldn't expect any different this weekend, as the Eagles gear up to face unbeaten Carolina and its stingy run defense.

The recent breakout of DeMarco Murray—at least 20 carries, 100 total yards and a touchdown in each of the last two games—only further diminishes Mathews' fantasy relevance.

Buy: Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

For all of the pleasant surprises Allen Robinson has provided fantasy owners who drafted him without a starting spot in mind, those same owners were left holding their breath after Week 6.

Yes, Robinson continued his amazing start to the season with one more touchdown reception and over 80 yards receiving, but he left the game with a leg bruise. However, it's not something that should keep him from the field, as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported:

With Blake Bortles acting as practically Jacksonville's entire offense and Robinson easily his primary target, he's impossible to bench as long as he doesn't miss any game time. He'll be on the field Sunday in London against Buffalo, which means he should be in every lineup.

Sell: Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

From one injured wideout heading across the pond to another. The news isn't as promising for Sammy Watkins, however.

The Buffalo Bills received another offensive injury setback in Week 6 when Watkins left after reinjuring an ankle that has given him problems in the past. The injury occurred on a touchdown catch, and he didn't return.

Head coach Rex Ryan chimed in on Watkins' injury, per Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com:

"

I think it’s similar to Tyrod’s situation. We’ll see how it progresses during the week and things. I think we all saw that he left with a boot on so I don’t know if that’s a great deal. Our trainers aren’t saying if he’s out for sure, and we’ll see and hopefully he progresses. He’s a guy that makes a huge, huge difference for us.

"

So, Ryan compared Watkins' injury situation to that of Tyrod Taylor. Well, Taylor missed last week's game after suffering an injury the week prior. The same can be expected of Watkins, who shouldn't be likely to see the field until his team is back in the United States.