Fantasy Football Week 8: Buy or Sell These Injured Stars Before Thursday Night

There's nothing more frustrating than starting a notable fantasy football player, only to have an injury keep him from taking the field at all.   

With the NFL season entering Week 8, there are injuries to relevant fantasy players on virtually all 32 team rosters. But knowing the extent of the injury—and how featured the player will actually be—is imperative to making sure you don't miss an opportunity.

With that said, let's take a look at four of the most talked-about injured players entering Week 8 in another edition of buy or sell.

Buy: Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Finally!

Fantasy owners who drafted Dez Bryant very, very early in their drafts—which is anyone who has him, really—have reluctantly benched the Dallas Cowboys playmaker, as he's been out since Week 1 with a broken foot. But he's made his triumphant return to the practice field and isn't dealing with anything out of the ordinary, as ESPN's Ed Werder reported:

Sure, he still doesn't have Tony Romo throwing him the ball, but the Cowboys offense is desperate to get its top playmaking option back. Even with a very tough Week 8 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, Bryant is so valuable to Dallas that he's a must-start if he takes the field—which seems likely.

Sell: Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

Antonio Gates owners knew they'd be without him for the first four weeks because of his suspension, but he returned in full force with a couple of dominating performances. However, he missed Week 7 with a knee injury, and things don't look good for Sunday.

He hasn't practiced so far this week, and it sounds like his knee injury is something that he and the Chargers are taking their time on, per Michael Gehlken and Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune:

"I'm playing it by ear," Gates said. "I'll see how it feels on Wednesday, Thursday. If I still can't go, then I'm going to try to look at it to see what the root of the problem is, what really is going on. Right now, it's a feel thing."

Even if Gates beats the odds and finds a way to play, he's not likely for a big fantasy day. The Week 8 opponent is the Baltimore Ravens, who have been horrid against the pass but give up the third-fewest points to tight ends in ESPN leagues.

Buy: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Jim Mone/Associated Press

Many folks may have gotten burned by Jeremy Maclin's last-minute inactive status in Week 7 as he's battling back from a concussion, but it sounds like all systems are a go for Sunday in London.

His Kansas City Chiefs are traveling across the pond for the league's third European contest of the season, and Maclin appears ready to make his return, as Adam Teicher of ESPN reported:

While Maclin has just one touchdown on the season, he's been heavily featured in his last three games, catching 27 passes in that span and topping the 140-yard plateau twice. That should only continue against the Detroit Lions, who can't stop anything through the air.

Sell: Vincent Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The Week 7 knee injury to Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran wideout Vincent Jackson hasn't proved as daunting as originally thought, but it still may take him some time to return to the field.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, he's not likely to suit up in Week 8 or even the week after:

Jackson emerged as rookie quarterback Jameis Winston's favorite target throughout the early part of the season, but he's caught four balls or fewer in five of his six games. The recent outburst of Mike Evans (164 yards and a score in Week 7) will have the Bucs taking their time on getting Jackson back in the fold.

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