We have reached the pivotal Week 13 which is the end of the regular season in many fantasy leagues.  By now most leagues’ trade deadlines have come and gone, so managing the waiver wire and accumulating depth is the key to your success into the fantasy post-season.  There are some big names with injuries that will certainly affect your league’s standings, so be prepared to have alternatives ready to go.  So without further ado, here is the next edition of the fantasy football walking wounded.

Rob Gronkowski (TE-NE)

Wash, rinse, write about Rob Gronkowski in the injury report, repeat.  As sure as the sun rises in the East, the Patriots star tight end is suffering from some type of malady.  Gronk sustained a back injury during last week’s win over the Jets, but it is unclear whether that will cost him this week’s game against the Rams.  Even if he does play, Gronk should not be expected to produce much at less than 100% as has been the case most of this season.  Many fantasy GMs drafted Gronk in the first round this year and have been “rewarded” with 25 receptions for 540 yards and only three touchdowns in eight games.  Maybe people will learn their lesson next season and not select a tight end with their first pick.

A.J. Green (WR-CIN)

The Bengals season has plummeted over the edge so it will be too late for A.J. Green to be able to make a difference.  He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 11 which looked like it could cost him the season, but now it appears he will return…just not this week.  While Green has not officially been ruled out yet, it seems highly unlikely he will make it back for the Bengals matchup against the Eagles.  This was one catastrophic injury that likely will cost some fantasy GMs a playoff berth with Green missing crucial games at the end of the regular season.

T.Y. Hilton (WR-IND)

Hilton suffered a back injury on Thanksgiving against Pittsburgh but has the fortune of having over ten days to rest up in order to be ready for next Monday night’s game against the Jets.  He didn’t practice yesterday but is expected to return to the field and will have a favorable matchup against the Jets secondary.  Hilton will also have Andrew Luck back on the field throwing to him, so look for an elite performance as he adds onto his 60 catches for 942 yards and five touchdowns.

Jordan Reed (TE-WAS)

Reed, the oft-injured elite tight end, finds himself back on the injury report with a separated shoulder that could cost him this week’s game against Arizona.  He sustained the injury on Thanksgiving against Dallas and is day-to-day at this point.  He will clearly be limited in practice if he is able to even return later in the week.  The Redskins need him on the field and fantasy GMs need him in their lineups, so this will be a very key injury to monitor as the days go on.

Lamar Miller (RB-HOU)

Miller re-aggravated an ankle injury this past week against San Diego but should be ready to go for Week 13 against Green Bay.  He has been banged up most of the season, and over the course of his career.  While Miller has played in all of Houston’s 11 games, he has missed time sporadically with a variety of injuries.  That being said, he is still a RB1 option this week against a Packers defense that had been scorched for four weeks in a row prior to their win over the Eagles this past Monday.

Andrew Luck (QB-IND)

Luck missed the Colts game on Thanksgiving due to being in the concussion protocol but is just about to be cleared and ready to go for Week 13.  The timing of the injury could not have come at a worse time since the Colts had a quick turnaround last week playing on Thursday.  However, he will be back on the field on Monday night against a dejected Jets team that cannot get out of its own way.  Look for Luck to have a big game in prime time as the Colts fight for their own playoff lives.

Jordan Matthews (WR-PHI)

Matthews suffered a sprained right ankle during Monday night’s loss to Green Bay and missed most of the second half.  Right now it appears that the injury will not cost him this week’s game against Cincinnati, but Matthews is nothing more than a WR3 or Flex option in deeper leagues as the Eagles offense has sputtered over the past few weeks.  The alternatives to Matthews are not appetizing so stay away from the Eagles wide receivers if possible.

Chris Ivory (RB-JAX)

Ivory had been gaining some momentum over the past few weeks as a RB2 option, but that comes to a screeching halt after he left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury.  He had gained 55 yards and scored a touchdown against Buffalo before leaving, so fantasy GMs were teased with a potentially elite game from him.  Even if he plays this coming week, he will have a very poor matchup against a great Denver defense so you may want to avoid the entire Jaguars backfield including T.J. Yeldon.

John Brown (WR-ARZ)

What can Brown do you for?  If you are referring to John Brown in a fantasy league, then the answer is absolutely nothing.  There were high expectations for Brown coming into the season, but he has been battling injuries all year and has lost his place as one of Carson Palmer’s go-to targets.  The embattled wide receiver has just 31 catches for 399 yards and only one touchdown this year, and his status for Week 13 is questionable at this point due to a hamstring injury he suffered this past Sunday.  He should not be relied upon in any capacity against Washington.

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Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and is also the co-host of the Fantasy Alarm podcast. You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment),