10 Injury-Prone Players Who Will Terrorize Fantasy Football Owners
10 Injury Prone Players Giving Fantasy Owners Fits in 2013
With a little over a week left before the 2013 NFL season kicks off, people all over the country are assembling their fantasy football teams. These would-be general managers are juggling rosters in an attempt to be crowned champion of their particular league.
Just like real general managers, fantasy owners must contend with something extremely important -- injuries. As much as we hate the word and the very thought of losing a player to injury, we all realize it is a part of the game.
Teams have lost out on the chance to possibly contend for a Super Bowl because a key person went down to an injury. For instance, many people would argue that the Cincinnati Bengals had a legitimate shot at competing during the 2006 playoffs. However, Carson Palmer got injured in the first game of the playoffs.
These injuries also have an adverse effect on the fantasy teams these players are accosted with. Sometimes the injury is severe enough that the manager must cut him from the team. There are, however, those injuries in which a player will only miss a couple of games during the season. These are the injuries that can drive fantasy owners crazy as they have to figure out how to juggle their roster to accommodate the injured player.
It's bad enough when an injury happens, but it's even worse when it happens to someone who seems to be injury-prone. In every draft, there's that one player you know you should stay away from, but instead decide to go ahead and take a chance with. Here is a list of 10 injury-prone players who could cause owners problems this season.
10: Rashard Mendenhall
At the end of the 2011 season, Mendenhall tore his ACL. Last season, he only played in six games and this preseason has already seen him miss time due to knee tendinitis in the same knee. Mendenahall will skip the final preseason game and is saying he'll be ready for the season opener. This knee problem might be something to watch out for, though, if you have him on your team.
9: Ahmad Bradshaw
Bradshaw is coming into the 2013 season fresh off of foot surgery. The last two seasons, Bradshaw hasn't been able to play the entire 16-game schedule. With foot problems that seem to constantly haunt him, hopefully the surgery will fix this. If not, it could be a disappointing season for fantasy owners.
8: Sidney Rice
When healthy, Rice is a decent receiver to have on your team. Last season, he played all 16 games. However, in 2010 and 2011, he played six and nine, respectively. Rice is already starting this season with some knee problems and it could be a sign of things to watch out for.
7: Antonio Gates
Gates seems like a stretch to put on this list, I know. However, the tight end has had to watch some games from the sidelines due to injury every now and again. It's these games that are maddening as a fantasy owner. His seven points could have been the deciding factor in winning your matchup, but instead you took a loss.
6: DeMarco Murray
After two seasons in the league, Dallas Cowboys fans are wondering when they will enjoy an injury-free year from their star running back. Murray has the potential to be an outstanding featured back if he can stay away from the injury bug.
5: Arian Foster
Foster has been amazing with the football since he came into the league. He is the third-fastest player to reach 5,000 yards from scrimmage as he did it in only 40 games. However, in his three seasons, he has shown some signs of injury. Foster aggravated his hamstring twice during the preseason in 2011 and had to sit out certain games that season due to the injury. This season, he's already spent some time on the PUP list and he's been dealing with a slight back injury as well.
4: Rob Gronkowski
Late last season, Gronkowski broke his arm during a game against the Indianapolis Colts. After several surgeries to repair the arm, and now some back problems, he's still not ready to play. The Patriots are hoping for a week three return at this point. This causes a potential nightmare for fantasy owners the first few weeks of the season. He is one of those players you don't want to cut because he's so good.
3: Ryan Mathews
In three years in the league, Mathews has yet to play an entire season for the San Diego Chargers. Possessing a lot of potential, Mathews keeps giving fantasy owners the hope that he will be healthy for an entire season. If healthy, he could finish the year with over 1,000 yards rushing as he did during his 14-game campaign in 2011. If not healthy, owners could find themselves trying to trade this starting running back.
2: Darren McFadden
Many people had high hopes for McFadden coming out of the University of Arkansas. Drafted No. 4 overall by the Oakland Raiders, fans hoped he would be the player to help turn around a struggling franchise. It hasn't happened. Turf toe in his first season and a torn meniscus in his second, and fans started realizing how injury prone he might be. In five seasons, he has yet to play all 16 games for the Raiders. It almost seems evident that at some point in the season he's going to miss time for some injury. Owners hope it's for one game, rather than four or five.
1: Michael Vick
Since returning to football in 2009, Michael Vick has missed 17 games with the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick is the ultimate "drive a fantasy owner crazy"-type player. He will bust out and have a monstrous game and get a lot of points. However, somewhere along the way, there will be an injury suffered that will keep him out of the next game. Whether it be a shoulder injury, leg problem or a concussion, Vick has had more than his share of problems staying on the football field.
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