Fantasy Baseball Sleepers 2012: Chase Utley and Injury-Prone Studs to Avoid

Every season, fantasy baseball owners waste valuable draft picks on players with a very little chance of reaching peak value due to injuries. Those selections tend to sink an entire team because the big production that was expected never arrives.

Let's take a look at three injury-prone stars who are better off getting left for somebody else at the draft table. Also, with each potential bust, there's a possible sleeper to consider instead.

Carl Crawford

A wrist injury continues to slow down Crawford following the worst season of his professional career. Expectations were through the roof after his move to the Boston Red Sox, but he turned out to be a bust for the Sox and fantasy owners alike.

While he did manage to squeeze out 130 games last season, the speedster only swiped 18 bags. The lack of elite steal numbers makes him an even more risky choice because without dominating that category, his value takes a massive hit.

Boston will likely play it safe with him after seeing how much the injury slowed him down, so it's impossible to know exactly when he'll be ready to play. There are too many question marks to use a mid-round pick on him.

Sleeper Replacement: Colby Rasmus

Chase Utley

Utley has missed at least 47 games in each of the past two seasons and is already dealing with a knee injury which leaves him doubtful to be ready for Opening Day. That should immediately raise red flags for fantasy owners.

The Philadelphia Phillies star didn't have the same pop even when he did manage to play last season. It's logical to think all of the injuries are starting to take a collective toll on him not only physically, but mentally as well.

Second base is a weak position, so owners feel compelled to take a chance on Utley, but the chances he returns to an All-Star level are low. Let somebody else deal with the headache.

Sleeper Replacement: Ryan Roberts

Justin Morneau

Unlike Utley and Crawford, Morneau is actually taking part in Spring Training and should be ready to roll on Opening Day barring any setbacks. That said, the Minnesota Twins first baseman's history of concussions is worrisome to say the least.

He's played a total of 150 games over the past two years, and one hard knock will lead to another extended stay on the disabled list. If first base weren't so loaded with talent he might be worth a late-round flier, but there are so many sluggers that he's not worth a roster spot to start.

Owners can't afford subpar production from first base, so pinning any hope on him bouncing back to have a monster season would be a chance you're better off not taking.

Sleeper Replacement: Paul Goldschmidt