Fantasy Football Rankings 2012: Injured Stars from 2011 That Will Rebound

Darren McFadden is going to have a big year. The Oakland Raiders rushing attack has been solid for the past three seasons, but DMC has been healthy for only portions of those campaigns to take advantage.

He was having a great year in 2011 before he was sidelined with a Lisfranc sprain. Through seven games he had rushed for 614 yards, but then came the injury. Now he is healthy and ready to put up great fantasy numbers. He showed in the Raiders' first preseason game that he's ready to be a major weapon.

He picked up 38 yards in Oakland's first three plays from scrimmage.

Carson Palmer promptly threw an INT to end the drive, but that also works in McFadden's favor from a fantasy standpoint. The Raiders have a new offense, and Palmer is showing signs of struggle.

Oakland could be leaning heavy on the run again this season.

That will bode well for fantasy owners of McFadden. Here are two other stars returning from injury but set to make huge fantasy impacts.

Adrian Peterson

Peterson tore his ACL and MCL late last season, but he is the type of back and player that isn't a bad bet to recover and rebound. 

When Peterson is right, we all know what type of force he can be on the field. But many fantasy owners will be wary of choosing him early.

I wouldn't take him in the top five, as I normally would, but if you get AP as your second RB—or even your first, if your selection isn't close to the top—he will be a steal.

Matt Schaub

Schaub finished the season out of the Texans lineup, and he had to watch his team get eliminated from the playoffs. He suffered his own Lisfranc injury late in the 2011 season.

He's back and healthy this season, and he's ready to resume his torrid statistical pace.

He had thrown for at least 4,300 yards and 24 TDs in his last two years with the Texans before last season. Even in a season cut to 10 games, Schaub threw for 2,479 yards and 14 TDs.

This season he should be back on course, especially considering that he should have a healthy Andre Johnson to throw to.

I'm expecting a huge year from Schaub.

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