Fantasy Football Rankings 2012: Analyzing Top Stars Owners Must Avoid

It's not always who fantasy football owners should draft, but often who they shouldn't draft that's important to remember when building a team.

Although some big-name stars are projected by many to shine all season long, there are key points to remember and consider before pressing the draft button or shouting out that name. 

Whether it's because of injury, contract situation or a new location, these players should be avoided in order to guarantee fantasy success. 

Here we rank the top stars that fantasy owners must avoid in 2012.

3. Vincent Jackson, WR

A new team in 2012 will spark a decline in production for wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Jackson caught 60 balls for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns last season in San Diego. However, he will find scoring opportunities much harder to come by in Tampa Bay, where Josh Freeman will be throwing him the ball, not Philip Rivers. Freeman threw 22 interceptions to just 16 touchdowns in 2011.

The Buccaneers aren't the sort of team to air the ball out like the Chargers, and that means fewer opportunities for Jackson to make fantasy game-changing plays. Although most fantasy forecasters rank Jackson among the Top 20 wideouts this season, he looks to be a big risk based on the fact that this is his first season with a new team. 

2. Michael Vick, QB

As we've seen already in just two preseason games, Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Michael Vick is as injury-prone as they come in the NFL. Whether Vick is smashing his finger on an offensive lineman's helmet or diving head first into a linebacker, he is constantly getting banged up.

Vick had a less than stellar season in 2011, and 2012 doesn't look much more promising based on the fact that he is already getting lit up in August. Although he presents a dual threat under center for fantasy owners, and can score points in a variety of ways, the risk is not worth the reward in this case.

Vick only scored 19 touchdowns in 2011, and racked up less than 4,000 yards of total offense through the air and on the ground. Unfortunately, his highlight reel plays don't earn big points in fantasy football.

1. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB

Sure, Jacksonville Jaguars' running back Maurice Jones-Drew led the NFL in rushing yards last season with over 1,600. But there are no guarantees that MJD will even be playing early in the regular season, considering that he has been holding out all summer and just recently said he was open to being traded. 

The uncertainty surrounding MJD this summer makes him a dangerous star to pursue for fantasy owners. It would be a shame to waste an early draft pick on a player who may not play all 16 games in 2012. Not to mention that the Jaguars' quarterback situation in 2011 made handing the ball to MJD the obvious decision on nearly each and every down. Defenses will make it their mission to stop the Jags' run first this fall.

There is also the potential that Jones-Drew's workload will come back to haunt him in 2012. He carried the ball nearly 350 times last season, and won't be performing at a high level much longer if that continues.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter all season long for more fantasy football reaction and analysis.