Do You Trust Me? Injury Prone Players!

Injury Prone Players!

There is nothing worse than taking on injury prone players at the most important positions in fantasy football, with all the the right moves you make there is nothing that can stop the INJURY BUG!… Or is there? The only way to limiting injuries is to shy away from a team full of injury prone players. In this article we are going to take a look at some injury prone fantasy players with some fantasy value heading into the 2009 season.

Can Schaub stay healthy for fantasy owners in '09?

Matt Schaub—If there was one player in fantasy football who could explode or bust in '09, it’s QB Matt Schaub. The one problem with this guy is injuries, if he can maintain his health for a whole season he should be primed to take the next step in his career and post sick totals (top five potential) for fantasy owners.

During the last two seasons injuries to Schaub have cost fantasy owners 10 games.  Schaub was recently wearing a protective boot on his foot after tweaking his ankle in a preseason game against the Vikings, reminding fantasy owners  Schaub is INJURY PRONE!

Reggie Bush—Everyone and their Grandmother can see an injury hitting Reggie Bush this season. Since '07 Reggie has had major problems staying healthy, missing a total of 10 games over the last two seasons. With his potential to rack up all purpose yards, he could be a fantasy stud if he could maintain his health over the course of a season.

With Bush being limited through the offseason workouts and training camp this year, he should be a fantasy scare for most owners in the upcoming season. Bush should be in the lineup for the final preseason game against Miami, so fantasy owners will be holding their breath when he touches the football, in hopes he can stay healthy and shake off the injury prone label he has earned in his tenure in the NFL.

Marques Colston—Another New Orleans Saint gets his dues in the injury prone category. With Marques Colston getting a fair bit of attention over the course of the summer in drafts, one thing is certain….HE CAN'T STAY HEALTHY! Colston has all the makings of a top 10 WR, but he is yet to show he can play an entire year without hurting or injuring himself throughout the course of a full season. With his elite talent he should be on every-ones wish-lists in drafts this summer, that is if you trust him to lead your WR core.

So far Colston looks to be healthy this preseason, so continue to draft him accordingly, but don't be surprised to see him hurting at some point in the season and missing a few games for your fantasy team. It seems to happen every year with this talented WR for the New Orleans Saints. If he and Bush could get through a full season, you could find yourself a couple of fantasy studs with Drew Brees at the helm of the offense.

Colston will try playing his first season in the NFL without missing a game due to injury.

Willis McGahee—I can’t count the amount of times I have seen this player carted off the field because of an injury. McGahee is the prime example of the injury prone label, his ability to get injured led the team to believe he is nothing more than a change of pace RB behind Ray Rice. If McGahee were to stay on the field he could produce seeing as he has talent, but he has shown us time and time again that his injuries are the number one reason he lost his job to the younger RB out of Rutgers.

This offseason he has been getting praised for his mentality and production in the workout rooms during the offseason, but fantasy owners who took a gamble on McGahee should be biting their nails off when he gets the ball, because he is simply an injury waiting to happen. Don’t waste your time with this guy! His situation screams RBBC and Rice is younger, better and determined to make a name for himself this year…you should already know this though!

Willie Parker—With Parker it’s all about staying on the field. When he is in shape and ready to roll, he is a fantasy commodity in a run-first Pittsburgh offense. The only problem with Parker has been the showing of wear and tear over the past couple of years, whether it be his back, ankle, shoulder he just can’t seem to stay healthy lately.

With Parker starting the season as the unquestionable No.1 RB in Pittsburgh, he should see a fair amount of touches in his sixth season and produce at a high level (barring injury). With Mendenhall stealing some touches this year it should bode well for Parker in a RBBC, he should be able to get rested on the sidelines and hopefully shake the injury prone label he is starting to get in fantasy circles this summer. In fantasy it all comes down to what have you done for me lately, and Parker hasn’t done much for owners (11 games in '08) besides nursing a string of injuries.

Notables to watch who should be fine in '09

Jonathan Stewart—Achilles Tendon

Steve Breaston—Knee

Tashard Choice—Shoulder

Carson Palmer—Ankle                                                 

Anquan Boldin—Hamstring

Knowshon Moreno—Knee

Tom Brady—Shoulder

Jerious Norwood—Knee                                   

Jabar Gaffney—Thumb

Roy Williams—Collarbone

Mark Clayton—Hamstring

Greg Jennings—Concussion

Daunte Culpepper—Toe

Fred Jackson—Wrist/Thumb

Brandon Jackson—Shin

Kyle Orton—Finger

Deangelo Williams—Knee 

Rashad Jennings—Groin

Matt Cassel—Leg 

Bernard Berrian—Hamstring

Pierre Thomas—Knee

Brandon Jacobs—Forearm

Shonne Greene—Ribs

Chaz Schilens—Foot

Santonio Holmes—Back

Donnie Avery—Foot

Antonio Gates—Soreness

Mark Bulger—Finger

Antonio Bryant—Knee

Michael Crabtree—Foot

Nate Washington—Hamstring

Clinton Portis—Rib

Antwaan Randle-El—Ankle