Fantasy Football 2011: 25 Chronically Injured Players To Avoid

Fantasy football is without a doubt one of the most popular things every fall. Millions and millions of football fans across the world have a fantasy football draft to select the top skill-position players for the season: quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, a defense and special teams unit and a kicker. 

This season, here are 25 players that I would recommend avoiding in fantasy football drafts. They are players that have been injured more than a few times in their career and cannot really be counted on to stay healthy for the 2011 season.  

Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints

Marques Colston has never started more than 14 games in a season. He missed five games in 2010 and eight in 2008.

He's also had five knee surgeries in the last five years. Colston has still averaged around 70 catches and 1,000 yards per season, but he's had some issues staying healthy. 

Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis Colts

One word: concussions.

Austin Collie is one of the top young wide receivers in the NFL, but he has been hampered by concussions, notably in 2010. With the recent rules regarding concussions and player safety, one or two in 2011 could sideline him for a significant portion of the year. 

Donovan McNabb, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Donovan McNabb has struggled with injuries throughout his entire career. He actually didn't miss any games in 2010. 

But he missed two in 2009, two in 2007, six in 2006, seven in 2005 and six in 2002. 

He's 34 now and will likely suffer at least one minor injury this season. 

Reggie Bush, RB, Miami Dolphins

Reggie Bush suffered through an injury-plagued 2010 season, in which he played in just eight games. He has played in just 60 games in five seasons.

And he is expected to be the full-time running back for the Miami Dolphins this year. That has injury written all over it. 

Steve Smith, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Smith was just signed by the Philadelphia Eagles a few hours ago, making him the sixth Pro Bowl player added by Philly in the offseason.

But Smith played in just nine games, catching 48 passes. He had knee surgery in the offseason and is expected to miss part of the 2011 season.

Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Vick is one of the best and most exciting quarterbacks in the National Football League.

But his style of play leaves him prone to injuries. He missed three starts last season and would have missed the season finale with a leg injury if he hadn't been rested.

He might play in 15 or 16 games this season. But I think there's a reason why the Eagles brought in a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback as the backup. 

Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders

McFadden has played in 38 games over three seasons. He's been consistent, playing in 13, 12 and 13.

He has a bone fracture suffered in training camp and is expected to miss a few weeks, which may (or may not) carry into the 2011 season. 

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

Is it strange to list a player on the "avoid" list when he won Super Bowl MVP and has missed just one start in his NFL career?

Maybe.

But Rodgers suffered a pair of concussions last season and missed a crucial start late in the season.

He could put up MVP numbers again. But he might miss time with more concussions.  

Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers

Mathews, a rookie in 2010, played in just 12 games and carried only 158 times. 

He has already been injured once this preseason. Those two instances alone should be enough to reconsider drafting him in 2011 or at least waiting until he proves that he can stay healthy for a full season. 

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

This No. 1 overall draft pick just can't stay healthy.

Matthew Stafford played in 10 games in 2009 and three in 2010. He's won exactly three games in two seasons.

He might be ready for a 25-touchdown, 15-game season in 2011, but he also might have a six-touchdown, three-game campaign again. 

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers

DeAngelo Williams' six-game turnout in 2010 earned him a huge contract. Incredible.

He's 28 and not getting any younger. Thankfully, he is sharing the workload with Jonathan Stewart, but I still wouldn't draft him in 2011. 

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Jeremy Maclin has not been chronically injured, but the Eagles' wide receiver has missed all of training camp in 2011 with an undisclosed illness. 

That alone is absolutely a reason to not pick him in 2011. After all, I think there's a reason why the Eagles signed wide receiver Steve Smith today. 

DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Jackson has missed just three games in his career. But he missed two last year when Falcons' cornerback Dunta Robinson absolutely leveled the 5'10", 175-pound wide receiver.

I think a big reason for Jackson's holdout at the beginning of training camp is because he knows that with his size and build, his career could be over on any hit. 

Kevin Kolb, QB, Arizona Cardinals

He's barely played thus far in his NFL career, but quarterback Kevin Kolb suffered a concussion on a massive hit by Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews in the 2010 season opener. That hit cost him his starting job.

As the full-time quarterback for the Cardinals, it would be a stretch to see him playing in all 16 games in 2011. 

Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis Colts

You should absolutely not select Anthony Gonzalez in fantasy football. Absolutely not.

The Colts' wide receiver played in one game in the past two seasons, and no, that's not a typo. He's missed 31 of the past 32 games with injuries. 

Interested? Me neither. 

Chris Ivory, RB, New Orleans Saints

Chris Ivory was named the Saints' starting running back a few weeks into the 2010 season.

He played very well but was banged up frequently and suffered a foot injury in the season finale that caused him to miss the postseason. 

He is back on the PUP list this preseason. 

Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts

All that Peyton Manning has done in his 13-year NFL career is play in every single game. He's never missed a game, not one.

And I have him on the "do not draft" list? Yeah. I do.

Manning had neck surgery this past offseason for the second straight year. Reports indicate that he could miss the entire preseason.

This is the year his streak ends. Count on it. 

Terrell Owens, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

T.O. has actually remained relatively injury-free throughout his career. 

Now, he's 37 years old, almost 38, and is expected to miss the entire preseason with a knee injury. I would stay away from a 37-year-old receiver with knee problems. 

David Garrard, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

The 33-year-old David Garrard missed two games last season and has played in 16 games just twice in his career.

His potential injury problems, plus the addition of quarterback Blaine Gabbert to the team, make Garrard an easy guy to pass over in your fantasy football draft. 

Chad Pennington, QB, Miami Dolphins

The 35-year-old quarterback has played in just four games in the last two seasons. 

He is also expected to miss a significant portion of the 2011 season, if not the whole season.

The former two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year may spend 2012 trying to win the award for a third time (if he ever starts again). 

Plaxico Burress, WR, New York Jets

Plaxico Burress is such an obvious choice to avoid. 

The 34-year-old wide receiver has not played since the middle of the 2008 season. He is already questionable for the first preseason game of the year.

I would be very surprised if Plaxico Burress remained healthy for the entire 2011 season. 

Chris Cooley, TE, Washington Redskins

Except for missing nine games to injuries in 2009, Chris Cooley has remained very healthy throughout his NFL career.

But he is expected to miss the majority of the preseason and possibly the start of the regular season. 

Clinton Portis, RB, Washington Redskins

The 30-year-old Portis has played in just 13 games and has only 178 carries in the last two seasons. 

He's aging, no longer a productive running back and remains very injury-prone. Avoid him. 

Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams

Steven Jackson usually misses a few games each season: one in 2005, four in 2007, four in 2008 and one in 2009.

He's 28, which isn't tremendously old for a running back, but with all of that mileage on him, I wouldn't be surprised at all if this is the year that he breaks down.  

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo missed 10 games last season with a broken left clavicle. He missed three games in 2008 with a broken finger.

He's had trouble staying healthy, which may be the reason why the Cowboys underachieve most seasons.

At age 31, Romo wouldn't be my choice at quarterback.