The 1 Player Every NFL Team Can't Afford to Lose in 2011

There really is no way to avoid injuries in the NFL.  They happen to every team, and you have to have the depth to overcome them to have a successful season.  Every year there is one team that loses that one guy that makes them tick and they are not able to live up to the expectations they had for themselves heading into the season.

Baltimore Ravens: RB Ray Rice

Ray Rice has rushed for more than 2,500 yards in the last two seasons.  He is the focal point of the Baltimore offense that wants to establish the run before putting the ball in the air.

Cincinnati Bengals: WR A.J. Green

The Bengals are going to rely on A.J. Green to stretch the field and open things up for Cedric Benson in the running game.  A rookie quarterback needs a stud receiver to rely on, and that is exactly what Andy Dalton has in Green.

Cleveland Browns: RB Peyton Hillis

Colt McCoy played pretty well in his first season, and that was in large part due to the success of Peyton Hillis running the ball.  McCoy wouldn't be so successful without that threat in the backfield.

Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger

The Steelers have one of the best defenses in the league, but they won't go as far as they are expecting to go without Ben Roethlisberger under center.

Houston Texans: WR Andre Johnson

Andre Johnson is the key cog in Houston's high-powered offense.

Indianapolis Colts: QB Peyton Manning

The Colts might be one of the worst teams in the NFL without Peyton Manning as their quarterback.

Tennessee Titans: RB Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson is the most explosive player in all of football.  The Titans don't have much on offense if he isn't on the field.  Good thing his holdout is finally over.

Jacksonville Jaguars: RB Maurice Jones-Drew

The Jaguars don't have a good option at quarterback in 2011.  If they are going to be successful at all it is going to be on the legs of MJD.

Buffalo Bills: DT Marcell Dareus

Marcell Dareus is only a rookie, but he is the anchor of the Bills' defensive line.  There will be a lot of holes for opposing running backs if he isn't out there.

Miami Dolphins: WR Brandon Marshall

The Dolphins lost Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams in the offseason.  They don't have a good answer at quarterback, and their offense will stall if Brandon Marshall isn't on the field.

New England Patriots: QB Tom Brady

The only year the Patriots have missed the playoffs in recent memory is the year Tom Brady was injured.

New York Jets: CB Darrelle Revis

Having Revis Island out there allows Rex Ryan to be more creative with his defensive packages.

Denver Broncos: QB Kyle Orton

With Kyle Orton it isn't as much how good he is. It's how bad the guys behind him are.  The Broncos don't have another quarterback on their team that can win games in the NFL right now.

Kansas City Chiefs: RB Jamaal Charles

Jamaal Charles established himself as one of the most dangerous players in the league last year.  The Chiefs offense needs him to stay healthy to compete against the Chargers in the division.

Oakland Raiders: RB Darren McFadden

Darren McFadden finally became the star last year the Raiders thought they were getting when they drafted him.  Oakland will need a healthy year from McFadden to make a push in the AFC West.

San Diego Chargers: QB Philip Rivers

The Chargers want to throw the ball all around the yard, and Philip Rivers has to be healthy in order for them to do that well.

Chicago Bears: RB Matt Forte

Matt Forte is a good runner and an excellent receiver out of the backfield, which is a key in the Mike Martz offense.

Detroit Lions: QB Matthew Stafford

There are a lot of high hopes for the 2011 version of the Detroit Lions, but they aren't going anywhere if they can't keep Matthew Stafford healthy this season.

Green Bay Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback in a quarterback-driven league.  His health is key to the Packers' quest for back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

Minnesota Vikings: RB Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson is one of the two best running back in the league, and Donovan McNabb is going to rely heavily on him this year.

Atlanta Falcons: QB Matt Ryan

The Falcons have a lot of weapons on offense this season, but they can only reach their full potential with a healthy Matt Ryan.

Carolina Panthers: DE Charles Johnson

The Panthers will be in transition on offense with rookie QB Cam Newton, so they are going to rely heavily on their defense to win games.  That defense can only be good with a healthy Charles Johnson.

New Orleans Saints: QB Drew Brees

The Saints are very good on offense, but they wouldn't be that way without the services of Drew Brees.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Josh Freeman

The Buccaneers are expected to push the Saints and the Falcons in the AFC South, but they won't do that without Josh Freeman.

Dallas Cowboys: QB Tony Romo

You don't need to look any further than the 2010 Cowboys after Tony Romo's injury to see how important he is to the team.

New York Giants: QB Eli Manning

The Giants have a high-powered offense that all runs through Eli Manning's arm.

Philadelphia Eagles: QB Michael Vick

This 2011 "Dream Team" is only good as long as Michael Vick stays healthy.

Washington Redskins: LB Brian Orakpo

Brian Orakpo has 19.5 sacks in the last two seasons, and the Redskins need him healthy to win this season.

Arizona Cardinals: WR Larry Fitzgerald

Larry Fitzgerald got a huge contract this offseason.  The offense goes through him.

San Francisco 49ers: LB Patrick Willis

Opposing offensive coordinators have to account for Patrick Willis on every play.  The 49ers defense wouldn't be nearly as good without him.

Seattle Seahawks: WR Sidney Rice

The Seahawks offense will go through Sidney Rice in 2011.

St. Louis Rams: QB Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford is one of the best young quarterbacks in the league, and the most import player of the St. Louis Rams.