Fantasy Football 2011: 25 Players Sure to Drive You Mad in 2011

Fantasy football is one of the more frustrating games to play, especially when players like Frank Gore turn your first-round investment into an injury-ridden 4-9 season.

It's difficult to understand for people that don't play the shameless game.

For fantasy owners, however, it is easy to empathize with a friend that just lost his star wide receiver to suspension.

Let's take a look at 25 players that are sure to piss you off in some way this season. 

Michael Vick

Michael Vick will do great things for both the Philadelphia Eagles and your fantasy team in 2011.

The only problem is, he will make both the Eagles and fantasy owners hold their breath when he scrambles out of the pocket. You might find yourself yelling at the television screen as Vick flies through the air, reaching for the pylon.

In the end, as long as he avoids injury, you will get over it. 

Donald Brown

The Indianapolis Colts usually draft very well, but Donald Brown is an exception.

He has simply proven he cannot produce in the league, with a 3.8 career yards per carry average.

He will likely see some action this year, and if he gets a chance to start like he did last year, you will likely give him another chance in your fantasy lineup.

That will surely be followed with a poor performance that has you asking yourself why you thought Brown could actually produce like a fantasy starter.

Darren McFadden

Darren McFadden will be great in 2011, leading the rushing attack for the Oakland Raiders. Still, he is known to have nagging injuries that will have you pulling your hair out.

You might be frustrated by the fact that he will be a game-time decision far too often. Or maybe you will be upset with the few games he actually does miss.

Either way, McFadden will be a roller coaster ride that will have you puking at some point along the ride.

Thomas Jones

Thomas Jones is still listed as the starter for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Clearly, Jamaal Charles will be featured, but his fantasy owners will hate Jones once again this year. Jones steals far too many carries from Charles, including some goal line looks.

Charles will undoubtedly have a great season, but Jones's presence will frustrate fantasy owners.

Marion Barber

Marion Barber has gotten the nod as the backup running back for the Chicago Bears.

Matt Forte is known to struggle converting goal line carries. Barber is known as a goal line, short yardage specialist.

That sounds like Forte owners will be losing out on some touchdowns this season.

Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler will only piss off fantasy football owners if they actually trust him.

He will likely have some sporadic outbursts against easy opponents. If you trust him to follow up a 20-point performance with a similar level of play, you will be mistaken.

He is the most inconsistent quarterback in the league and will piss you off if you trust him.

DeSean Jackson

DeSean Jackson keeps defensive coordinators awake at night. Still, his fantasy value comes via big plays, and big plays alone.

He will win games for you with 200-yard weeks. It isn't unlikely that he will follow that up with a 30-yard game.

That will piss you off.

Pierre Thomas

Pierre Thomas has been the most frustrating fantasy football player over the last three years.

He blew up at the end of 2008, skyrocketing his value in 2009 fantasy drafts. Then, his role diminished as the 2009 season wore along.

He was seen as a great value pick in 2010 drafts, but an injury that was originally projected to take a week or two to heal turned into a near season-ending injury.

He has already pissed off owners over the last couple of years. If you draft him this year, make sure you know what you're getting yourself into.

Brandon Jacobs

Brandon Jacobs is stuck in between a rock and a hard place from a fantasy perspective.

Ahmad Bradshaw overtook the starting role for the New York Giants. Yet, Jacobs still gets a decent amount of touches every game.

He is on the cusp of being relevant, but there simply aren't enough carries to make both him and Bradshaw fantasy starters.

That's frustrating.

Danny Amendola

Danny Amendola had 85 catches for the St. Louis Rams last season, but still struggled to produce as a fantasy player.

He only averaged 8.1 yards per catch.

The high number of catches will entice you, but the lack of yards and touchdowns will piss you off.

Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton is going to ruin the fantasy relevance of the entire Cincinnati Bengals offense in 2011.

Cedric Benson, when he gets out of jail, will struggle with eight man fronts.

Those that believe in A.J. Green will be furious with Dalton.

He is a rookie, but fantasy owners don't have time for potential to play itself out.

Peyton Hillis

Peyton Hillis will be a victim of the Madden curse in 2011.

He is a fullback playing running back. People forget that he was simply blocking and catching balls out of the backfield in college while Darren McFadden and Felix Jones carried the ball.

Hillis will not be able to handle the length of the season; fantasy owners will get bitten by the curse once again.

Drew Brees

Fantasy owners will love having Drew Brees on the roster, but the same cannot be said for those that have New Orleans Saints' wide receivers in the lineup.

Brees spreads the ball around like a magician.

It bodes well for the Saints and their ability to win games. It doesn't bode well for your fantasy team if you have a Saints wide receiver in the lineup.

Kevin Kolb

Kevin Kolb could have Larry Fitzgerald's fantasy owners calling for a quarterback change by season's end.

Yes, Kolb is a huge upgrade from what Fitzgerald had last year. Still, as we have already seen in the preseason, he has some work to do with his accuracy.

Fitzgerald owners will be quick to blame Kolb for any and every incompletion headed Fitzgerald's way.

Jonathan Stewart

The Carolina Panthers rushing attack makes fantasy owners sick, as they attempt to feature both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Williams just got paid by the team and will likely have a larger role than Stewart in 2011.

Still, Stewart's role will not diminish completely.

In fact, he will probably have a large enough role to piss off all Williams owners. 

Shonn Greene

Shonn Greene's value has steadily risen as the 2011 NFL season approaches.

LaDainian Tomlinson is expected to have a minimized role this season, with Greene acting as the featured back.

So, why will Greene piss you off this year?

He isn't as good as we think he is, meaning that he will not live up to lofty expectations as No. 2 fantasy back.

C.J. Spiller

C.J. Spiller may be on a Darren McFadden-type career path.

He didn't really pan out as a rookie, and Fred Jackson has secured the starting role.

If you select Spiller, you are stashing him on your bench, hoping he breaks out at some point this year. He will only piss you off by wasting a roster spot that could used on the waiver wire.

Give him one more year.

Alex Smith

There is a ton of talent on the San Francisco 49ers offense, but Alex Smith will end up dragging it down in 2011.

He has proven to be a bust since being selected first overall in the 2006 NFL Draft.

That won't stop you from getting pissed at him for overthrowing Braylon Edwards, Michael Crabtree or Vernon Davis.

Beanie Wells

Despite the injury of Ryan Williams, fantasy owners will be extremely frustrated with Beanie Wells in 2011.

He was overvalued in 2010 fantasy drafts, yet his stock seems to be rising despite the fact that he has proven he cannot be successful as a feature back.

Wells has every opportunity to succeed in Arizona. The problem is that he is not built to be a solid back that can contribute on your fantasy team.

Frank Gore

Frank Gore is set up for failure with the San Francisco 49ers.

He has a terrible quarterback, and the wear and tear of being in NFL running back is finally getting to him. His carries have diminished over each of the last five years.

This will be the year that he misses a significant portion of the season. It might piss you off enough to finally drop him on your rankings before next year's draft.

Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford is the quarterback of the future for the St. Louis Rams. Still, he seems scared to throw the ball down the field.

The offense will slowly move its way down the field with dink and dunk passes. It may work for the Rams, but it won't work for your fantasy team.

Michael Bush

Darren McFadden is frustrating in his own right, but Michael Bush's presence doesn't help.

Bush gets enough carries to warrant a roster spot. Yet, he is not valuable enough to start, and he eats into McFadden's value every time he touches the ball.

That double whammy will frustrate you all year.

Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush will get another chance at stardom as a starting running back with the Miami Dolphins.

Everyone remembers when former Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green found out that the Bears were "who we thought they were." Bush may simply not be what we thought he was, unless you trick yourself into the rejuvenation plan of 2011.

If you do, be prepared to get pissed off at Bush.

Hines Ward

Some people like that Hines Ward smiles all the time.

For others, it simply pisses them off.

Whether he is on your fantasy team racking up mediocre numbers, or simply taking up playing time of the promising Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown, Ward is sure to piss a lot of people off in 2011.

Mike Tolbert

Mike Tolbert looks nothing like an NFL running back. Still, that hasn't stopped him from becoming a touchdown vulture and near full-time guy for the San Diego Chargers.

Ryan Mathews will piss you off with his unfulfilled potential. That blame will likely get shifted onto the shoulders of Tolbert for taking playing time away from the young back.