Fantasy Football: 5 Lingering Injuries That Could Affect Your Playoff Roster

As the 2011 fantasy football season winds down, no enemy is more dangerous to the success of a fantasy squad, no foe more bent on the ruination of your aspirations of fantasy glory, than a significant injury to one of your star players.

However, it doesn't take a season-ending injury to derail a fantasy juggernaut, as nagging injuries can cause just as much damage and even prolong it over the course of several weeks, as the fantasy owners of this handful of dinged-up stars can surely attest.

1. Adrian Peterson: RB, Minnesota Vikings

It's very possible that no injury so far this season will send shock waves through the fantasy football world of the magnitude rocking fantasy today, as Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was carted off Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders with an apparent ankle injury.

Should the injury prove to be a serious one, it would be a crippling blow to the playoff aspirations of Peterson's fantasy owners, as it's nearly impossible to overcome that significant an injury to that huge an asset this late in the season.

2. Michael Vick: QB, Philadelphia Eagles

As if things couldn't get any worse for the reeling Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Michael Vick is now suffering from two broken ribs sustained in a Week 10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and will be replaced in the starting lineup, at least temporarily, by Vince Young.

A prolonged absence from the lineup isn't just a blow to Vick's fantasy owners but would have a negative impact on the Eagles' passing game as a whole, meaning hits to both the also-injured Jeremy Maclin and wide receiver DeSean Jackson as well.

3. A.J. Green: WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Rookie wide receiver A. J. Green has had an exemplary first season in the NFL, reeling in 41 catches for 635 yards and six touchdowns and emerging as the preferred target of quarterback Andy Dalton for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Green hyper-extended his knee in last week's loss to the Pittsburgh's Steelers and was sidelined for the Bengals' huge AFC North showdown with the Baltimore Ravens.

Should the injury keep him shelved for any period of time, it will leave a big hole in not only the Cincinnati receiving corps but also in many fantasy lineups.

4. Darren McFadden: RB, Oakland Raiders

After getting off to a rock-solid start to the 2011 season, Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden was bitten hard by the injury bug, suffering a foot injury that has cost the fourth-year veteran three games and counting.

Prescient fantasy owners that handcuffed Michael Bush to McFadden haven't felt too many ill effects, as Bush as performed admirably in McFadden's absence, but those unfortunate souls who haven't are praying that McFadden makes it back onto the field before their fantasy seasons are toast.

5. Julio Jones: WR, Atlanta Falcons

Another rookie wide receiver that was making serious hay in his first season in the National Football League, Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons has averaged nearly 17 yards a reception and become a viable downfield threat for the Falcons.

Jones has also had troubles with hamstring pulls this season, including being held out in Week 11 due to a sore hammy.

Those are the sorts of nagging injuries that can give fantasy owners a great deal of anxiety as the playoffs draw near.