Spike.com Fantasy Five: Recently Injured Players to Avoid | SPIKE

Nobody wants to be the guy who gets laughed at for taking a running back with two broken legs and a family history of Diabetes. Although the NFL preseason is unbearable to watch, there are key fantasy football notes (like injuries) that emerge from these meaningless games. Here are five that you need to know before sitting down at the draft.

Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings (Hip Surgery)

In a shrewd health move, Sidney Rice waited until late August to have a serious hip injury that he likely could have undergone at any point during the offseason. It will reportedly take Rice up to eight weeks to recover. This could mean trouble for all Brett Favre fantasy enthusiasts as well, as Rice was his top target in 2009. Luckily, the Bernard Berrian fan club has plenty of room left on the bandwagon.

Donnie Avery, St. Louis Rams (Knee)

The Rams default number one receiver suffered a gruesome knee injury that will likely end his season in a preseason game against the New England Patriots. So, for those keeping score at home, the Rams will now start a rookie quarterback who just missed an entire college season with a shoulder injury who will be throwing to a collection of receivers who don’t have “Donnie Avery levels of talent.” Hey, Stephen Jackson, how does 38 carries per game sound?

Wes Welker, New England Patriots (Knee)

In point-per-reception leagues it doesn’t get much better than Wes Welker. However, after suffering an ACL tear in the final week of the 2009 regular season, Welker has been off the field and is still recovering. When asked if he felt 100 percent heading into the season, Welker told the Boston Globe “I still feel like I'm a long ways off from that personally. People say it looks the same. I don't feel the same. So I'm not gonna put a number on myself."  Wow, this guy is kind of a downer. 

LenDale White, Denver Broncos (Ankle)

He wasn’t exactly high on people’s draft boards, but the former USC star has been considered a “value pick” by some experts anticipating a small career revival. This still may happen, but unfortunately this resurgence will have to wait another year. ESPN is reporting that White will be out for the season with a serious ankle injury.

Montario Hardesty, Cleveland Browns (Knee)

The talented Tennessee alum entered the NFL with lofty expectations and a chance to become the starting running back on a team with serious “5-11” aspirations. Unfortunately, his rookie season ended in the preseason with a torn ACL that will sideline him for at least six months, making Jerome Harrison a true feature back and Hardesty eligible for a second consecutive “rookie of the year favorite” distinction in 2011.

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