When prepping for your upcoming fantasy drafts, there are several factors to consider. Before drafting your starting lineup, you’ll need to know where each player ranks, and what numbers they can be expected to produce. But beyond the potential scoring totals, consistency is perhaps the most important attribute a player can have.

So, here’s a list of players who, while posing great fantasy potential, could prove to be a risk on the injury front. If you’re going to take any of these guys, be sure to snag a reliable backup.

Carson Palmer, QB – Cincinnati Bengals
Palmer had his worst year as a pro in 2009, with only 3,094 passing yards and 24 total touchdowns to his credit. While these don’t seem like terrible numbers, they’re far from what you’d expect from a top ten quarterback. He was hurt toward the end of last season, but figures to be healthy this year. Beware, however, of his streaky nature.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB – Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger is out. That means that the Steelers will be depending more than ever on their run game. The 23 year-old Mendenhall figures to see the bulk of the carries, despite his ball security issues (three turnovers in 2009). If he does earn goal-line duties in 2010, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with. If not, he could emerge as a good No. 2. Whatever you do, make sure you’ve got some solid help around him.

Kellen Winslow, TE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Yes, he’s got a ton of potential. But he’s playing with a young quarterback, and he’s got a lot of other question marks around him. He’s 27 years old, but has had something like five knee surgeries over the last six years. He’s got the size (6-foot-4, 2400 to make things work, but his health is a major question mark.

- Taylor Maxwell

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Tags | fantasy football, Football, Kellen Winslow, nfl, Rashard Mendenhall