If you follow NFL odds, the words “questionable,” “doubtful,” “injured reserve” or “physically unable to perform” keep you up at night, right? That’s understandable – when star players get hurt, our favorite teams’ odds can shift significantly. Who are the five most injury-prone players in the NFL?

Before we begin this list of NFL picks, you should know that:

* “Nicked up” guys don’t count. Ben Roethlisberger always has some sort of malady but he rarely misses a game.

* Low-impact players don’t count. So what if Willis McGahee is made of glass? He’s a second-stringer at best on his team right now.

Let’s begin! Hopefully I don’t suffer an upper-body injury while typing this list.

5. Brandon Jacobs, halfback, New York Giants

When you’re 6’4” and 264 pounds, you run over guys. But you’re also a huge target that can’t avoid taking big shots. Jacobs gets battered and bruised every season and missed eight games over 2007 and 2008.

4. Steve Smith, wide receiver, Carolina Panthers

He’s a phenomenal talent but he’s as small as go-to wideouts come at 5’9” and 185 pounds. His body can only take so much jostling around and he misses a few games very season. He’s also a loose cannon – a ticking time bomb ready to go off any second and get suspended. Anyone who punches out his teammates can’t be counted on to play a full season.

3. Reggie Bush, halfback, New Orleans Saints

Few players polarize fans like Reggie Bush. He gets them butting heads like Couture and Nogueira in the UFC 102 fight card. Is he a bust as a featured back? Is he a dynamic, versatile scat back? At least everyone agrees on one thing; he’s brittle. I suppose I’d dance around behind the line of scrimmage too if I knew every hit would shatter me to pieces.

2. Matt Schaub, quarterback, Houston Texans

He’s the definition of a “handle with care” player, so important to Houston’s offense because of his vision and accuracy. The Texans desperately need him to stay healthy if they want a shot at their first playoff berth. Unfortunately, that’s highly unlikely for Mr. Glass. He’s missed five games in each of his two seasons as a starter. I’m betting management is second-guessing itself for trading Sage Rosenfels.

1. Bob Sanders, safety, Indianapolis Colts

You can count on a few things every year from Bob Sanders: Pro-Bowl-caliber play, superb run-stopping ability from the safety position and significant time missed due to injury. Sanders has played six games or fewer in three of his five seasons. He’s a walking chandelier.