| We’ve had a week to digest the
NFL draft. While most observers were looking at which teams drafted the best and
which teams dropped out, fantasy footballers were wondering which rookies they might like
to have on their team. Some of these rookies will
come in and make an immediate impact in the league. Others will have a more subtle
impact and work their way into the lineup. How much playing time these rookies
receive will determine not only their value, but also the value of many other proven
veterans who could be high fantasy draft picks. Some of these veterans may lose a
lot of value due to rookies stealing precious playing time from them. This is
especially troubling in keeper leagues.
Rookie Starters
This was one of the more impressive drafts in recent years.
Several skilled players should step right into major roles with their NFL teams.
Some of these guys will be well worth having on your fantasy team. If
you’re in a keeper league, these guys could be very high picks.
Reggie Bush – The Texans might have
passed on him, but you shouldn’t. Bush will have plenty of chances to score
fantasy points for his owners as he is expected to split carries with Deuce McAllister,
whose value drops significantly. Bush will be a big target out of the backfield for
new Saints QB Drew Brees and at times he’ll line up as a wide receiver. Bush
may also be able to get on the scoreboard returning punts and kickoffs.
Vernon Davis – The huge tight end
will instantly become Alex Smith’s favorite target in San Francisco. While the
49ers’ offense is nothing to write home about, they should improve and they will play
against some weaker defenses. Some say Davis may be the next Antonio Gates.
That probably won’t happen right away, but he could be a top 5 tight end and have
numbers similar to Baltimore’s Todd Heap.
Joseph Addai – The Colts moved
quickly to replace Edgerrin James by drafting the LSU running back in the first round.
Addai will step right into the league’s most potent offense and could be the
feature back. Like James, he’s an excellent pass catcher and should have no
problem beating out Dominic Rhodes for the majority of the playing time.
Waiting in the Wings
These guys may not start right away, but they will be
valuable players for their new teams’ offenses.
Laurence Maroney & Chad Jackson –
The Patriots’ top two picks may not be immediate starters, but it won’t be long
until they force their way into the lineup. Rated by many as the top wide receiver
in the draft, New England was able to grab Florida’s Chad Jackson in the second
round. Jackson fills an immediate hole for the Pats after they lost David Givens in
free agency. Even if he doesn’t start, New England loves to run 3-, 4- and
5-receiver sets, and you can bet Tom Brady will find the rookie. The Patriots’
No. 1 pick was RB Laurence Maroney. Maroney rushed for more than 1,000 yards three
straight seasons at Minnesota. He won’t displace incumbent Corey Dillon as the
starter right away, but Maroney will get his share of carries and could develop into a
very productive NFL running back in no time. He is an excellent mid! -round pick
– higher in keeper leagues.
DeAngelo Williams – The undersized
running back is the NCAA career leader in all-purpose yards. He will have to battle
DeShaun Foster and Carolina’s 2005 top pick Eric Shelton for playing time.
Williams will be part of the backfield rotation from the start. Foster and
Shelton have both had trouble staying healthy, so Williams could be in line for even more
playing time.
Santonio Holmes – The Steelers, like
the Patriots, had an immediate need for a wide receiver and filled it with the impressive
Ohio State speedster. He should fit in well with the Super Bowl champs and has a
great tutor in Hines Ward. Look for Pittsburgh to ease him into the lineup and for
Holmes to make his way into the starting lineup by mid-season.
LenDale White – The other USC running
back fell to the middle of the second round after a hamstring injury and character
questions have come up in recent weeks. On the field, White has been a powerful
runner with a nose for the end zone. Tennessee already has two proven backs in Chris
Brown and Travis Henry, but both have been susceptible to injuries. Look for White
to start the season as the goal-line back and get a chance at the feature back role later
in the season.
Best of the Rest
A few other players to keep an eye on this season include: Leonard
Pope – The 6-foot-8 tight end will be a huge target for Curt Warner and
should get plenty of Red Zone opportunities in the Cardinals’ new high-powered
offense; Sinorice Moss – The Miami (Fla.) receiver should be an
excellent complement to Plaxico Burress for the Giants. Moss will have to fight for
catches in an offense that features Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, and Burress; Anthony
Fasano – Bill Parcells hopes Fasano will turn into another Mark Bavaro for
the Cowboys. Dallas already has Jason Witten, a solid tight end, but Parcells loves
to play two tight ends, and Drew Bledsoe loves to work the middle of the field.
The Quarterbacks
The there’s the three high-profile quarterbacks: Vince
Young, Matt Leinart, and Jay Cutler. I
think they will all have productive careers, but just not this season. Young has a
chance for playing time with Tennessee now that Steve McNair has left for Baltimore.
Billy Volek is ready to step up, however, so Young should be carrying the clipboard
this season. Leinart fell to the 10th pick, but he couldn’t have asked for a
better situation. The Cardinals are loaded on offense with the best young wide
receiver duo in the league – Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald – and a stud
running back in the newly acquired James. Kurt Warner leads the Arizona attack and
still has a good year or two left, but Warner has a history of injuries so Leinart’s
time could come sooner rather than later. The Broncos drafted Cutler one pick after
Leinart was sel! ected. Cutler will back up Jake Plummer in Denver next year as he
is groomed for the starting spot once Plummer wears out his welcome.
Keep track of the position battles over the summer and
don’t be afraid to take a chance on a rookie that could be a difference maker. |
