The NFL season is a little less than a month away and fantasy football drafts are already in full swing. The 2010 NFL Draft class is just getting accumulated to training camp as we get our first glimpse of the next NFL stars. Knowing which of these rookies to draft can be an important part of your fantasy team’s success.
Here are the top rookies that will make the biggest impact this year:
Projections are current as of August 2, 2010
Ryan Mathews, RB – Chargers: Ryan Mathews is the early favorite for rookie of the year honors as the successor to LaDainian Tomlinson in the Chargers backfield. Norv Turner has already indicated the former Fresno State running back will get a heavy workload. Projection – 1064 yards rushing 9 TD, 30 receptions for 220 yards 1 TD
Jahvid Best, RB – Lions: Jahvid Best is a poor-man’s Chris Johnson with his electrifying speed in the open field. The Lions face a difficult schedule this year; however, Best will make plenty of big plays and could challenge Mathews for rookie of the year honors. Projection – 924 yards rushing 6 TD, 38 receptions for 299 yards 1 TD
C.J. Spiller, RB – Bills: C.J. Spiller is an all-around player that can also contribute on special teams for the rebuilding Bills. Spiller will be used similarly to Reggie Bush has been for the Saints. Projection – 585 yards rushing 4 TD, 41 receptions for 359 yards 2 TD
Montario Hardesty, RB – Browns: Montario Hardesty was drafted to be the big-back compliment to Jerome Harrison. Hardesty was a late bloomer at Tennessee that struggled with injuries and his best football is ahead of him for the improving Browns. Projections – 737 yards rushing 6 TD, 19 receptions for 140 yards 1 TD
Dez Bryant, WR – Cowboys: Dez Bryant slid down draft boards due to maturity and character concerns. The Cowboys traded up in the draft to add one of the best college wide receivers in recent memory to an already potent Cowboys’ offense. Projection – 46 receptions for 706 yards 5 TD
Mike Williams, WR – Buccaneers: The troubled ex-Syracuse wide receiver fell in the NFL Draft because of character concerns despite having first-round talent. Williams will be under scrutiny, but he has a great situation to become a starting WR for Tampa Bay. Projection – 41 receptions for 580 yards 4 TD
Demaryius Thomas, WR – Broncos: Demaryius Thomas is a high character player with loads of raw talent that was drafted as a replacement for the departed Brandon Marshall. Thomas only has to beat out Jabar Gaffney to get regular targets in Josh McDaniel’s offense. Projection – 39 receptions for 573 yards 4 TD
Golden Tate, WR – Seahawks: Golden Tate, the 2009 Biletnikoff Award winner, would have been a first round selection if he had ideal size for starting NFL wide receiver. Tate will see major snaps in Pete Carroll’s first season in Seattle. Projection – 42 receptions for 519 yards 3 TD
Ben Tate, RB – Texans: Ben Tate enters a training camp battle with Steve Slaton and Arian Foster for the starting running back position on the Texans. Tate fits the Texans’ one-cut running scheme well, but it is uncertain if he can earn signification playing time as a rookie. Projection – 498 yards rushing 4 TD, 16 receptions for 132 yards 1 TD
Arrelious Benn, WR – Buccaneers: Arrelious Benn is a physical player with decent speed that struggled to make big plays in college. Benn is almost assured of a starting spot next to fellow rookie Mike Williams and second-year QB Josh Freeman will be looking his way often this season. Projection – 40 receptions for 530 yards 4 TD
Dexter McCluster, WR – Chiefs: Dexter McCluster will open the season as the slot WR for the Chiefs. For what McCluster lacks in size, he makes up for it in sheer playing-making ability and versatility. Projection – 90 yards rushing 1 TD, 37 receptions for 432 yards 2 TD
Toby Gerhart, RB – Vikings: Toby Gerhart will back up Adrian Peterson with the departure of RB Chester Taylor to the rival Bears. Gerhart could see some action as the short-yardage back. Projection – 343 yards rushing 3 TD, 15 receptions for 105 yards
Brandon LaFell, WR – Panthers: Brandon LaFell will compete with Dwayne Jarrett for the No. 2 wide receiver job this season. The winner of the competition will not make much of a fantasy impact if the Panthers continue to be one of the most run-heavy teams in the NFL. Projection – 26 receptions for 345 yards 2 TD
Joe McKnight, RB – Jets: Joe McKnight was drafted to be the understudy to Tomlinson and provide help in the return game and third downs. McKnight struggled as USC with the Reggie Bush comparisons. Projection – 206 yards rushing 2 TD, 16 receptions for 129 yards 1 TD
Sam Bradford, QB – Rams: Sam Bradford has top-10 fantasy upside down the road as the new franchise QB for the Rams, but he will struggle as a rookie with a poor supporting cast and a rebuilding offensive line. You should not count on starting Bradford on a consistent basis, although, he could be useful in a spot start with a favorable matchup. Projection – 2794 yards passing 13 TD 15 INT, 109 yards rushing 1 TD
Jermaine Gresham, TE – Bengals: Jermaine Gresham has shown the ability to become a true three-down tight end – now the question is can the Bengals find a way to use him despite their history of not featuring the TE in their offense. Gresham missed the entire 2009 season due to knee surgery, but scored 14 touchdowns in 2008. Projection – 35 receptions for 380 yards 3 TD
Jonathan Dwyer, RB – Steelers: Potential backup to Rashard Mendenahll. He has the size to become the featured back if Mendenhall went down with an injury. Projection – 178 yards rushing 2 TD, 6 receptions for 49 yards
Deji Karim, RB – Jaguars: Deji Karim is a small school player with a similar build to Maurice Jones-Drew. Karim will compete with Rashad Jennings for the backup RB position. Projection – 150 yards rushing, 12 receptions for 98 yards
Anthony Dixon, RB – 49ers: Anthony Dixon will compete with Glen Coffee to backup Frank Gore. Dixon is a limited player; however, he can take the punishment as a featured back in Gore misses time due to injury this season. Projection – 124 yards rushing 1 TD, 10 receptions for 73 yards
James Starks, RB – Packers: James Starks is a long-shot to beat out Brandon Jackson for the backup position to Ryan Grant. Starks missed his entire senior season at Buffalo. Projection – 177 yards rushing, 8 receptions for 62 yards
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