Marc has the week off, so I am stepping in today to take care of this week’s Rookie Report.

And since I am in charge of this week’s report, it is OK that the story is now two days late because, well, I am busy.

I drafted my sixth and final fantasy football team last night. The league is being hosted by NFL Juice and features some heavy hitters. Hopefully I will do well in the league as it might help spread The Hazean’s great name across the web.

Speaking of fantasy football teams, there still is time to submit your fantasy football team’s name for our bragging rights-only contest. The winner will be announced next week before the start of the regular season. Stay tuned for the poll in which you can vote for the best fantasy team name.

Alright, enough sidetracking. Hit the jump for this week’s Rookie Report.

Kevin Smith [RB, Lions]: Many are touting the young Smith potentially as the best immediate fantasy option of all the rookie runningbacks in this class. While he did rip off a nice 35-yard touchdown run in last week’s preseason game against the Bengals, consider this: His other nine carries went for a grand total of 10 yards.

I would expect that type of inconsistency all season from Smith, who compared himself to Adrian Peterson earlier this week. Yeah, right. The Lions’ offensive line is not a great run-blocking group and the team’s passing game may be its strength. Besides, Detroit is expected to be playing from behind often this year, which means more Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams, and less Kevin Smith.

Jonathan Stewart [RB, Panthers]: Stewart, meanwhile, had been taking a lot of heat from critics and fantasy pundits alike for his absence during preseason. He had been sidelined most of training camp and preseason while recovering from a toe injury, which allowed Panthers’ incumbent runningback DeAngelo Williams to grab the reigns on the Carolina running game.

But Stewart made his much-anticipated debut last week and did not fail to impress. He finished the game with 10 carries for 100 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown romp. But Williams battled back with nine carries for 101 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown.

This battle will live on through the regular season, and it would wise for fantasy owners to grab Williams if drafting Stewart.

Dustin Keller [TE, Jets]: Keller may be the only rookie tight end with fantasy value at this point. The acquisition of Brett Favre to the Jets’ passing game has breathed life into the team’s aerial attack.

Keller has picked up five receptions since Favre joined the Jets, including a touchdown from Favre two weeks ago. While I would not recommend drafting Keller in a standard redraft league, he is worth keeping an eye on the first few weeks of the regular season. He could make a nice bye week filler later in the season, much like Greg Olsen did last year with Chicago.