The 2009 rookie class may not have stepped on an NFL football field yet, but it is never to early to project where these guys should land on fantasy rosters this summer. The limited information we do have on these guys — what they did in college and where they landed in the NFL Draft — is just enough to get out some early rankings for fantasy owners.
Not to say that these rankings will not change, because they certainly are fluid. More so, in fact, than any veteran player fantasy rankings out there on the internet or anywhere else right now.
Rookie camps will come and go in a few weeks and hopefully all of these guys will come away unscathed and with a few more answers. But until training camps start this summer and preseason games give fantasy owners some film, projecting which rookies will have the best situations is pure conjecture.
Still fun, however, and a good primer for which guys to keep an eye on this summer. Enjoy after the jump.
Quarterbacks
1. Matthew Stafford, Lions
2. Mark Sanchez, Jets
3. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers
4. Pat White, Dolphins
5. Nate Davis, 49ers
6. Tom Brandstater, Broncos
7. Mike Teel, Seahawks
8. Keith Null, Rams
9. Rhett Bomar, Giants
10. Stephen McGee, Cowboys
Quick hits: Stafford has the better long-term potential, so dynasty owners take note, but Sanchez may be better short-term because of a better team around him. Miami says they are going to give White a chance to play QB, and the dude is too ridiculously gifted physically to ignore. Two guys I love because of where they ended up — Davis and Brandstater. No pressure on either guy to start now, both have time to soak in the NFL game and have shots down the road. Teel never impressed me in college, but is one Matt Hasselbeck injury away from an opportunity — provided he can beat out Seneca Wallace.
Running backs
1. Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells, Cardinals
2. Knowshon Moreno, Broncos
3. Donald Brown, Colts
4. Shonn Green, Jets
5. LeSean McCoy, Eagles
6. Andre Brown, Giants
7. Rashad Jennings, Jaguars
8. Gartrell Johnson, Chargers
9. Glen Coffee, 49ers
10. P.J. Hill, Saints
Quick hits: The difference between Wells and Moreno is situation. Wells will be the featured back in Arizona, Moreno will share some time with other backs. When it is all said-and-done in 10 years, I would not be the least bit surprised if Donald Brown had the best career of all these backs. McCoy is slipping despite being the heir apparent to Brian Westbrook in a productive system, while Rashad Jennings gains ground as the No. 2 back behind Maurice Jones-Drew. Off-the-field problems aside, P.J. Hill could carve out a niche as the Saints’ short-yardage and goal line back as early as week one with a good summer.
Wide receivers
1. Michael Crabtree, 49ers
2. Hakeem Nicks, Giants
3. Percy Harvin, Vikings
4. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
5. Kenny Britt, Titans
6. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Raiders
7. Brian Robiski, Browns
8. Juaquin Iglesias, Bears
9. Ramses Barden, Giants
10. Austin Collie, Colts
Quick hits: Do not love where Crabtree ended up, but he still has the best skill set of any receiver in this draft. I have a feeling Harvin is going to shock people this year with his skills as a pass catcher and especially after the catch. Maclin is a strange fit in Philly but should be productive if he follows orders. Heyward-Bey may have been first off the board last weekend, but his fantasy stock is diminished by an under-achieving franchise. Could Iglesias become Jay Cutler’s favorite target? If Nicks does not work out for the G-men, Barden is cut from the same mold. I like Collie’s production in college and the situation he falls into as a longer-term dynasty project with the Colts.
Tight ends
1. Jared Cook, Titans
2. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions
3. Shawn Nelson, Bills
4. Chase Coffman, Bengals
5. Cornelius Ingram, Eagles
Quick hits: Cook was not brought in to block anybody, the dude is a beast as a target in the passing game. Pettigrew was the first tight end taken in the draft but will have to compete for targets with Calvin Johnson and Kevin Smith among others. The Bills needed a pass-catching tight end and may have gotten one, but Nelson still is a work in progress. What Carson Palmer has lacked all these years in Cincinnati is a decent tight end; Coffman could be that guy. And if Ingram returns favorably from a season-ending knee injury he suffered early last season, he will give incumbent starter Brent Celek a run for his money because we all know D-Nice loves to throw to the tight end.
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