Fantasy Football Rookie Report

[Smizzy]

The following is a look at the 2006 rookies who will have the most impact for the upcoming season.

QUARTERBACKS

1. Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals

It's a toss-up between Leinart and Vince Young for who has the most fantasy potential this year. Young possibly has a better chance of playing because Billy Volek isn't as good as Kurt Warner is, and the Titans are more inclined to rebuild than the Cardinals, who appear ready to make a playoff push. But Leinart is a more NFL-ready quarterback and Kurt Warner hasn't played but two full seasons his entire career.

2. Vince Young, Tennessee Titans

Young should get at least some time to play this year, if not the majority of the games. But he's still raw and doesn't have a lot of weapons around him and will probably be as bad if not worse than Alex Smith was last year.

3. Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos

Cutler has little to no chance of making any kind of fantasy impact this year. Jake Plummer is fully entrenched as the team's starter for the forseeable future. Barring an injury or horrendous play, Cutler will remain on the bench.

RUNNING BACKS

1. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints

Bush can conceivably win the starting job from Deuce McAllister and earn the bulk of the carries, but don't be too quick in ruling out McAllister as a solid fantasy player this year. When McAllister was drafted with Ricky Williams already on the team, McAllister played sparingly but yielded the starting job to Williams. Bush will have some fantasy impact this year, but unless you're in a keeper league, he's not worth picking up until you have at least two running backs on your team, maybe three.

2. LenDale White, Tennessee Titans

It won't be long before Chris Brown finally plays himself out of position. He runs too upright and has bad overall mechanics, which is partly to blame for his injury past. Since the Titans may go with a rebuilding year by playing Vince Young anyway, the team also may give White some extra carries.

3. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts

Addai was taken in the first round by the Colts to compete with Dominic Rhodes for the starting role left vacant by Edgerrin James. The smart money says the veteran will win the starting job leaving Addai as a situational back, but in the Colts' high-powered offense, Addai will get plenty of chances.

4. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers

The Panthers have had a shaky backfield, particularly during last year's playoff run. Williams will start behind DeShaun Foster on the depth chart, but given Foster's injury history, Williams could eventually see significant playing time this year.

5. Laurence Maroney, New England Patriots

Maroney is a bit of prospect in that he doesn't always play aggressively and consistently. Corey Dillon is still the starter, and unless Dillon goes down with another injury, Maroney doesn't have much fantasy value.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers

Holmes was drafted to replace the departed Antwaan Randle-El but will definitely lack the versatility that Randle-El had. Still, in a weak draft class for receivers, Holmes will probably make the biggest impact because he's playing for the defending Super Bowl champions.

2. Sinorice Moss, New York Giants

Moss is the younger brother of Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss, who had a spectacular -- and somewhat unbelievable -- season last year. This Moss figures to be the slot receiver to help give the Giants' offense an extra speed dimension. If Manning has the type of season he had last year -- or better -- Moss figures to at least make a moderate fantasy splash.

3. Chad Jackson, New England Patriots

Jackson will get an opportunity to start if he earns it, and playing with Tom Brady can't hurt. But he'll have a ways to go before he can be considered a decent fantasy player.

TIGHT ENDS

1. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

It was a deep draft for tight ends and Vernon Davis is the best of the bunch. He could have been an excellent fantasy tight end had he not been drafted by the woeful 49ers. However, he'll still be the #1 target on his team and will put up adequate backup numbers.

2. Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lewis will help upgrade a position of need for the Jaguars and he'll be an important target to help take pressure off the receivers now that Jimmy Smith retired. With Reggie Williams and Matt Jones expected to struggle, Lewis could be a big red zone target.

3. Leonard Pope, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals have too many offensive weapons -- yes, I really said that as hard as it is to believe -- for Pope to make much of a fantasy impact this year. But he's definitely a talented player and he's worth taking a look at in deeper and keeper leagues.

4. Joe Klopfenstein and Dominique Byrd, St. Louis Rams

The Rams took two tight ends in back-to-back rounds, desperate to find one that can help upgrade the passing attack. Klopfenstein is a solid receiver who will go over the middle, but lacks the blocking skills to be an every-down player. Byrd, meanwhile, will do anything asked of him and consistently plays to the best of his ability, but he lacks the explosiveness to be an impact player.