Featured Fantasy Football Article
Best 2009 Rookies
The Fantasy HuddleThe Best Rookies for 2009
1. Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings - That's right, folks. Go big or go home, I say! Most prognosticators are predicting one of the two running backs that immediately follow Harvin on this list for fantasy Rookie of the Year, but I am going out on a purple limb with the Vikings dynamic new playmaker. So far during the preseason we have seen but a glimpse of what Harvin will be asked to do once the real games start (i.e. when the Vikings unleash him). Percy will be lined up out wide, in the slot, in the backfield as a halfback, and as quarterback in the Wildcat. He'll also return kicks. There have been a handful of mental mistakes this preseason, but there have been even more glimpses of his enormous potential. His speed and quickness are eye-popping. At the very minimum, I expect Harvin to catch two or three passes a game for maybe 45 to 50 yards. Throw in a couple reverses, handoffs, or runs out of the Wildcat per game for 15-20 yards on average. Now add that together and you are already over 1,000 yards from scrimmage. Factor in an occasional pass and, for those of you in leagues that score return yardage, several lengthy runbacks and the numbers start piling up quickly. With Brett Favre, Bernard Berrian, Visanthe Shiancoe, and Adrian Peterson commanding the attention of opposing defenses, Harvin won't be double-teamed very often. Considering I suspect we'll see a few long, highlight-making runs to the house along the way, I see no reason why Harvin can't soar way past 1,000 yards from scrimmage in addition to anywhere from four to eight touchdowns. It's not the most popular pick, but Harvin's my ROY. Now he just needs to keep his nose clean.
2. Chris Wells, RB, Cardinals - The ankle injury he suffered on the first day of training camp cleared up enough for Beanie to play in the last two preseason games. He took 10 handoffs, averaged 5.7 yards per carry, and scored two touchdowns. The Cardinals offensive line might not be as awful as we thought and Beanie may very well shove Tim Hightower out of the starting lineup by Week 2.
3. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos - Moreno would likely have been the top player on this list were it not for the fact that he suffered a sprained knee in his preseason debut and missed the final three fake games. He returned to practice wearing a red ;no contact" jersey this past week and does not have time to claim the starting job before their Week 1 game against the Bengals. He'll start the season on the bench and share time with Correll Buckhalter and Peyton Hillis until he is ready to carry the load.
4. LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles - McCoy led the Eagles in rushing yards, receiving yards, and touchdowns during the preseason. And if nothing else, he is the single most important handcuff player in fantasy football this season. If and when Brian Westbrook gets hurt again, McCoy could explode.
5. James Davis, RB, Browns - Davis has been arguably the most impressive rookie during the preseason. He had the exact same number of carries (24) as Jamal Lewis—Davis rushed for 186 yards with his handoffs while Lewis tip-toed to 63 yards with his. You don't have to listen very carefully to hear the whispers that Davis will be replacing ol' Jamal sooner rather than later.
6. Mark Sanchez, QB, Jets - I can't say I wasn't impressed with the way Sanchez looked Thursday night in connecting on all five of his passes against the Eagles, including a 21-yard scoring strike to Jerricho Cotchery. This year's Matt Ryan? Not likely. But he looks like a serviceable No. 2 fantasy quarterback for sure.
7. Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions - It looks like Stafford may have to start in Week 1 by default due to Daunte Culpepper's toe injury. If he does, he may never give the job back. And any quarterback who has Calvin Johnson to throw footballs at deserves a certain amount of fantasy respect, even if they are only a rookie.
8. Glen Coffee, RB, 49ers - Coffee grounded out 230 yards on 38 carries to lead the NFL in preseason rushing through three pretend games. He will take home that prestigious exhibition season rushing crown if he gains 20 more yards tonight against the Chargers. You can bet Frank Gore will be taking some Coffee breaks this season.
9. Donald Brown, RB, Colts - Brown averaged 6.1 yards-per-carry and scored the Colts' only rushing touchdown of the preseason. Joseph Addai will be Indy's starter in Week 1, but if Brown keeps out-performing him that could easily change by midseason.
10. Ryan Succop, K, Chiefs - What's wrong with having a kicker on the list? Succop may have been Mr. Irrelevant, but he has also won the Chiefs starting kicking job and therefore has a chance to outscore any rookie on this list in 2009.
11. Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants - Don't look now but Nicks is leading the NFL in preseason receiving yards (272) and is second in touchdowns (3). The hip injury he sustained in the preseason finale sounds like no big deal, but when he starts lining up with the first-team offense he will be a big deal. And that could happen sometime in September.
12. Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, Browns - Massaquoi has outperformed fellow rookie Brian Robiskie this summer and will see a lot of time with the first team offense at flanker opposite Braylon Edwards in Week 1.
13. Bernard Scott, RB, Bengals - The Bungles ran the ball pretty well this preseason. I'm guessing that's more mirage than trend given the fact that Cedric Benson will open the season as the starter in the backfield. Once he falters, and he will, Scott is next in line.
14. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Eagles -Maclin led the Eagles in receiving yards this preseason with 129 on 11 catches and it looks like he'll be the No. 3 wideout and No. 1 kick and punt returner for the Eagles to start the season.
15. Shonn Greene, RB, Jets - Greene led the Jets with 45 yards on nine carries in their preseason opener, but suffered cartilage damage in his ribs in the second game and missed the rest of the preseason. He'll start the season on the pine behind Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. He's no Danny Woodhead!
16. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Lions - Pettigrew finally made his preseason debut last week and caught three passes over the final two preseason games. His thigh injury appears to be a thing of the past, and he is definitely the tight end of the future in Motown. That future could start right away in Week 1.
17. Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Raiders - I have reason to believe Heyward-Bey stopped dropping everything thrown his way as evidenced by the two receptions next to his name in the preseason stats. DHB is in the Raiders starting lineup right now and may be there to stay as long as he continues to stop treating pigskins like flaming porcupines.
18. Mike Goodson, RB, Panthers - Goodson rushed for 197 yards and a touchdown and also caught eight passes this preseason. There's a chance he could open the season as the backup to DeAngelo Williams since Jonathan Stewart will apparently never be healthy ever again for as long as he lives.
19. Austin Collie, WR, Colts - It looks like Collie is going to be the No. 3 wideout in Indy ahead of Pierre Garcon... and eligible receivers in the Colts offense have been worthwhile fantasy players for as long as Peyton Manning has been at the helm.
20. Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers - How the mighty have fallen! Crabtree could very well have been No. 1 on this list had he just bothered to sign his contract like every other rookie. As it stands, he might not play this season. Even if he signs right now as you read this, it may be too late for him to make a meaningful impact in 2009. Stay hot.
Just missing the cut:
Chase Coffman, TE, Bengals
Rashad Jennings, RB, Jaguars
Kenny Britt, WR, Titans
Brian Robiskie, WR Browns
Josh Freeman, QB, Buccaneers