We?ve had a week to digest the NFL draft. While most observers were looking at which teams drafted the best and which teams dropped out, fantasy footballers were wondering which rookies they might like to have on their team. Some of these rookies will come in and make an immediate impact in the league. Others will have a more subtle impact and work their way into the lineup. How much playing time these rookies receive will determine not only their value, but also the value of many other proven veterans who could be high fantasy draft picks. Some of these veterans may lose a lot of value due to rookies stealing precious playing time from them. This is especially troubling in keeper leagues. Rookie Starters This was one of the more impressive drafts in recent years. Several skilled players should step right into major roles with their NFL teams. Some of these guys will be well worth having on your fantasy team. If you?re in a keeper league, these guys could be very high picks. Reggie Bush ? The Texans might have passed on him, but you shouldn?t. Bush will have plenty of chances to score fantasy points for his owners as he is expected to split carries with Deuce McAllister, whose value drops significantly. Bush will be a big target out of the backfield for new Saints QB Drew Brees and at times he?ll line up as a wide receiver. Bush may also be able to get on the scoreboard returning punts and kickoffs. Vernon Davis ? The huge tight end will instantly become Alex Smith?s favorite target in San Francisco. While the 49ers? offense is nothing to write home about, they should improve and they will play against some weaker defenses. Some say Davis may be the next Antonio Gates. That probably won?t happen right away, but he could be a top 5 tight end and have numbers similar to Baltimore?s Todd Heap. Joseph Addai ? The Colts moved quickly to replace Edgerrin James by drafting the LSU running back in the first round. Addai will step right into the league?s most potent offense and could be the feature back. Like James, he?s an excellent pass catcher and should have no problem beating out Dominic Rhodes for the majority of the playing time. Waiting in the Wings These guys may not start right away, but they will be valuable players for their new teams? offenses. Laurence Maroney & Chad Jackson ? The Patriots? top two picks may not be immediate starters, but it won?t be long until they force their way into the lineup. Rated by many as the top wide receiver in the draft, New England was able to grab Florida?s Chad Jackson in the second round. Jackson fills an immediate hole for the Pats after they lost David Givens in free agency. Even if he doesn?t start, New England loves to run 3-, 4- and 5-receiver sets, and you can bet Tom Brady will find the rookie. The Patriots? No. 1 pick was RB Laurence Maroney. Maroney rushed for more than 1,000 yards three straight seasons at Minnesota. He won?t displace incumbent Corey Dillon as the starter right away, but Maroney will get his share of carries and could develop into a very productive NFL running back in no time. He is an excellent mid-round pick ? higher in keeper leagues. DeAngelo Williams ? The undersized running back is the NCAA career leader in all-purpose yards. He will have to battle DeShaun Foster and Carolina?s 2005 top pick Eric Shelton for playing time. Williams will be part of the backfield rotation from the start. Foster and Shelton have both had trouble staying healthy, so Williams could be in line for even more playing time. Santonio Holmes ? The Steelers, like the Patriots, had an immediate need for a wide receiver and filled it with the impressive Ohio State speedster. He should fit in well with the Super Bowl champs and has a great tutor in Hines Ward. Look for Pittsburgh to ease him into the lineup and for Holmes to make his way into the starting lineup by mid-season. LenDale White ? The other USC running back fell to the middle of the second round after a hamstring injury and character questions have come up in recent weeks. On the field, White has been a powerful runner with a nose for the end zone. Tennessee already has two proven backs in Chris Brown and Travis Henry, but both have been susceptible to injuries. Look for White to start the season as the goal-line back and get a chance at the feature back role later in the season. Best of the Rest A few other players to keep an eye on this season include: Leonard Pope ? The 6-foot-8 tight end will be a huge target for Curt Warner and should get plenty of Red Zone opportunities in the Cardinals? new high-powered offense; Sinorice Moss ? The Miami (Fla.) receiver should be an excellent complement to Plaxico Burress for the Giants. Moss will have to fight for catches in an offense that features Tiki Barber, Jeremy Shockey, and Burress; Anthony Fasano ? Bill Parcells hopes Fasano will turn into another Mark Bavaro for the Cowboys. Dallas already has Jason Witten, a solid tight end, but Parcells loves to play two tight ends, and Drew Bledsoe loves to work the middle of the field. The Quarterbacks The there?s the three high-profile quarterbacks: Vince Young, Matt Leinart, and Jay Cutler. I think they will all have productive careers, but just not this season. Young has a chance for playing time with Tennessee now that Steve McNair has left for Baltimore. Billy Volek is ready to step up, however, so Young should be carrying the clipboard this season. Leinart fell to the 10th pick, but he couldn?t have asked for a better situation. The Cardinals are loaded on offense with the best young wide receiver duo in the league ? Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald ? and a stud running back in the newly acquired James. Kurt Warner leads the Arizona attack and still has a good year or two left, but Warner has a history of injuries so Leinart?s time could come sooner rather than later. The Broncos drafted Cutler one pick after Leinart was selected. Cutler will back up Jake Plummer in Denver next year as he is groomed for the starting spot once Plummer wears out his welcome. Keep track of the position battles over the summer and don?t be afraid to take a chance on a rookie that could be a difference maker.
