For a breakdown of this year's top rookies, click here.

 

Sam Bradford STL - Bradford will start the year watching AJ Feeley from the sidelines according to Rams‘ head coach Steve Spagnolo. Expect the former Sooner to see some action later this season, but not enough to be worth owning in anything outside dynasty leagues.

Jimmy Clausen CAR - The Clausomy Bag will battle with Matt Moore in training camp but seems doubtful to earn the starting job. I’m not a fan of Clausen’s arm or collegiate tutelage, so I wouldn’t even consider him in dynasty leagues -- there’s better options out there.

Tim Tebow DEN - There has to be a reason the Broncos drafted the Chosen One so high in the year. Josh McDaniels will presumably have a special package to utilize Tebow’s talent. If it’s a red-zone package, Tebow could provide some serious returns, but that situation is very unlikely. Leave him off your draft boards.

 

Colt McCoy CLE - McCoy has the potential to be a very effective NFL quarterback, but he won't get a chance to show those abilities this season. He'll watch Jake Delhomme from the sidelines all season long, but should get a crash course in quarterbacking from Cleveland GM and QB guru Mike Holmgren. With his running ability, McCoy has a chance to be a fantasy superstar in the coming years. But if you're in a standard, one year league, stay far far away.

 

Dexter McCluster KC - I get the sense McDonald’s simply paid the Chiefs to draft the Ole Miss speedster in an effort to boost the Mid-West sales of their new McCluster burger. Otherwise, I see no logic in creating the logjam the Chiefs now have in the backfield. Unless Todd Haley is giving up on Jamaal Charles and the recently signed workhorse Thomas Jones, McCluster is the odd man out in KC. Unless a slew of injuries hit KC, stay away. EDITOR'S NOTE: 8/16/10 - It has been announced that McCluster will be the primary slot receiver for the Chiefs. He should now be a nice late WR pick with upside in PPR leagues.

Ben Tate HOU - Tate could very well emerge as the starter in Houston but he has some hurdles in his way. The Texans are still currently rostering Ryan Moats, Steve Slaton, and Arian Foster leaving me to believe he’ll be a time share at best. Gary Kubiak has shown us he has no loyalty to running backs over the years, so even if Tate can earn the starting nod, there’s a good chance he won’t hold it for too long. In deeper formats I would recommend drafting Tate as a high upside sleeper, but if you tie your team’s fortunes to his success it could be a very long season. 

Toby Gerhart MIN - White Lightning will compliment Adrian Peterson’s African-American Thunder, spelling the superstar running back and giving the Vikings a legitimate threat out of the back field. Feel free to pass on Gerhart on draft day in all but the deepest of PPR leagues.

Montario Hardesty CLE - Much like Ben Tate, Hardesty will have a chance to win the starting job in training camp. He’ll compete with incumbent Jerome Harrison and sophomore James Davis for touches. Because of the murkiness of his situation entering camp, Hardesty will slip down draft boards but has the chance to provide some great returns as a late round flyer. He definitely has the largest 2010 upside of all these second tier rookie running backs. EDITOR'S NOTE: 9/3/10 - He'll miss the 2010 season due to injury.

Anthony Dixon SF - Dixon will provide no immediate value, but is a must own as a handcuff for Frank Gore owners. The 49ers gave Glen Coffee a run last year as Gore’s backup, to very mixed results, and I believe the more bruising Dixon has been brought in to compliment Gore’s speed with his punishing, between the tackles running style. Now that San Francisco has upgraded their offensive line, Dixon could post some big numbers should anything happen to the Fragile Frank. 

 

Jonathan Dwyer PIT - It's unlikely that Dwyer will see too many touches this season, unless something tragic happens to Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore. The Steelers love Dwyer's upside can and think he can eventually be the power running back the haven't had since Jerome Bettis retired. Dwyer will go relatively overlooked come draft day, even in keeper leagues, and could be a steal a few years down the road.

Jacoby Ford OAK - Now that JaMarcus Russell has been handed his walking papers, all Raiders’ receivers have been put back in play for fantasy purposes. Ford will compete with Darius Heyward-Bay, Louis Murphy and Chaz Schillins for a starting role when training camp opens, but is unlikely to earn the job. Since these guys only qualify as “capable at best”, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Ford develop some chemistry with new quarterback Jason Campbell and eventually play his way into some consistent playing time. Stay away from him on draft day, but keep him your watch lists as the season starts.  

Marty Gilyard STL - Since the Rams lack depth at all positions, Gilyard has a chance to crack the line up from day one. Just because he may have playing time it doesn’t mean he’ll necessarily have much fantasy value. Just ask anyone who owned Donnie Avery last season. With AJ Feely throwing him the ball, it’s unlikely Gilyard will make much of an impact in 2010.

Taylor Price NE - Torry Holt will start the year opposite Randy Moss but definitely doesn’t have ultimate job security. If Price can impress in practice, there’s a good chance that he’ll get a run at the starting gig once Holt’s decrepit body finally breaks down for good. Tom Brady has a tendency to make anyone look good, so why not Price? Like most of the rookie receivers, pass on Price come draft day and monitor his progress as the season unfolds.

Brandon LaFell CAR - LaFell has a real chance to start along with Steve Smith from day one with the Panthers’ kiddie pool-like depth at receiver. Carolina will remain a run based offense, but LaFell should get some draft day consideration in deeper leagues. Keep him on your radars.

Demaryious Thomas DEN -  I like fellow rookie Eric Decker better for this coming season, but Bay-Bay's physical gifts make him a better selection in keeper/dynasty leagues. Once he can harness all his talents he'll be a stud wideout, but he's still too raw right now. It’s unlikely that Thomas will make much of an impact in 2010, so stay away from Super Freak on draft day.

Mike Williams TB - The Bucs went receiver heavy in the draft this year and Williams was selected as a compliment to Arrelious Benn. Since Tampa is in full rebuilding mode, Williams will get some looks as they try to build an offense for the future. He doesn’t have a pedigree that would indicate a useful rookie season, but crazier things have happened. As most fantasy owners will attest to, a good situation outweighs talent any day and Williams’ is better than most. 

Jordan Shiply CIN - Shiply has a ton of talent, but don’t get your hopes too high for 2010 as he’ll be behind both Ochocinco and Antonio Bryant on the depth chart when the season begins. There’s a good chance that Shiply will see the field as a slot receiver, but won’t get enough reps to have a ton of fantasy value. He’s an interesting add in keeper leagues because of the increasing age of the Bengals’ receiving corps. 

 

Marcus Easley BUF - With no clear favorite to line up opposite Lee Evans this season, Easley could emerge in training camp and take the job away from James Hardy or Josh Reed. He has tremendous speed but is still pretty green when it comes to game experience. If Easley is going to have any fantasy value this season, it will be in the second half after the Bills concede their season and take at look at some of their young talent.

 

Rob Gronkowski  NE - Easily the most fired up player to be selected on draft day, Gronkowski will get a chance to compete from day one after the purge Patriots’ management put on their tight ends in the off season. Anyone who has ever owned Ben Watson, Daniel Graham, or Chris Baker will tell you about the fickleness of tight ends in New England, but a talent like Gronkowski shouldn’t be over looked. Since tight end is very deep coming into the season, Gronkowski won’t be rosterable in most standard leagues. But if he flashes the steady hands he showed Arizona on the practice field, it wouldn’t be unimaginable to see him ending up as a Brady favorite by season’s end. He’ll be inconsistent, like most rookies, but should provide a few big games here and there. Draft him in keeper/dynasty formats, but consider him a bye week filler for the 2010 season.

Ed Dickson BAL - Overlooked in Baltimore’s offensive reinvention this off-season was the selection of BYU’s Dickson. His playing time is tied to the health of Todd Heap, so it’s probably a good bet he’ll see some reps sooner rather than later. With all the weapons the Ravens now boast, Dickson will get a lot of favorable match ups if he can find a way to get on the field. He won’t be selected come draft day but is definitely a ‘watch list’ player from week one on. 

 

Again, for a breakdown of this year's top rookies, click here.