NFL Rookies Worth A Look In Your Fantasy Football Draft

Since rookies have no prior NFL stats to go by, you need to look at the position they play and the team they play for to gauge whether or not you should draft them for your fantasy football team. Last year there were some big fantasy performances from rookies and this year will be the same.
Rookie quarterbacks should almost never be taken in a fantasy draft. It's true that Vince Young put up some nice fantasy numbers last season, but it was all later in the season and was due to his running ability as much, if not more, than his passing. JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn are the big name rookie QBs this year. Since the Raiders could very well go with Daunte Culpepper or Josh McCown as their starter, Russell probably won't see much action this year. Quinn could very well be Clevelands starting QB soon, but at best is a free agent pick up later in the NFL season if you're desparate.
Running backs have the best chance of putting up solid fantasy football numbers. Last year had RBs such as Reggie Bush, Joseph Addai, Laurence Maroney, and Maurice Jones-Drew putting up good fantasy stats despite the fact that all of them shared carries with another RB. The rookie running back most likely to carry the load for his team this year is Buffalos' Marshawn Lynch. With Anthony Thomas as his only competition he could be a solid mid round pick. The Viking's Adrian Peterson will be splitting carries with Chester Taylor this year but still may have some big games now and then. The Packers' Brandon Jackson and the Titans' Chris Henry are 2 other rookie RBs that could end up carrying the load for their teams.
Wide receivers usually don't perform big in their rookie years even though Marquis Colston came up big last year and wasn't selected in most fantasy football drafts. However, a rookie WR the talent of the Lions' Calvin Johnson doesn't come along very often. He's 6-5 with 4.35 speed and plays in an offense run by Mike Martz, so there will be a lot of yards through the air to go around. Johnson's the safest rookie fantasy pick this year. Other WRs that have some fantasy potential this year are the Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe, the Chargers' Craig Davis, the Saints' Robert Meachem, and the Colts' Anthony Gonzalez.
At tight end the only rookies of note are the Raiders' Zach Miller and the Bears' Greg Olsen. Neither of them will likely be selected in most fantasy drafts. Miller could be free agent pick up later in the season if you have TE problems.