2010 Cafe Rookie Rankings - 1 comments

Football has only just begun to get underway in preparation for the 2010 season, but the Cafe faithful have had their collective nose to the grind all off-season. Now that most rookies are settling in with their new teams, we’re proud to bring you the Cafe’s Rookie Rankings for 2010. Here you’ll find the top 40 fantasy rookies for next season according to several knowledgeable Cafe members, including Rookie of the Year favorites Ryan Mathews, Javhid Best and Dez Bryant. Who’s too high and too low? Let us know in the comments section.

Player	Position	TM	Average
Ryan Mathews	RB	SD	1.11
The Chargers traded up for Mathews, and you should do the same in your rookie draft. He has the perfect blend of talent and opportunity to be a fantasy force.
Jahvid Best	RB	DET	2.67
Like Mathews, Best was good enough that a team traded up to get him, and like Mathews, he’s in line for a high number of carries in his first season. Don’t let Kevin Smith’s potential return scare you.
Dez Bryant	WR	DAL	2.78
Bryant is a phenomenal talent and is capable of one day being a top 10-15 fantasy wide receiver. Bryant still has a lot to prove, so it’s a bit premature to call him the next Calvin Johnson just yet, but he has huge upside in that Cowboys offense.
C.J. Spiller	RB	BUF	4.11
This was a questionable pick made by the Bills, and even though Spiller was the highest RB or WR drafted this year, landing with the Bills and teaming up with Fred Jackson hurts Spiller’s stock for this year. He’s clearly behind the top three guys.
Ben Tate	RB	HOU	5.22
He will be given opportunities, and if his hands were better out of the backfield he would be a top-three pick.
Demaryius Thomas	WR	DEN	5.56
Thomas is an extraordinary talent, but I consider him a bit raw at this point. He is in the perfect situation, though, as the Broncos grabbed Tim Tebow and the two can mature and build a strong rapport together.
Montario Hardesty	RB	CLE	7.33
Montario Hardesty lacked power at his college playing size but he has put on some weight this off-season. I have my doubts about him entering his rookie season due to others being ahead of him but I admit my opinion is starting to change.
Arrelious Benn	WR	TB	8.78
Benn’s college days did not show off his true potential, but what can you expect with Juice Williams throwing — or attempting to throw — him the ball.
Sam Bradford	QB	STL	9.67
Number one picks are almost always pressured to take the field as soon as possible, and things will be no different with Bradford. He doesn’t have the upside of a guy like Matt Ryan in his first season, and don’t expect more than QB2 value.
Golden Tate	WR	SEA	9.78
The ultra-productive Golden Domer will bring his game to Pete Carroll and his former rival coach Pete Carroll. What Tate lacks in measurables he makes up for in production, and he has the chance to be a fantasy contributor for a long time.
Dexter McCluster	WR	KC	12.22
McCluster has big play ability, and in PPR leagues I would rank him much higher, but it still needs to be seen how he fits into the offense.
Jonathan Dwyer	RB	PIT	15.67
Don’t call me crazy: this will be a surprise pick if you take him, but it should reap rewards. He has an awesome skill set and shouldn’t have fallen to the sixth round, but Pitt will give him a chance.
Jermaine Gresham	TE	CIN	16.33
The draft’s top TE talent lands in an offense that has lacked a play-making tight end for quite a while. Carson Palmer should look to immediately get Gresham involved in the offense, and he could be a red-zone asset as a rookie.
Jimmy Claussen	QB	CAR	17.33
Only reason I don’t have him in the top 10 is because of Matt Moore, but if he beats Moore out right away he is instantly a top 7-8 pick. Best overall franchise QB.
Damian Williams	WR	TEN	19.22
Sleeper pick here. Britt should be the No. 1, but Williams will start off in the slot and has a great chance to challenge for the No. 1 role. Great route runner with good hands.
Brandon LaFell	WR	CAR	20.22
Gets knocked because of his speed, but he’s going to be playing on the field with one of the fastest WRs in the game. LaFell’s build, jumping ability, and especially his above-average blocking ability will put him on the field early.
Toby Gerhart	RB	MIN	20.33
He will be Adrian Peterson’s backup, and unless there’s a significant injury, Gerhart will see a few touches, but nothing like veteran Chester Taylor saw. He is still a tough runner without top speed, but very quick and has good feet for a kid his size.
Taylor Price	WR	NE	21.89
Price has top-notch speed and great athleticism. He came from a no-name school, but he is far from being a no name. Don’t be scared to take him, as the Pats have confidence in him as a top-90 pick.
Andre Roberts	WR	ARI	21.89
Roberts is a solid receiver for where he was drafted. Initially, Roberts will compete for that third receiving spot on the Cardinals’ roster, but don’t be shocked if Roberts unseats Steve Breaston in good time.
Anthony Dixon	RB	SF	22.00
Glen Coffee failed to give San Francisco the right complement to Frank Gore, so now it’s Dixon’s turn to try and fit the bill. He has the size to be utilized immediately in short-yardage situations and save Gore a little wear and tear.
Marty Gilyard	WR	STL	22.33
Mike Williams	WR	TB	22.56
Joe McKnight	RB	NYJ	24.11
James Starks	RB	GB	24.89
Aaron Hernandez	TE	NE	25.22
Rob Gronkowski	TE	NE	25.56
Emmanuel Sanders	WR	PIT	25.78
Eric Decker	WR	DEN	25.78
Tim Tebow	QB	DEN	26.11
Colt McCoy	QB	CLE	27.00
Jimmy Graham	TE	NO	27.22
Jordan Shipley	WR	CIN	28.33
Carlton Mitchell	WR	CLE	29.56
LaGarrette Blount	RB	TEN	29.67
Deji Karim	RB	JAC	31.22
Dezmon Briscoe	WR	CIN	31.22
Marcus Easley	WR	BUF	31.33
John Skelton	QB	ARI	31.78
Charles Scott	RB	PHI	32.11
Riley Cooper	WR	PHI	32.22

Big thanks to Cowboys 4 Life and bazzy_51 for helping with the comments for the top 20 players, and to Flux, Indibuck, aaawall91, bungle613, dream_017, and Kareighuis along with the two writers for joining me in submitting rankings.

R.J. White is a fantasy blogger at the sports site FanHouse. Check out his work both here and there, and feel free to talk to him in the forums, where he posts under the name daullaz.

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