After the Hazing, these Rookies will Perform

In fantasy football, there is a general rule of thumb that you avoid the rookies until they prove they can handle the pressure of the NFL and prove they can put point on the board. We look at a few that you can safely draft knowing you’ll get some value out them.

Chris Wells RB – After nagging injuries during his final college year and an inconsistent NFL combine, Beanie Wells dropped to 31^st in the NFL Draft. The Cardinals were the lucky recipient of the fall. The Cards had the worst running offense in the NFL last season. Tim Hightower did score 10 TDs last season but don’t let that scare you away from drafting Wells who should be the Cards lead back week 1. The only knock, other than being a rookie, against wells now is he’s not a receiving back having only caught 15 passes in his college career.

Knowshon Moreno RB – At the time of this writing Moreno is still unsigned but all that will do is scare off other fantasy football owners from taking this young stud. Knowshon Moreno is the complete package, a natural runner who can catch a pass and is more than willing to block which will keep him on the field during passing downs. He starts the season behind Correll Buckhalter on the depth chart and will he’ll battle LaMont Jordan and Peyton Ellis for touches but those are battles he will win. Rookie head coach Josh McDaniels is looking for an impact runner and Moreno is the most likely to fill that role.

Michael Crabtree WR – Crabtree was the projected number overall pick but after a broken foot and the Raiders being the Raiders by picking a less talented but significantly faster Darrius Heyward-Bey, Crabtree was picked tenth by the San Francisco 49ers. He should be the number 1 option for the 49ers in week 1. His size and freakish athletic ability will be enough to make him a starter in most 12 team leagues and could make Shaun Hill a viable bye week option.

Hakeem Nicks WR – Will give the New York Giants a player capable of a big play, something they sorely need after the Paxico Burress fiasco. His ability to break tackles and run after the catch has been compared with Anquan Boldin and Dwayne Bowe. I see him becoming a favorite target of Eli Manning as the season goes on but I’d keep him on the bench early.

Percy Harvin WR – Freshly signed Harvin has the hands of a receiver and the toughness of a running back. With the opposing defenses focusing their energy on Adrian Peterson, it will leave Harvin and the other Minny WRs open for some big plays. Now if they can only find a quarterback to get them the ball.

With the exception of Crabtree, these players should be available in later rounds and shouldn’t be considered premier players week 1 but they are all worth a late round pick.