Top Impact Rookies for 2012 NFL Season (1 Viewer)

[Faust]

Top Impact Rookies for 2012 NFL Season

By Will Brinson | Senior NFL Blogger

The definition of "impact" for a rookie can vary. Obviously, Cam Newton had tremendous success last year. No one's questioning that; he was worth a couple wins in 2011, which is no small feat for a rookie. But there's an argument that guys like Von Miller, A.J. Green, Julio Jones and Aldon Smith had bigger impact in terms of putting talented teams over the top for the playoffs.

In assessing the top impact rookies, I'm factoring in statistical production, actual game impact and playoff impact as well. So, yeah, it stinks to be a quarterback taken with the top pick. You'll make an impact, but short of leading your team to a miraculous playoff berth, you're not locking up the top spot here. In other words, please don't write in the comments and tell me what an idiot I am just because RG3 isn't on the top of this list.

10. Kendall Wright, WR, Titans: The wideouts who make the biggest impact in the NFL are true No. 1 wideouts who can step in and make a difference right away. (Think A.J. Green.) These wideouts don't come around every year because it requires them landing in a situation that's perfect, with either an outstanding quarterback or an ability to play the No. 2 role. Wright, however, will be a game changer for the Titans. He has elite speed and the ability to improvise. Both will work well once Tennessee inevitably turns the reins over to Jake Locker. There are some good corners in this division, but they'll spend their time hounding Kenny Britt (or Nate Washington if Britt's not healthy). Meanwhile, Wright will put up big numbers and some long touchdown catches.

9. Andrew Luck, QB, Colts: Luck will end up being more efficient than Peyton Manning was his rookie year. But he won't be as prolific. That's just Luck's style. But he'll have nice numbers. Those numbers, however, will be helped by a trio of other rookies: Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen and T.Y. Hilton all will help Luck make an impact (not to mention Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie) in his first season. The Colts won't open up Luck guns-a-blazing either. That wasn't his style at Stanford and it won't be his style early on in the NFL. He'll get his production, but it'll be smart production. The problem is, the Colts won't sniff the playoffs next year, though they may end up sniffing six or seven wins -- Indy did enough in April to be competitive offensively.

8. Cordy Glenn, OL, Bills: Glenn's the hot name to take over at left tackle for the Bills, and this could be big news for not just the Eagles (who will obviously sign him as a free agent and/or trade for him in five years) but also Ryan Fitzpatrick. Glenn could fortify protection for a quarterback who looked like a Pro Bowler before injury -- or a new contract, you pick -- derailed his season. And while folks might be inclined to chuckle at the Buffalo offense, this is a potentially dangerous unit. Fitzgerald, when healthy, can obviously play. Stevie Johnson is clearly dangerous. And the tandem of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller is dynamic. Add in a surprising second-round value in Glenn, and it could really help Buffalo meld together for a wild-card run in the AFC.

7. Trent Richardson, RB, Browns: On any other team, T-Rich would be higher. He's the type of back you steal in the second or third round of your fantasy draft and laugh your way towards a 1,500 total yard season. But on the Browns? He's more of a question mark, because we don't know how Brandon Weeden will perform. (Weeden will start all 16 games, barring a serious injury or a more seriously abysmal performance.) Richardson's running behind Joe Thomas and will be a feature in the passing game given the poor state of affairs for Browns wideouts, which should make him an even bigger threat. But he's also going to play the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals twice, and those defenses aren't exactly rush friendly. Put him on a playoff-caliber team and he waltzes with No. 1 here.

6. Robert Griffin III, QB, Redskins: Yes, I'm aware that it looks like I'm selling both RG3 and Luck short. Again, they will have big seasons. I expect them to. But they won't have seasons that end up with their teams making the playoffs, and that's partially the point of the exercise here. In almost any other division, I'd give RG3 more props, but the Cowboys, Eagles and Giants could all be better. If Griffin guaranteed a division title, it would make more sense than Rex Grossman doing it last year, but it would also be more improbable. He's essentially operating on the (mostly misconceived) public notion that he'll put up Newtonian stats. He won't -- he'll be good, but he won't be that good. And the Redskins will finish at the bottom of the NFC East, despite a hope-infused season and great numbers from Griffin.

5. Luke Kuechly, LB, Panthers: Despite having to learn the weakside position for the first time in his career, it's likely that Kuechly could a) end up looking like a defensive tackle addition and b) win the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. The guy makes plays. Not necessarily in the backfield, but just in general -- his sack totals at Boston College are video-game stuff. And he's going to do that in Carolina, simply because he's one of the most plug-and-play players in this year's draft. Aided by the health and tutelage of Jon Beason, I expect Kuechly to put up monster numbers, tackle-wise, and help shorten the length of opponents rushes. Additionally, he'll show cover skills that folks didn't think were coming from the "Mike" qualities that he displayed at B.C. If this defense gets shored up, the Panthers have a wide-open window to make a run in the NFC South.

4. Melvin Ingram, LB, Chargers: That Ingram fell as far as he did in April is silly. That he fell to a team like the Chargers in need of help when it comes to pass rush is even sillier. Ingram can line up at more than half the positions on the defensive line and make a difference -- watch tape of him playing defensive tackle at South Carolina and you'll be floored. He's going to step in from Day 1 and make an impact on this defense, and you'll notice when the Chargers increase their sack rate as a team. He'll get some, because he's great at bringing down the quarterback. His game impact will be felt when Shaun Phillips is less clogged, and the Bolts will end up taking back a division title this year, which helps him immensely in the rankings here.

3. David DeCastro, OG, Steelers: Before you complain about an interior lineman ranking this high, I want you to think about the help that Ben Roethlisberger has had on the offensive line the last few years. It's been virtually non-existent in terms of elite talent, and that's putting it nicely. All of a sudden, he might end up with a left side that features DeCastro, Mike Adams and, if you want to count the middle, Maurkice Pouncey. A Big Ben with a protected blind side is a much more dangerous Ben that you've imagined most of his career. I think Todd Haley with a new scheme helps these young linebackers, and I think a beefed-up offensive line means a big year from the Steelers.

2. Chandler Jones, LB, Patriots: It hasn't been a great run for Bill Belichick on defensive players over the past few years in the draft, but he's mostly whiffed on defensive backs. With the Patriots losing a ton of sacks to free agency, they needed someone to step in and provide a multi-faceted attack on the quarterback. That someone is Jones, and he could be ready for a huge year defensively. He'll allow the Pats to mix 3-4 and 4-3 and continually put pressure on the quarterback, and in a division with Matt Moore (or Ryan Tannehill! Or David Garrard!), Mark Sanchez (or Tim Tebow!) and Fitzpatrick, Jones could pile up the pressures. No, it doesn't hurt that he plays for someone who's coming off a Super Bowl loss. But that's how these rankings work; if you can put up big numbers while pushing your team over the edge, you're a bigger difference maker right now.

1. Morris Claiborne, CB, Cowboys: To me, Claiborne is the piece that puts Dallas over the top. They signed Brandon Carr in the offseason, and that means the rookie won't be drawing impossible matchups early on. He'll get the benefit of being a top-flight stopper in a defense that's only asking him to be a mid-level stopper most of the time. There will be growing pains when he has to cover Jeremy Maclin and Victor Cruz, but the Cowboys also have Mike Jenkins to help out (barring a surprising trade that I missed while on vacation). Claiborne will end up, as a result of getting to cover No. 2 wideouts most of the season, having the biggest impact of any rookie. He'll get his picks because people will throw at him, he'll get his game impact because he'll cover legit wideouts and when he does his job people will talk, and he'll get the playoff bump because the Cowboys will contend for a very difficult division.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I really like the names on this list but not the order.

One guy I'd take off the list entirely is OG DeCastro.

How can he make an impact on the Steelers offensive line? Ben isn't going to rid of the ball any quicker and the RB taking over for Mendenhall is now going to face defenses who actually game plan for him so he's going to see what real NFL defenses can do against him. Everyone is high on him but in his first real action last year he had two lost fumbles. DeCastro is a stud but he won't make any sort of impact on the Steelers offense. The passing game won't see any impact and the running game is going to see that Mendenhall actually was a talented back once the book is known on the replacement.

I'd replace DeCastro with Floyld since Fitzgerald should take the bulk of the coverage action paving the way for the rookie WR to make an impact.

I'm not so sure about the impact that Chandler will make. Its tough for any rookie to make an impact on a Belichick team, especially a defensive rookie.

Also the reasoning they give to downgrade T-Rich is BS. He's the number-one impact rookie with a bullet.

 

[Faust]

Richardson, Griffin highlight fantasy's top rookies for '12

By Michael Fabiano NFL.com

Fantasy Editor

Published: April 28, 2012 at 07:40 p.m.

Updated: June 8, 2012 at 10:46 p.m.

The 2012 NFL Draft is in the books (and what an amazing draft it was!), so we now have a number of brand-new potential fantasy impact makers to consider on draft day. Not surprisingly, many of those players are running backs and wide receivers. Of course, there are also a few first-year quarterbacks to consider in the pass-laden NFL. Here's our breakdown of the top 10 rookies in seasonal leagues, along with some other players to monitor in minicamps, training camp and the preseason.

Top 10

1. Trent Richardson, RB, Browns: Richardson is already the best player in the Browns offense, and he'll be one of the few true featured backs in the NFL. In fact, I can see him getting 300 carries in coach Pat Shurmur's offense. With so many questions at running back heading into this season, Richardson should be considered a potential top-10 option at the position and worth a second- or third-round pick.

2. Robert Griffin III, QB, Redskins: If you expect RG3 to be the next Cam Newton from a fantasy perspective, you're going to be disappointed. But his combination of skills as a passer and more importantly, a runner, makes him someone to target in the middle rounds as a potential high-end No. 2 fantasy option with the upside to develop into a No. 1 starter. He's also a real dynasty-league gem.

3. Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers: Fantasy owners looking for a young runner to take a chance on in the middle rounds should look no further than Martin. A big-play back with three-down potential, I expect Martin to emerge past LeGarrette Blount and into the starting role for new coach Greg Schiano. He is a player to watch in fantasy and could develop into a borderline No. 2 or 3 fantasy runner.

4. Andrew Luck, QB, Colts: Luck has a ton of long-term potential and will be the first overall pick in countless dynasty leagues -- he clearly has all the tools to become a future fantasy star. However, I don't see him as more than a No. 2 fantasy quarterback and matchup-based starter in most seasonal formats for 2012. Look for him to come off the board somewhere in the middle to late rounds.

5. Justin Blackmon, WR, Jaguars: The Jaguars clearly don't have much to write home about at the wide receiver spot aside from maybe Laurent Robinson (big maybe), so Blackmon should see more than his share of targets as a rookie. The downfall, of course, is that a good number of those targets will come from quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Still, Blackmon is worth a look in the middle to late rounds.

6. Coby Fleener, TE, Colts: Fantasy owners looking for a potential rookie sleeper at tight end should look no further than Fleener. A pure pass catcher out of Stanford, he'll be re-united with his collegiate quarterback, Andrew Luck, so there's no concern about lack of rapport. Fleener will be well worth a middle- to late-round look as a potential No. 2 fantasy tight end with upside.

7. Michael Floyd, WR, Cardinals: Floyd has some major potential at the NFL level, and playing opposite Larry Fitzgerald will be an advantage during his rookie campaign. However, I wonder how consistent he'll be statistically in an offense with a star wideout, Early Doucet and Andre Roberts. Kevin Kolb is also a question mark at quarterback. Overall, Floyd has middle- to late-round draft appeal.

8. David Wilson, RB, Giants: Ahmad Bradshaw remains the Giants' top runner, but Wilson will no doubt put at least a small dent into Bradshaw's backfield touches. Considering Bradshaw's foot and ankle issues in recent seasons, Wilson could make some fantasy noise as a rookie. The former Hokie has middle- to late-round appeal and will be a top-notch handcuff for owners who land Bradshaw.

9. Brian Quick, WR, Rams: Quick, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver out of Appalachian State, is a former basketball standout who should have a chance to see a prominent role in St. Louis right out of the gate. He's a player to watch in training camp, especially in an offense that doesn't have a true No. 1 wideout on its roster. In a best-case scenario, Quick could be worth a late-round flier in drafts.

10. Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears: With Johnny Knox's (back surgery) status for next season in serious question, Jeffery has a legitimate chance to start opposite Brandon Marshall in his first NFL season. While there has been some concern about his weight after a disappointing final collegiate season, Jeffery could have some late-round flier value in deeper fantasy leagues as a starter.

Rookies on the radar

1. Stephen Hill, WR, Jets: The Jets don't have much at wide receiver after Santonio Holmes, so Hill is in a good spot from an opportunities perspective. But despite his long-term upside, the Georgia Tech product could need a season of pro experience before he makes an impact in fantasy leagues. If he actually wins a starting role, however, Hill could be worth as much as a late-round flier in 2012.

2. Kendall Wright, WR, Titans: Wright is a potentially explosive wideout for the Titans and could push for the third spot on the depth chart. However, will he see enough targets in a run-based offense that already includes Kenny Britt, Nate Washington, Damian Williams and Jared Cook? I don't think so. In seasonal fantasy formats, the Baylor product is worth no more than a late-round flier.

3. Rueben Randle, WR, Giants: With Mario Manningham now in San Francisco, Randle will have a legitimate chance to earn the third spot on the Giants' depth chart during training camp. With that said, he will have to beat out Ramses Barden and Jerrel Jernigan before fantasy owners should even consider him with a late-round flier. Even in that scenario, Randle's value will be somewhat limited.

4. Mohamed Sanu, WR, Bengals: Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell are gone, so Sanu has some upside based on the potential to earn a starting role with his new team. Compared to former Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Sanu is a possession receiver with good size who could slide right into the pass attack. He'll have some late-round draft appeal.

5. LaMichael James, RB, 49ers: The 49ers have ridiculous backfield depth behind Frank Gore, as Kendall Hunter, Brandon Jacobs and James are all in the mix. James is a Darren Sproles-type runner and could be a change-of-pace option for coach Jim Harbaugh. If James earns a prominent role, including some goal-line work, he'll have some PPR draft value.

 

[Skeletore Eh]

I really like the names on this list but not the order.One guy I'd take off the list entirely is OG DeCastro.How can he make an impact on the Steelers offensive line? Ben isn't going to rid of the ball any quicker and the RB taking over for Mendenhall is now going to face defenses who actually game plan for him so he's going to see what real NFL defenses can do against him. Everyone is high on him but in his first real action last year he had two lost fumbles. DeCastro is a stud but he won't make any sort of impact on the Steelers offense. The passing game won't see any impact and the running game is going to see that Mendenhall actually was a talented back once the book is known on the replacement.I'd replace DeCastro with Floyld since Fitzgerald should take the bulk of the coverage action paving the way for the rookie WR to make an impact.I'm not so sure about the impact that Chandler will make. Its tough for any rookie to make an impact on a Belichick team, especially a defensive rookie.Also the reasoning they give to downgrade T-Rich is BS. He's the number-one impact rookie with a bullet.

Yeah what impact will a stud OG make to a team who has had a terrible o line the past few years? That shouldn't help the pass protection or run game at all. Maybe you should go read the thread in the shark pool about how offensive tackles are less important than guards these days. I don't even understand your point about redman. I guess he wasn't playing against a real defense in the playoffs. Remember that defense that carried tebow to the playoffs last year? And I love how people still hang on to that two fumble game like redmans shown a propensity for it. It was one game. Also, Floyd isn't even going to be a starter to begin the season. Other than that I agree with everything you said

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I really like the names on this list but not the order.One guy I'd take off the list entirely is OG DeCastro.How can he make an impact on the Steelers offensive line? Ben isn't going to rid of the ball any quicker and the RB taking over for Mendenhall is now going to face defenses who actually game plan for him so he's going to see what real NFL defenses can do against him. Everyone is high on him but in his first real action last year he had two lost fumbles. DeCastro is a stud but he won't make any sort of impact on the Steelers offense. The passing game won't see any impact and the running game is going to see that Mendenhall actually was a talented back once the book is known on the replacement.I'd replace DeCastro with Floyld since Fitzgerald should take the bulk of the coverage action paving the way for the rookie WR to make an impact.I'm not so sure about the impact that Chandler will make. Its tough for any rookie to make an impact on a Belichick team, especially a defensive rookie.Also the reasoning they give to downgrade T-Rich is BS. He's the number-one impact rookie with a bullet.

Yeah what impact will a stud OG make to a team who has had a terrible o line the past few years? That shouldn't help the pass protection or run game at all. Maybe you should go read the thread in the shark pool about how offensive tackles are less important than guards these days. I don't even understand your point about redman. I guess he wasn't playing against a real defense in the playoffs. Remember that defense that carried tebow to the playoffs last year? And I love how people still hang on to that two fumble game like redmans shown a propensity for it. It was one game. Also, Floyd isn't even going to be a starter to begin the season. Other than that I agree with everything you said

Ben holds the ball too long, longer than even a stud OG can hold unto a pass rushing defender. That line has more pressure on it when Ben extends plays because he waits till the last second and many of those sacks he takes are on him. The old OC wasn't bad so I don't anticipate a huge upgrade offensively if any upgrade at all. Even a blind homer probably knows that they will see some glitches that otherwise wouldn't happen if they had the same system. Add that two rookie starters on the O-Line have to be given allowances for mistakes even if they are upgrades in terms of talent.My take? I don't think Redman is an upgrade over a healthy Mendenhall. Its my personal opinion so I think that when teams get a second look and devote more time to learning his tendencies his talent will show Mendenhall is more talented. Last year Redman had the fresh legs when Rashard went down late in the season, this year the shoe is on the other foot so when Rashard comes back he will have freshh legs. So DeCastro could make an impact later in the year once he's over the rookie learning curve and the offense has assimilated the new system and when he's got a fresh running back provided he hits no rookie wall.Not every rookie listed is gauranteed to start but I believe Floyd will make a bigger impact than DeCastro.

 

[Faust]

Richardson headlines rookie candidates for 2013 'Top 100'

By Daniel Jeremiah NFL.com

Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network

It's never too early to look ahead.

The NFL Network concluded "The Top 100: Players of 2012" on Wednesday night, with Aaron Rodgers earning the No. 1 spot. Considering four 2011 rookies made the cut, I thought it would be interesting to project which four rookies from April's 2012 NFL Draft have the best shot at landing on next year's list. Here are my top four candidates, followed by five other top contenders:

Trent Richardson, RB, Cleveland Browns

Of all the 2012 rookies, Richardson is the best bet to crack the "Top 100" list in 2013. He has all of the physical tools to be a top-five NFL running back: outstanding vision, balance and power to run effectively between the tackles, as well as burst and wiggle to create big plays on the perimeter. The Browns' offense has been atrocious over the past few seasons, but they do have a stout offensive line for Richardson to run behind. He should put up very solid numbers and I'll be surprised if he doesn't make the "Top 100" next year.

Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts

I expect Luck to have a roller-coaster rookie season, but there will be enough high moments for him to garner "Top 100" consideration next summer. He is dripping with poise, leadership and intelligence, so the NFL stage won't be too big for him. I don't expect him to post statistics similar to the incredible numbers Cam Newton put up last season, but he should be able to duplicate Andy Dalton's rookie production.

Mark Barron, FS, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Barron is by far the top safety in this draft class and should have an immediate impact on Tampa Bay's defense. He is a very physical run defender and has excellent instincts in coverage. The Alabama product can play up in the box or roam off the hash in Cover 2. I anticipate a high tackle total in 2012, as well as 4-5 interceptions.

Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers

Kuechly is one of the most decorated and productive linebackers in college football history, excelling in all aspects of the game. He is very quick to key, flow and fill against the run. He uses his hands well to get off blocks and is a solid, chest-up tackler. Against the pass, he is an explosive blitzer and has outstanding instincts and ball skills in coverage. Kuechly is going to stuff the stat sheet in 2012 and will have a very good shot at making the "Top 100" next year.

Next in line

Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins: There will be a learning curve for RG3, but he will create a lot of excitement with his explosive play-making ability as both a thrower and runner.

Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: He's an ideal three-down back who should step right into the starting lineup in Tampa Bay.

Mychal Kendricks, LB, Philadelphia Eagles: This is an explosive athlete who should immediately become an impact performer on the Eagles' defense.

Morris Claiborne, CB, Dallas Cowboys: He boasts excellent ball skills and should have a very productive rookie campaign.

Janoris Jenkins, CB, St. Louis Rams: This is one of the most naturally gifted rookies in the 2012 class and his ability to play both outside and in the slot will be a huge asset to the Rams' defense.