Wide receivers, more than any other position, have the most trouble adjusting to the NFL game. Cornerbacks at the pro level are just quicker, stronger, and smarter than at the college level. Still, every year one or two rookie wide receivers emerge and have an immediate impact in fantasy football circles (ala Dwayne Bowe). To help you identify the rookies with the greatest potential for success in 2008, Bruno Boys staff writer Cory Steger has done his homework and presents to you the 2008 Wide Receiver Rookie Report.
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James Hardy - Buffalo Bills
The Bills are thrilled that this tall (6’6”) possession receiver fell to them in the second round. Hardy provides a great complement to Lee Evans and Josh Reed and will start right away.
While Evans is a great deep threat, Hardy provides the team with a legitimate red zone target at the receiver position, something they’ve lacked since Eric Moulds left. In addition to his size, Hardy is a good red zone receiver because he is so good at positioning. A former basketball player who was a standout forward in high school and for one season at Indiana, Hardy has incredible body control for a receiver, similar to that of San Diego Chargers' tight end Antonio Gates. And don't worry about pesky double teams inside the 20 as Hardy proved in college he can handle double teams with ease as opposing defenses threw all they had his way.
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Devin Thomas - Washington Redskins
Entering the draft, Thomas was the center of a lot of speculation and buzz. Many scouts and teams loved his natural athletic ability combined with his size (6’2”, 215 pounds) while others saw his production was limited to just one season in college.
What makes Thomas enticing is that he’s as strong as a tight end, but as quick and agile as a receiver. His inexperience will hamper him as will an early hamstring injury, but if he can overcome those things, he could be a decent rookie to look at in the second half of the season.
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Limas Sweed - Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have been missing a tall receiver since Plaxico Burress left for the New York Giants and they finally got one with a second-round selection of Sweed. Sweed, who stands 6’4” and weights 212 pounds, gives the team a legitimate red zone target at the receiver position, something they lacked last year as Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward, both 6 feet or under, had trouble establishing position as the Steelers got closer to the goal-line.
Sweed is one of the most polished receivers of the rookies and should make an easy transition into the NFL. The only thing limiting Sweed this season is the surrounding cast. Between Ward, Holmes,
Nate Washington and
Heath Miller, Sweed might find it hard to get a lot of opportunities this season.
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Eddie Royal - Denver Broncos
Similar to Jackson, Royal is another undersized yet explosive player that will see immediate playing time thanks to his ability to return kicks and could possibly make a splash at the receiving position. Denver is a team that has no qualms in using rookies as long as they prove they’re ready, and with Coach Mike Shanahan already singing his praises, Royal should get a shot at some point during the season.
Brandon Marshall, if he can avoid a lengthy suspension, will be the go-to guy for quarterback Jay Cutler, but the departure of Javon Walker to Oakland means Royal could catch a high number of passes for a rookie. Darrell Jackson, Keary Colbert, and Brandon Stokley all appear before Royal on the depth chart but have been inconsistent over their careers. This could make him a good sleeper candidate, and if you have a lot of bench space, he is definitely a guy to stash on your bench and keep your eye on.
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Donnie Avery - St. Louis Rams
A crack in his pelvic bone could cause Avery to miss two valuable weeks of training camp, but the wide out will still have a chance to make an impact in the fantasy world in 2008 as the Rams third wide receiver. To do so, he needs to beat out fellow rookie Keenan Burton and Reche Caldwell.
With the Rams offense expected to be much improved after a horrendous year in 2007, that third receiver spot could get a good deal of fantasy opportunities. Avery could get even more opportunities if Torry Holt's knee gives him trouble again this season or Drew Bennett continues to not live up to his potential.
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Malcolm Kelly - Washington Redskins
In the Redskins' attempts to remake the offense under new head coach
Jim Zorn, Washington used first-day picks on two receivers. Leading up to the draft, Kelly had run two sub-par 40-yard dashes, causing his stock to fall. But at 6’4” and 212 pounds, Kelly doesn’t need to be a speed receiver. His size and hands are what make him good and because of this he could make a smooth transition to the NFL.
The problem Kelly faces is that he joins a crowded offense in Washington.
Santana Moss,
Antwaan Randle El,
James Thrash and
Chris Cooley are established while Kelly will also have to fight over playing time with fellow rookie
Devin Thomas. If he can make it on the field enough, Kelly could be productive this season.
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DeSean Jackson - Philadelphia Eagles
Jackson has good value already because he’ll immediately take on a Devin Hester type role as he'll be the Eagles' primary kick and punt returner. Jackson is an explosive playmaker who’s capable of finding the end zone on any play and it would behoove quarterback Donovan McNabb to get the ball into the rookie’s hands often.
Jackson has drawn comparisons to the Panthers’ Steve Smith but he stills needs to develop a bit as a receiver. The good news is that he ran similar routes in college as he will for the Eagles so a quick transition is possible. Jackson definitely has more value in keeper leagues, but he could be worth a gamble in seasonal leagues if he works his weigh up the Eagles' receiving depth chart.
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Jerome Simpson - Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals decided to pass on a number of guys to take Simpson out of Coastal Carolina, an FCS school. Simpson set all kinds of receiving records as a Chanticleer, and was also a standout long jumper and high jumper.
The Bengals chose Simpson because he has good hands and has a knack for making spectacular catches. With the release of
Chris Henry, Simpson could see immediate playing time at the third receiver position. However, the transition from the FCS, formerly known as Division I-AA, to the NFL may be too great for Simpson to be productive this season.
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Early Doucet - Arizona Cardinals
Doucet was considered the next great LSU receiver after Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis but an injury-riddle senior season saw Doucet’s stock fall.
While Doucet may not be as big as some of the other receivers on this list or as fast, the one area he excels at is catching passes. Despite missing the majority of five games as a senior, he still caught 57 passes. With teams focusing a lot on Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, Doucet could be productive this season if he wins the 3rd receiver spot and questions at the quarterback position are answered.
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Jordy Nelson - Green Bay Packers
Nelson is a former safety that converted to wide receiver for the 2007 season at Kansas State. That turned out to be a good decision as Nelson caught 122 passes last year for the Wildcats.
Another player who has that great size (6’3”, 217 pounds) combination, Nelson will fit in well in Green Bay where the Packers will likely use him more as a possession receiver in their four wide out sets to alleviate pressure on Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. Similar to Thomas, Nelson will have to overcome some inexperience and prove he can be productive at the NFL level before he will be fantasy worthy.
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Mario Manningham - New York Giants
Manningham’s stock fell after a poor showing at the combine in the spring, but the guy has the talent of a first-round pick. He caught 72 passes as a senior at Michigan and added 12 touchdowns.
Manningham is a good route-runner, has good speed and decent size. The only question about him is hands and ability to separate, something he's been struggling with in camp. While he caught 72 passes as a senior, he had 142 passes thrown to him. Obviously not all of those were catchable one reason or another, but it is puzzling. The Giants already have three established receivers and Super Bowl hero David Tyree as well, so while Manningham has the potential talent to produce, he may not see the field too much this season.
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Position By Position Rookie Report
Rookie Report - Quarterbacks
Rookie Report - Running Backs
Rookie Report - Wide Receivers
Rookie Report - Tight Ends
Rookie Report - Kickers