Fantasy Football 2011: The Top Ten Rookies to Own This Season

Though the NFL lockout this year may impact how much playing time some rookies will get during the regular season, a handful of this year's crop will get enough playing time to merit picking them up during your Fantasy Football Draft. Here then are the top ten rookies to go after during the Draft.

Mark Ingram (New Orleans Saints) --RB

Ingram, a former Heisman trophy winner, was the first running back taken this year. Lucky enough to be picked up by the Saints, a team with whom we will have the opportunity to pick up 225-250 touches this season, Ingram has a good shot at a 1,000 yard rushing season. A tough inside runner with good vision, Ingram also has a good pair of hands and will pick up his share of receptions this year. He also had 42 rushing touchdowns at Alabama, and may see the end zone 8-10 times this season.

Julius Jones (Atlanta Falcons) -WR

Drafted by Atlanta with the sixth overall pick in the playoffs, Jones should be able to provide Falcon's quarterback Matt Ryan with a huge target to throw to. At 6-4, 210 lbs, Jones has the size and ability to catch the ball in traffic, and has the talent to be an All Pro at the next level. Though he is missing elite speed, Jones will nevertheless be a great complimentary receiver to Roddy White. Fantasy Football numbers in the 60-850-8 range are certainly within his reach this season.

A. J. Green (Cincinnati Bengals) --WR

Though Green was taken 2 picks higher than Jones, and was rated higher on most draft boards, the fact that he ended up with the Bengals instead of with the Falcons will affect his numbers some. A 6-4 target who is explosive off the ball, Green has all the tools to be a game changer in the NFL. His Fantasy Football numbers should be similar to Jones', but he will see the end zone a few less times this season. However, Green should also be able to beat out Andre Caldwell for the number two spot on the team, which will help his numbers.

Ryan Williams (Arizona Cardinals) --RB

Neither Hightower nor former first rounder Beanie Wells is the answer to the Cardinals running game, leaving the field wide open for Ryan Williams to get +200 touches this season. A great inside runner with the speed to get around the edge, Williams should have a successful career in the NFL. However, Arizona's trouble at quarterback may keep Williams' rushing numbers in the 750-800 yards this season.

Mikel Leshoure (Detroit Lions) -RB

Taken late in the second round by Detroit, Leshoure should shore up a weak Lion's rushing attack. Leshoure should be used in tandem with Javid Best which may limit his touches to +175 this season, but his strength, speed and blocking ability should keep him on the field long enough to make an impact this season in any Fantasy Football league. Look for numbers in the 600-700 yard range with 6-8 touchdowns.

DeMarco Murray (Dallas Cowboys) -- RB

Definitely a high-risk, high reward player, Murray should pick up significant playing time in the Cowboy's backfield, since Felix Jones hasn't proven durable enough to handle a super heavy workload. At 6-0, 215 lbs, Murray has the size, strength and athletic ability to run between the tackles as well as around the edge. He is also agile enough to change directions with ease, and can catches the ball well out of the backfield. If there is one knock against Murray, it's that he runs too upright to gain additional yardage after first contact. Still, few rookies will make for a better late round sleeper than DeMarco.

Daniel Thomas (Miami Dolphins) -- Running Back

Last year Miami's one-two punch of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown failed to produce the kind of Fantasy Football numbers they have in recent years. That being the case the Dolphins added Daniel Thomas in the second round of this year's draft. A strong and powerful runner who weights close t0 230 lbs, Thomas has plenty of upside and could end up being another Michael Turner in the NFL. However, his success this season depends greatly on whether or not Williams and Brown are still in Miami at the start of the season.

Shane Vereen (New England Patriots) --Running Back

The undersized Vereen could not have found a better backfield to be a part of than the Patriots. A quick and agile runner with explosive speed, Vereen stands to benefit greatly from the attention Defenses will be paying Tom Brady and his receiving corp. He will also benefit from the less than stellar stable of runners that New England possesses. Though size remains a concern until he proves he can handle the game at the NFL level, Vereen is still worth a gamble.

Jon Baldwin (Kansas City Chiefs) --Wide Receiver

Maybe it was a bit of a reach for the Chiefs to take Baldwin in the first round of the draft, but Baldwin has the size (6-5, 230 lbs) and the hands to make a difference for Kansas City this season. That he comes into an offense that already has Dwayne Bowe and Jamal Charles can only help his production. Though he may have trouble getting separation from the line, his size still makes him a great red-zone target.

Titus Young (Detroit Lions) --Wide Receiver

Gambling on a Detroit Lions rookie receiver in Fantasy Football is not always a great idea; however Young has the talent to be an impact player at the next level. Blessed with elusive speed and quickness, Young runs sharp routes and gets tremendous separation from defenders. The fact that he will work opposite of Calvin Johnson won't hurt his numbers either. Overall, Young is worth a last round pick, especially if your receiving corps is in need of a little depth.

Sources:

www.nfl.com/draft/2011/

www.bleacherreport.com/2011-nfl-draft

www.espn.go.com/nfl/draft