Top 10 Impact Rookies in Fantasy Football

Now that NFL training camps have begun and the first round NFL draft picks are all signed to contracts and ESPN talking heads are wringing their hands over whether Brett Favre will finally retire or make yet another comeback in his fourth decade, it is time to begin fantasy football drafts soon.

I recommend that most fantasy footballers don't form leagues and conduct their league drafts until later in August, after some preseason games have been played. It would be quite a downer to draft say, Chris Johnson of Tennessee first only to have him blow out a knee seeing spot action in an otherwise meaningless game and miss the season.

So, who are the rookies likely to be the Marques Colstons and Matt Fortes of fantasy football in 2010? You know, the first year NFL players who aren't always first round picks in the NFL draft who catch on to their team's offense quickly and get the playing time to put up big fantasy football numbers.

Here are my 10 most likely NFL impact rookies for fantasy football in 2010.

10.Toby Gerhart RB Minnesota
Unless an injury to Adrian Peterson occurs, don't look for Gerhart to put up big numbers. However, with Peterson's all out running style and propensity for fumbling, not to mention the defection of Chester Taylor to Chicago, look for the Vikings to utilize Gerhart quite a bit, perhaps even taking some redzone carries away from Peterson. This is not a real strong year for impact rookies in fantasy football in my opinion, so Gerhart is the best option at #10.

9. Arrelious Benn WR Tampa Bay
Given that Antonio Bryant was about the only proven wide receiver on the Bucs roster and he has joined all the other malcontents in Cincinnati, Benn should start from day one in Tampa. Josh Freeman showed the potential last season as a rookie QB to be the best passer for the Bucs since Doug Williams and Freeman should be improved in year two.

8. C.J. Spiller RB Buffalo
Spiller might rank higher, in fact, he would be higher on this list if not for the presence of Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch in a crowded backfield for the Bills. However, Spiller is a dynamic, big-play-waiting-to-happen kind of guy who will see immediate action as a kick returner and could take a couple to the house for bonus points for fantasy football team owners. You can bet that with Lynch seemingly always in and out of controversy and Jackson strictly a power back that the Bills will find carries for Spiller in 2010.

7. Jermaine Gresham TE Cincinnati
You know a guy is uber-talented when he misses his final year of college with an injury and still is selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Gresham was a stud at TE at Oklahoma before tearing an ACL and has been given a clean bill of health. Gresham recently signed a contract and has already been installed as the starter in Cincy. I don't know how he'll fit in with his new teammates since, as far as I know, Gresham has not been in trouble with the law, in rehab or considered a locker room lawyer.

The only thing that keeps him from ranking higher is the presence of all those WRs, but the middle of the field should be open often for Carson Palmer and Gresham could be the next big fantasy stud at the TE position.

6. Dez Bryant WR Dallas
A high ankle sprain suffered early in camp will slow down Bryant's development, but at some point this season, Bryant will beat out Roy Williams for the Cowboys #2 wide receiver spot opposite Miles Austin. The young man is extremely talented and even though he may ruffle a few veterans' feathers what with refusing to carry their bags in camp, a rookie tradition, Roy Williams is on the way out in Dallas most likely. That means the "other" Roy Williams may need to pack his own bags soon with Dez Bryant benefitting from double coverage on Austin.

5. Montario Hardesty RB Cleveland
With last season's emergence of Jerome Harrison as the Browns' feature back, this might seem to be a bad choice at first glance. Think about it. With either Jake Delhomme, who has had turnovers getting off the bus the last two seasons in Carolina or rookie Colt McCoy at QB, the Browns figure to run the ball early and often.

Browns' coach, at least for now, Eric Mangini, has employed a committee approach to running the ball thus far as a head coach. Harrison and backup Chris Jennings were not drafted by new boss Mike Holmgren. Holmgren moved up to the 2nd round to take Hardesty and the Browns ran the ball 498 times last season with Harrison getting only 194 of those. Jamal Lewis, now gone, had 143 of those carries and Jennings had 63, but with only a 3.5 average per carry, so there's a good chance Hardesty will get 200 or more carries and if Harrison was injured...

4. Demaryius Thomas WR Denver
Somebody has to make up for the 100+ receptions Brandon Marshall had in Denver in 2009. While Eddie Royal had an impressive rookie season in 2008, Royal's catches dropped drastically last season. Royal is too valuable as a return man to strictly concentrate on his receiving skills and the 6'3 229 lb.

Thomas had 46 receptions at Georgia Tech last year for a whopping 25.1 yards per catch. Not bad considering Thomas played in a triple option offense which had only 78 completions as a team. Rookie receivers are a bit of a gamble in fantasy football, but Thomas is smart enough to have gotten into a strong academic institution, so there should be no doubting this Thomas's ability to pick up the offense. Losing Marshall, along with the loss of TE Tony Scheffler, the Broncos must replace over 130 receptions from last season. Other than Royal and journeyman Jabar Gaffney, there are no veteran WRs to go to, thus, Thomas is worthy of a mid to late round choice in your fantasy draft.

3. Ben Tate RB Houston
For those who would downgrade Tate due to Gus Malzahn's spread offense at Auburn, Tate was an effective player in Tommy Tuberville's conventional power running attack previously. Tate is a fireplug at around 5'10-11 and 220 or so and ran a fast 40 time at the NFL combine. He is a better fit for Gary Kubiak's one-cut-and-go zone blocking scheme than any runners currently on Houston's roster.

Steve Slaton was benched due to fumblitis at midseason in 2009 in favor of Arian Foster and Slaton would make an ideal 3rd down back with his receiving skills. Houston must not be sold on Foster to have used a valuable 2nd round pick on Tate, who is not polished as a receiver but should be used to pound between the tackles on 1st and 2nd downs. Tate is powerful enough not to come out in short yardage or goal line situations as well.

2. Jahvid Best RB Detroit
Kevin Smith is coming off of surgery and probably won't be 100% for most of the season, at least the first half of the season. On a rebuilding team, there won't be as much reluctance to play a rookie as long as Best doesn't get Matthew Stafford killed on a blitz. Best is a dynamic player with good receiving skills who should excel on the fast track of Ford Field on a fast improving, young team. Look for Best to be featured, thus his high ranking on this list.

1. Ryan Mathews RB San Diego
Easily the #1 impact rookie in fantasy football due to the fact that diminutive Darren Sproles is the only other Charger option in the running game with LT now in New York. The one thing Norv Turner excels at as a head coach, the only thing, really, is taking care of his running backs. Featured RBs in Turner's system are always good for 300+ carries. Just ask Stephen Davis, Lamont Jordan, Frank Gore and LaDainian Tomlinson. All of them have put up big fantasy football points in Turner's system. The four game suspension of the Chargers' top wideout, Vincent Jackson doesn't hurt either.

As earlier noted, this may not be a big year for rookies in fantasy football, but one never knows as late round picks like Marques Colston have made a splash in the past as rookies. These are my ten best bets as impact rookies for fantasy football in 2010. Good luck with your fantasy football team, as long as you're not competing with one of mine.