In this year’s class, there will be a good number of WRs that will have an opportunity to produce right away, which is not very common for receivers.  WRs and TEs usually take 3 to 4 years to translate their college game to the pro level.  However, this year, anywhere from 5 to 10 guys will be forced to produce because they will be the best that their team may have, regardless if they are ready or not.
Other rookie reviews: QB/RB | IDP

WIDE RECEIVERS

Darius Heyward-Bey (Raiders): The receiver from Maryland is fast and tall.  Scouting reports state that he is not a very good route runner.  However, he has raw talent that could someday develop into a solid receiver.  Raiders don’t have a lot at the WR position.  Last year’s leading WR was Johnnie Lee Higgins and they still have the often injured Jevon Walker hanging around.  They have the two guys they drafted last year in Chaz Schilens and Arman Shields, that didn’t provide the Raiders with any help until the end of the season.  As a result, Heyward-Bey may be the best WR option on the team and may be one of the most productive fantasy WRs this year.  He does have the speed that will benefit from Russell’s big arm.   He may not make a ton of catches, but the ones he does catch could be for big plays.  So if you get extra points for longer TDs, he may pay some nice dividends for you.

Michael Crabtree (49ers): Everyone is saying that he is the best WR to come out of college in the last ten years.  He was amazingly productive at the college level, but his numbers are very much inflated because he played on a team that used a spread offense and threw the ball 80% of the time.  Spread offense WRs usually struggle in the transition to the NFL game.  The 49ers have some issues at QB that could limit him this year.  They have some solid WRs in Isaac Bruce and Arnaz Battle with some young developing WRs in Josh Morgan and Jason Hill, which would allow Crabtree to develop some before being thrown to the wolves, unlike Heyward-Bey.  If you are in a redraft league, I would not make Crabtree a priority this year.  However, if you are in a dynasty league he could be a stud for a decade or so and should not be passed up because of his physical abilities.

Jeremy Maclin (Eagles): He could be the most valuable rookie this year because he doesn’t have to produce right away.  Unless injuries occur, he could be the number 3 or 4 WR at first.  I think by midseason he could be the prime complement to DeSean Jackson.  He will give McNabb another big play threat and also back teams away from stacking the deck against Westbrook.  He is also a solid return guy.  He will not get past me in my dynasty league rookie drafts. In fact, if that draft was today, I think I would take him ahead of Crabtree.

Hakeem Nicks (Giants) & Kenny Britt (Titans): Both of these guys are in the same situation as Heyward-Bey, as they are desperately needed right now by their teams.  The Titans and Giants don’t have much at WR.  However, unlike Heyward-Bey, these two are said to be more NFL ready now.  The opportunity is there and they have the talent, now all they have to do is catch up with the speed of the NFL game.  I would look for these guys to be productive starting very early in the season.  I would not be afraid of selecting either one, especially in dynasty leagues.  Nicks may be better because he has a better QB throwing to him.

Brian Robiske & Mohammed Massaquoi (Browns): One of these guys is going to be very productive opposite of Braylon Edwards this year, while the other will be a slot receiver.  I have no clue who that will be this year, but I believe both will be studs for the next decade after the Browns decide what they are going to do with Edwards.  I would be careful to watch the Browns camp closely leading up to your draft to ensure that you get the right one.  In dynasty leagues, both will be worth having if you have enough roster space and depth at the position to carry them for a year or two.

Juaquin Iglesias (Bears): Here is another rookie WR going to a team in desperate need for a WR.  He has the talent to start right away.  He is a big possession receiver with some big play ability.  The Bears have two solid TEs and Devin Hester returning, which will take the pressure off of him from being the main guy right away.  I expect that by mid-season he will be the main target of Cutler in Chicago.  Make sure he is highly ranked on your dynasty league cheetsheet.

Deon Butler (Seahawks): He is Seattle’s new slot receiver and will replace former Penn State WR Bobby Engram.  With Houshmandzadeh coming to Seattle and WRs Branch and Burleson healthy, he will not have to produce right away.  However, with his speed he will be needed and he could be this year’s Eddie Royal.  I want him for my fantasy team.

Percy Harvin (Vikings): Here is another weapon for the Viking offense.  He played a kind of a hybrid RB/WR at Florida, but Florida WRs have had trouble translating to the NFL.  Harvin has good speed and has shown good hands with run after the catch ability.  Here is another WR that doesn’t have to produce right away and there is no pressure this year.  I would expect him to gradually work his way into the lineup and be a solid factor by midseason, if for no other reason than as a return man.  If your league rosters are large enough to hide a player for a year or two, I think you’ll be rewarded for drafting him.  He is a must-have for dynasty leagues.  However, his high potential for reward comes with significant risk.  He was kind of a trouble maker in college and if he doesn’t keep out of trouble, he could be a suspension waiting to happen.

Johnny Knox (Bears): This speedy receiver out of Abilene Christian seems to be the typical Bears receiver.  He was one of the top college KRs last year who has good hands, but is raw in his route running.  He may develop into a solid slot receiver, but like most of the Bears’ WRs his best impact this year might be as a KR. However, the Bears already have the best player in the return game, plus about 4 or 5 other very capable returners.  He is worth a pick up in deep dynasty leagues.  He should still should be on your watch list in redraft leagues.

Mike Thomas, Jarrett Dillard, & Tiquan Underwood (Jaguars): Ok, the Jaguars drafted three WRs with solid potential to make this team and one of them has to play a significant role, but which one?  The Jaguars needed WRs because at the time of the draft they only had Mike Walker and Dennis Northcutt on the roster.  Walker might become a stud, but so far his 3 year career has been one injury after another.  Northcutt is at best a number 3 or 4 WR.  So here is the scoop from all the reports and analysis of these guys I have read:  Thomas has been likened to Carolina’s Steve Smith, Dillard likened to Wes Welker, and Underwood likened to Brandon Stokley.  Note here that it took each of these guys a couple of years to develop.  The Jaguars have since added Torry Holt to the WR corps, so this takes the pressure off them immediately, especially if Walker can remain healthy.  So which one should I grab?  I don’t really know as I expect all three to make the team. If a gun was put to my head and I had to take one, it would be Thomas.  If he really is similar to Steve Smith, you’re getting something special.  On deep dynasty rosters all three are worthy of grabbing, but not very high.

Austin Collie (Colts): Collie could be the ideal slot receiver to go with Wayne and Gonzalez.  Collie has blazing speed and good hands.  He also has decent size.  With the attention that Wayne and Gonzalez get from defenses, he could be running free all day long.  He will also double as the Colts’ KR.  Since there is no pressure on this kid because he is surrounded by stud receivers and TEs, he is worthy of serious consideration in redraft leagues along with Crabtree, Britt, and Nicks.

Here a few others to watch this preseason because they could break into a lineup, but are more borderline keepers and need a few years to really develop.  So here are my additional players to watch:  Luis Murphy (Raiders), Kenny McKinley (Broncos), Sammie Stroughter (Buccaneers), Ramses Barden (Giants), Brooks Foster (Rams) along with undrafted free agents Tuarus Johnson (Chiefs), Aaron Kelly (Falcons), Quan Cosby (Bengals), and Eron Riley (Ravens).

TIGHT ENDS

TEs are hard to predict because most take 3 or 4 years to develop.

Chase Coffman (Bengals): He is one of the top two or three receivers in this class of TEs.   He is also on a team that is very likely to start him from day one.   Once Palmer learns to trust him, the sky is limit for his production.

Brandon Pettigrew (Lions): This is the other TE likely to start from day one.  However, he is listed number two because he is a solid blocker and may be used more in that capacity due to the troubles that the Lions have had on their O-line.   He could have a very productive fantasy year if they allow him to be a major part of their passing game.  Personally I will pass on him in redraft leagues, but will try to get him for my dynasty teams later in the draft.

Shawn Nelson (Bills): Nelson is another TE that has a good shot at winning the starting job right away, but he has competition.  Derek Fine and Derek Schouman were both drafted last year but both had injury issues last season.  Nelson maybe one of the best receivers in this class and will more like play an H-back role similar to that of Chris Cooley.

Travis Beckum (Giants) & Jared Cook (Titans): Both of these guys could be really good TEs but both are behind some solid TEs already on the team.  Beckum will be the number two behind Kevin Boss, who has shown flashes of being a stud the last couple of years.  Cook has Bo Scaife, an excellent receiver, in front of him.  The good news for these guys is that Cook is being split out wide in mini-camps and could get on the field regardless and Boss has only shown flashes of brilliance and has not been very consistent.

Cornelius Ingram (Eagles): He also has a solid shot at starting and he has been likened to Jason Witten in ability.  McNabb spreads the ball around to all his receivers.  If he can win the job he could have significant fantasy production because the Eagles need a big receiver to reign in the middle of the field.  Ingram is also a TE with big play potential.

Others to watch are James Casey (Texans), Davon Drew (Ravens) and J’Nathan Bullock (Jets).  All three of these have very good TEs in front of them and will most like be the number 2 or 3 TE.  However, Drew could eventually find himself in the Ravens’ lineup because the Ravens are loaded with injury prone TEs.

Well folks that will do it for this week.  Happy researching, I hope I’m just a little help to you in your preparation for your fantasy season.  Next week I’ll take a look at the DLs and LBs for IDP players (real fantasy players) out there.