Here is a look at some of last year’s rookies who performed well and whether you should worry about going after them in your draft as they enter their second seasons.

Quarterbacks:

Matt Ryan, ATL : Matt Ryan had an impressive debut season throwing for 3440 yards and 16 TDs.  We expect him to continue to improve as the go-to quarterback in Atlanta.  No sophomore jinx expected here.

Joe Flacco, BAL : If there is one QB we expect to get hit by the jinx, it would be Flacco.  His leash is shorter than Ryan’s with Troy Smith also waiting in the wings.  Remember, the starting job was Smith’s until he got hurt.  He never played himself out of it.

Running Backs:

Darren McFadden, OAK : Although Oakland still looks to be in quite a mess, I expect McFadden to have a breakout year this season, especially if Russell or Garcia can provide some help through the air.

Jonathan Stewart, CAR : Here is one back I expect to be hit by the jinx.  If he is healthy he should fair well behind the Panthers great offensive line, but already dealing with injury problems in preseason, this may be a setback season for Stewart.

Felix Jones, DAL :  He was playing great before going down with an injury, but if Jones stays healthy, he could be the Cowboys started sooner rather than later.  That, however, is a big “if”.

Chris Johnson, TEN : Johnson showed what he can do with the ball in his hands and only got stronger as the year progressed.  He should be even better this year and may receive more carries between the 20s.  Hopefully he will have Kevin Mawae back in time as well.

Matt Forte, CHI : It is hard to believe that Forte can improve on his great 2008 campaign, but with Cutler now the QB for the Bears, that is a very real possibility.  He will also be given some added rest with the addition of Kevin Jones to the backfield.

Ray Rice, BAL : He was not given as much responsibility as a rookie, but Rice should be set to start for the Ravens.  That is great news as he will likely receive the majority of the carries on a team that tends to rush the ball more than any other in the NFL.

Kevin Smith, DET : Detroit did not get the opportunity to rush the ball very often last year and this season may be somewhat similar, but when Kevin Jones is given the chance, he has proven he can produce.  Expect the Lions to improve this year and Smith’s numbers should do the same.

Steve Slaton, HOU : After impressing in his rookie year, Slaton has been given full control of the Texans backfield.  With strength at the receiver position and a quarterback who can spread the ball out, this may be the season that the Texans’ offense breaks out.  Slaton, of course, will benefit from this.

Wide Receivers:

Donnie Avery, STL : Avery is the starter which is good, but for the Rams, which is bad.  Because of the latter handicap, I would expect a quiet season for him, but a bright future is in sight.

DeSean Jackson, PHI : The Eagles offense is once again loaded.  With depth at all skill positions, the points should be coming in bunches in Philadelphia.  Expect Jackson to lead the charge as the number one receiver.

Eddie Royal, DEN : He was great last season but will no longer have Cutler throwing to him.  Now with Orton under center, Royal may be hard pressed to produce 91 catches and 980 yards, but he does give Orton a good check-down option and has the ability to break a short pass for a long gain.

Tight Ends :

Dustin Keller, NYJ : He was one of Favre’s favorite targets last season and it could be the same story with Mark Sanchez at QB.  You can bet the rookie QB will be looking for his TE more often than not.

John Carlson, SEA : He was Seattle’s leading receiver last year, but that was the result of injuries at WR.  With most of the wideouts back, expect Carlson to be used less, but things could change quickly when the injuries begin to come again.

Yesterday was the first day back on the field for Brady in his long road back to supremacy, and although he felt a little rusty, he was just happy to get back out there and do his thing.  He practiced with a knee brace on under his sweat pants, but felt he could have gone without it had the trainers not requested he wear it.  As for the beginning of the season, slated for Monday, September 14, at home against the Bills, he believes he will be ready to go baring any unforeseen circumstances.  Good news to fantasy owners and Pats fans alike, but bad new for Bills fans.

So now that he is back, it will be interesting to see where he goes on draft boards for the 2009 NFL Fantasy Football season.  Here is what my list of the top 10 in all offensive positions looks like.

(Using standard scoring of 1 point/10 yards rushing/receiving, 1pt/25 yards passing, and 6 pts/touchdown)

1.  Adrian Peterson, RB, Min – He remains one of the most explosive and physical players in the game and should continue to be a top fantasy point producer.  If only Brett Favre could come and help take off some of the load.

2.  Matt Forte, RB, Chi – The second year running back will hope that there is no sophomore jinx in the windy city.  And in case he needed it, he now has Cutler to take off some of the pressure.  He could be ahead of Peterson in some polls.

3.  Michael Turner, RB, Atl – The burner was definitely on last year and expect no different this year.  Turner has all the intangibles to be a great runner and as a young Falcon team continues to improve, so should he.

4.  Tom Brady, QB, NE - Here is where I may deviate from the norm just a bit.  Many have Drew Brees slated as the top quarterback after his performance last year, but I will go back with a fully recovered Tom Brady.  He should be fine once the season starts, he doesn’t get hit often, and after Matt Cassel’s showing last year, I think even a 90% Brady will be just fine with Bill Belichick looking after him.

5.  Drew Brees, QB, NO – After putting up big numbers last year, Drew Brees will look to do that same and avoid another off year, like his 2007 campaign.  With Reggie Bush and Marques Colston each gaining another valuable year of experience, expect him to remain a top flight fantasy producer.

6.  Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jac – Fred Taylor is gone and the Jags used their first two pic of the 2009 entry draft to beef up the offensive line.  That all comes as good news to MJD, and I expect this touchdown machine to respond with career high numbers.

7.  DeAngelo Williams, RB, Car – One of the most dominant players down the stretch last year, Williams looks to begin where he left off, and with one of the most effective offensive lines in football, that shouldn’t be a problem.

8.  Steven Jackson, RB, Stl – The acquisition of Jason Smith with the second overall pick should help create room for Jackson, and if Bulger can spread the ball through the air to take some attention away from him, he may once again find himself on top of the fantasy world.

9.  Steve Slaton, RB, Hou – He put up impressive numbers in his rookie season, and should be that much better in 2009.  With Matt Shaub and Andre Johnson patroling the other offensive “skilled” positions, Slaton should be able to put up consistent numbers to counter the Texans passing attack.

10.  Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Ari – I do not like taking wide receivers in the first round, and faced with the opportunity, would likely stick by that rule of thumb, but with Larry Fitzgerald on the board, it could be tough to resist.  His ability to make plays and score touchdowns allows him to produce like some RB’s.  Will he and his Cards be able to repeat the remarkable season they had on ’08?  If so, he’s a steal here.

He was great as a college QB over the last couple of years, but it seems that he lacks the size to compete at the next level.  Thanks to innovative new offenses such as the Wildcat, I feel that White will have a place in the league.  I have always liked watching him play at West Virginia and I hope he has a great career as a pro.  His effectiveness as an NFL player could hinge on which team picks him up in the draft.  Lets take a look at the best possible scenarios for White:

Miami Dolphins: The originators of the Wildcat offense would be the best fit for this guy.  They are also very thin at receiver, which could make White even more appealing.  Having White, Ronnie Brown, and Chad Pennington all on the field at the same time could be great for this young team.

Houston Texans: The Texans have Steve Slaton, White’s former Virginia teammate, a reunion of these two players could work in the NFL.  Also some help for Andre Johnson is needed in the Texans offense.  I like Owen Daniels and Kevin Walter, however the presence of White could take the offense to the next level.

Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals could potentially lose both T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson this year, so why not take a chance on this guy.

Chicago Bears: Another team with a serious lack of depth at the receiver position.  Besides if they draft him he could probably be the starting QB on this team because Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman stink.

Detroit Lions: Why not?

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons,

Coming into the league which such high expectations, Matt has more than lived up to his college hype.  He has played like a seasoned pro and has his team in position to make the playoffs.  In league that loves Quarterbacks its apparent that Matt Ryan will walk away from this season with the Rookie of the year award.  Just call him ROY.

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens,

Another young QB who has played well for his team this season.  In fact, if Matt Ryan was not in the league this year the award could easily be Flacco’s.  The only difference between him and Ryan is that the team he inherited was far better on paper than the Falcons were.  However, that does not deter from the fact that Flacco looks have all the tools to be a great QB in the NFL.

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears,

This rookie has carried the Bears team throughout the season.  His production has slipped in recent weeks, but still remains one of the best RBs to come out of this years draft.  I rank Forte higher than the other two backs on this list because of his involvement in the passing.  However, this year the award will go to a QB, because as we all know Quarterback is the glamor position in the NFL.

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans,

If you are looking for reasons as to why the Titans have had such a great season, look now further than Chris Johnson.  Johnson has played well above the preseason expectations, when many people believed he was nothing more than a work out warrior because of his eye-popping numbers from the combine.  Now that he is playing with LenDale White Johnson has given the Titans a great dual threat attack.

Steve Slaton, RB, Houston Texans,

Slaton was drafted in the third round from the University of West Virginia.  The fact that he was picked so late allowed him to play with a chip on his shoulder for most of the season.  Slaton has emerged as a talented play-maker who has helped give the Texans a solid rushing attack.  He has put up some great numbers, but he won’t be the rookie of the year.

Who do you think will be the NFL Rookie of the year ?

However, I’m more interested in the players that didn’t get the invited to the big dance this year.  There are always good players that snubbed and this year is no different.  Lets take a look at the biggest snubs from this years Pro Bowl teams.

AFC

Phillip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers,

Leads the league in passer rating and is having a career season.  The Chargers are having a bad season and Old Man Favre is now in the NFC, which made Phil the odd man out.

Steve Slaton, RB, Houston Texans,

This rookie is 7th in the NFL in rushing with 1124 yards and has 40 receptions.  He also has 9 total touchdowns.  Playing for the Texans didn’t help his chances, he will be a Pro Bowler some day.

Randy Moss, WR, New England Patriots,

Even playing without stud QB Tom Brady, Moss has scored 10 touchdowns, which is second in the NFL.  He is still one of the best players in the entire league at his position.

Lamarr Woodley, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers,

One half the most dominant pass rushing duos in Steeler history has been left off this years team.  Woodley has had a breakout year and is currently tied for 8th in NFL in sacks, with 11.5.

Shaun Ellis, DE, New York Jets,

Ellis has been one of the most productive players for the Jets this year.  His touchdown against the Bills was the biggest play of the season for that team, although it came well after the Pro Bowl Ballots were in.

Michael Griffin, FS,  Tennessee Titans,

Griffin has put together a fantastic season playing for the surprising Titans.  He has missed 4 games and is still second in the NFL with 5 interceptions.  The presence of Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu and his teammate Chris Hope, made his chances of making the team slim.

NFC

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons,

His numbers certainly don’t jump off the page, but what he has done for the Falcons has been nothing short of amazing.  He didn’t make it this year, yet his future will be full of trips to Hawaii.

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears,

Forte has put together one of the best rookie seasons in Bears history, which is saying alot when you look at the running backs on that list.  Much like Ryan, this rookie was snubbed this year, but will be a mainstay at the Pro Bowl in the future.

Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers,

His numbers got a huge boost in recent weeks, which is a big reason why he didn’t make the team.  He is having a great season and could be the NFL’s comeback player of the year.

Karlos Dansby, LB, Arizona Cardinals,

Dansby is one of the most underrated players in the entire NFL, on the defensive side of the ball.  Year after year he puts up big numbers and never really gets recognized for his achievements.

John Abraham, DE, Atlanta Falcons,

Abraham has been one of the most improtant players for the Falcons this year, and is 3rd in NFL in sacks.  He might have been snubbed from this year team beacuse he has been injured during the last couple seasons.

Oshiomogo Atogwe, FS, St. Louis Cardinals,

Atogwe has had a solid season playing for the lowly Rams.  The fact that he plays for such a bad team is the main reason why he failed to make the team.

At the end of the day, the Pro Bowl is mostly a popularity contest and possibly one of the worst all star games in all of sports.

The biggest surprise of the week had to be the New Orleans Saints defense holding super stud Adrian Peterson to just 32 yards, and still losing the game.  Well that is what makes fantasy football so interesting. 

So once again, here are the best fantasy football players of week 5.

Best Offensive Player - Aaron Rogers, QB, Green Bay Packers
Despite an injured shoulder Brett Favre’s replacement had another solid game, completing 25 passes for 313 yards and 3 touchdowns.  The big negative for Rogers and the Packers was that they lost at home to a team that they should have beat.   The fact that he was a game time decision also meant that many fantasy mangers might have had this guy on the bench for this game.

Honorable mention: Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants.

Best Offensive Rookie - Steve Slaton, RB, Houston Texans
Rookie runner Steve Slaton from West Virginia is looking like one of the biggest steals of draft. Slaton had 16 carries for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns in week 5.  It seem like every week a different rookie running back is putting up big numbers, which suggests  that this could be one of the best draft classes to come along in years. 

Honorable mention: Felix Jones, RB, Dallas Cowboys.

Best Defensive Player – Antoine Winfield, DB, Minnesota Vikings.
Winfield was a big reason for the Vikings victory against the Saints on Monday night, so was Ed Hochuli, but that is another story.  He had 8 total tackles 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 touchdown.  Winfield has always been known as one of the best cornerbacks in the league and he is on pace to have a terrific season.

Honorable mention: LaMarr Woodley, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers.

Best Defensive Rookie -  Keith Rivers, LB, Cincinnati Bengals.
Yet another slow week for the NFL’s defensive rookie means rookie LB Keith Rivers earns the award this week.  In his best game as a pro Rivers accumulated 2 tackles, 1interception and 1 forced fumble, in a losing cause.  Rives was a first round selection by the Bengals and is from the University of Southern California, it’s a good thing that his team had a lot of victories in College.

Honorable mention: Marcus Harrison, DT, Chicago Bears.

Remember to check back next week for the best fantasy football players of week 6.