Top 10 Impact NFL Rookies For 2009

Columnist Mike Florio of the Sporting News recently released a list of the top 10 first year players going into the 2009 NFL football season. Some of the names on the list were obvious like the top three quarterbacks selected, Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez, and Josh Freeman.

Top running backs on the list are Denver Broncos running back, Knowshon Moreno and Donald Brown of the Indianapolis Colts.

One player that Florio has his eye on in particular is Percy Harvin of the Minnesota Vikings. Of Harvin, Florio says, “It’d be wise to keep an eye on Harvin for two reasons: First, he tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he’ll be required to stay away from the wacky weed (or at least acquire a Whizzinator). Second, he’ll need to get acclimated to multiple potential roles and positions in the Vikings offense.

Will the Vikings expand Harvin’s duties with kick- or punt-return chores? He wasn’t used in those capacities at Florida because he was too important to the offense; under that reasoning, Harvin might not be doing much returning in Minnesota, either.

However it turns out, Harvin’s progress or lack thereof will be watched carefully, as the Vikings look for someone — anyone — to take pressure off of the best running back in the NFL, Adrian Peterson .”
Other players on the list are wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey of the Raiders, Giants receiver, Ramses Barden, offensive tackle Andre Smith of the Bengals and defensive end Brian Orakpo of the Redskins.

Five Running Backs For 2009

It’s every fantasy football team manager’s dream to pick the sleeper running back of their leagues. Last year it was Steve Slaton in Houston. Christopher Harris of ESPN.com has reviews five running backs who he believe will have breakout seasons in 2009 that you may be able to snag up with a mid round pick.

Here is what he had to say about Knowshon Moreno:

Knowshon Moreno, Broncos Oh, great. The Broncos have 71 running back candidates again. New head coach Josh McDaniels never seemed to settle on a single rusher during his time as New England’s offensive coordinator, and he’s got all sorts of toys to play with now that he’s a mile high: Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington, LaMont Jordan, Ryan Torain, Peyton Hillis and this spring’s first-round pick, Moreno. That makes any of these guys very dangerous to spend an early fantasy pick on. But the Broncos have two of the best tackles in the game, Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris, and while the line’s interior depth chart doesn’t leap off the page with awesomeness, it’s solid enough. That makes this a potentially valuable backfield gig, and given the mediocrity of the team’s other backs, you have to believe Moreno will at least get a long look at being the unquestioned starter. Arrington is a third-down back, Torain is coming off a torn ACL and could begin the year on the PUP list, and Hillis is reportedly moving back to fullback. That leaves Moreno, Buckhalter and Jordan. Moreno has the physical tools to be way better than the other two guys. For a player his size (220 pounds), Moreno has tremendous quickness and is a superb pass-blocker. It’s unfortunate that there are so many bodies here, because it almost seems a fait accompli that someone will emerge as a short-yardage player to steal some of Moreno’s value. If that doesn’t happen, though, Moreno could be a fantasy star right away.

To read the rest of the article on the five running back candidates who could have a break out fantasy football year check out espn.com.

Knowshon shows his stuff

Denver Broncos first-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno, left, runs past coaches while taking part in a drill during the team’s football minicamp at the Broncos’ headquarters in the southeast Denver suburb of Englewood, Colo. , on Sunday, May 3, 2009.