Fantasy Football 2006: Draft Tip #11

The Rookies Part 2:

When I talked about the rookies way back in Draft Tip #7, I told you about my concerns in drafting the new kids too high. If you haven't read #7, scroll on down and do so now. I'll wait for you ........... OK, Done?

So now that you know my reservations about rookies in general and Reggie Bush in specific (also see Tip #10), lets talk some more about the new class.

We'll start with QBs.

Three QBs were drafted in the first round this year. Vince Young (TEN - 3rd overall pick), Matt Leinart (ARI - 10th overall pick), and Jay Cutler (DEN - 11th overall pick)

Vince Young:

• Has all the tools, but rookie QBs still have to adjust to the game (or at least with the exception of some guy named Roethlisberger). Unless Volek gets hurt expect Young to sit most of the season. When the Titanics sink out of contention, Vince will likely get the call and could put up some decent late season Fantasy points.

Matt Leinart:

• As with Young, expect Lienart to spend the early season games mostly on the bench, that is, as long as Kurt Warner stays healthy. When Leinart does start playing it won't take him long to realize that NFL Defenses are light years ahead of those "Downy Soft" D's he faced in the PAC-10. Still, if Warner does go down I don't think the Cardinals will waste much time moving Leinart ahead of John Navarre.
  
• (Note: My opinion on Navarre is the same today as it was two years ago. Just so you don't have to go back and find it - "Couldn't win the big one's at Michigan, won't even win the small one's here")

Jay Cutler:

• Cutler will flourish under Mike Shanahan's guidance. Expect him to knock Van Pelt out of the #2 slot and press Plummer before long. Plummer is coming of a great year after two down seasons. His job is safe, for now, but if he starts to falter expect to see Cutler on the doorstep.

Of course injuries have a way of changing things and sometimes, just sometimes, one of these new kids will step up and surprise you. Think "Big Ben".

Next up in Tip#12, we'll look at the rookie Running Backs.