The NFL’s class of 2008 has made its presence felt through the first quarter of the season. Week 5 proved to be no different as many rookies found their way into the endzones and impacted fantasy games everywhere during a time when depth was huge due to bye weeks and injuries.

For the third straight week, Houston’s Steve Slaton looked great. It certainly doesn’t seem like he’s only started three games as a pro. And in Dallas, Felix Jones taught the Cowboys a valuable lesson by following up his zero-touch effort in Week 4 with an impressive showing of 96 yards on nine carries including a 33-yard touchdown scamper. Read more »

One of the more exciting parts of preseason fantasy football, rookie evaluations can either make a quick impact on teams or fall flat on their faces as wasted draft picks. More often than not, the latter proves true, but if we learned one thing from Adrian Peterson’s 2007 romp, it’s that we should certainly believe that big results are possible.

Some overreaction is all but guaranteed in the post-A.P. Era, and most of it will center around Oakland physical specimen Darren McFadden. Owners everywhere are still sore about the fact that they passed on Peterson at nearly the same draft position (mid-3rd round) and will be damned if they make the same mistake. Problem is, odds are slim and none that McFadden’s arrival has half the impact of Peterson’s. Read more »

The 2008 NFL Draft is in the books, which brings to an end an offseason of player trades and acquisitions. Rosters are not 100 percent settled yet, and there are no guarantees that rookies will be at training camp on time. Things are firm enough, though, that we can set our sites on the 2008 fantasy football season and decide which rookies will make an immediate impact.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a skill position player that will make an immediate mark on his team. No wide receivers were selected in the first round, which could be a blessing because they tend to tease fantasy owners with ability and fizzle out during the year. Darren McFadden headlines the running back crop, but other first rounders Jonathan Stewart (Carolina), Felix Jones (Dallas) and Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh) all find themselves on the wrong end of a time share.

Defenses around the league got some big boosts to their fantasy fortunes, with players like Glenn Dorsey, Jerod Mayo, Phillip Merling and DeSean Jackson all capable of adding great value to their units. Read more »