Rookie Roll Call

It's common knowledge in the NFL that the only rookie players to consistently make an impact are running backs. While rookie QB's Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco have shown tremendous promise, this year seems to be no exception. The '08 crop of rookie running backs is making a lot of noise. Below are some thoughts about the performance of the ten highest scoring (Yahoo! standard settings) rookie RB's so far this year:

• #1 - Matt Forte - Chicago: Hanging out just outside the top five overall RB's, Forte broke out in week 1 against Indy and has been developing into a solid RB1 ever since. Forte's recent sub-par outing at Detroit says less about his talent and more about the fact that Chicago was able to exploit the Lions' secondary to maximum effect. When not matched up against cupcake passing D's, expect to see Forte continue to get around 23 carries per game.
  
• #2 - Chris Johnson - Tennessee: With 381 rushing yards, the only thing Johnson is missing at this point is the goal line. Goal line carries for the Titans still reside with The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man Lendale White. However, White's recent injury troubles suggest Johnson may start stealing an even greater percentage of the workload. Although Johnson had a rough game last week against the Ravens stingy run D, look for him to bounce back with a monster outing in Kansas City after Chicago's week 6 bye.
• #3 - Steve Slaton - Houston: On an 0-4 Texans squad, Slaton is shaping up to be the lone bright spot this year. He quickly replaced Ahman Green in the starting role and has put up 100+ YFS in the past three contests. Even with Green back from injury on Sunday, Slaton still looked dominant, netting 93 yards on the ground and two scores. The Houston passing game has shown signs of the life the past two weeks. Having a legitimate pass threat, could open up additional holes for Slaton as the season rolls on.
• #4 - Felix Jones - Dallas: In week 4, Jones failed to touch the ball once, and the Cowboys lost at home to the Redskins. In week 5, Jones was handed the ball 9 times and reeled off 96 yards and a score. The Cowboys already have a RB beast in Marion Barber. But Jones is a speedy outside runner with enormous potential. Expect to see him get 5-10 carries per game going forward, plus return duties. Jones's workload may not cement him as an RB1 or even an RB2 this season. But if you're looking for a great flex play or bye week fill-in, Jones fits.
• #5 - Jonathon Stewart - Carolina: Stewart is quickly emerging as the MJD to DeAngelo Williams' Fred Taylor. Williams' starter status and week 5 explosion notwithstanding, Stewart has managed to look like the more attractive of the two backs with 269 yds on the ground and 4 scores to his credit. The 329 return yards also haven't hurt. Stewart's bowling ball build and running style and his fairly even share in the Carolina committee make him a solid RB2. He has RB1 potential, but not until he clearly surpasses Williams as the starter (which may or may not happen this season).
• #6 - Tim Hightower - Arizona: The heir apparent to Edgerrin James, Hightower has already been a fairly productive fantasy RB even in the backup role. Although he only has 11o yds on the ground, most of those yards have been gained on goal line plunges that have netted five TD's in five games. It's clear that Edge is past his prime and you hate to see Hightower sitting unowned while he racks up touchdowns. But he's still a risky play until his carries per game start getting into double digits on a consistent basis.
• #7 - Darren McFadden - Oakland: Anointed in the pre-season as this year's Adrian Peterson, McFadden has been something of a letdown through the Raiders' first four games. Netting 272 yds and only 1 score, McFadden has been plagued by injury and an inability to shake competition from Justin Fargas and Michael Bush. Provided McFadden loses the boot soon and gets healthy, he still has potential to finish the season as a good RB2 or flex play. But for now, you're not starting him and if you jumped early to draft him, well, I hope you're in a keeper league.
• #8 - Kevin Smith - Detroit: Kevin Smith has definitely had the most drama of any of these rookies in his first year of NFL play. Late in training camp, it appeared Smith had completely snatched the starting job from Tatum Bell. Them the Bengals fired Rudi Johnson and all hell broke loose. Detroit hired Rudi and cut Bell. Bell stole Rudi's duffel bag. Smith kept the starting gig, then it looked like Rudi had taken it away. Smith starts anyway and has the better game against Chicago. You get all that? It's starting to look as though nothing is going to go Detroit's way this season, but if you really want to invest in their RB corps, it appears Kevin Smith is still the man to buy.
• #9 - Mike Tolbert - San Diego: The #3 RB behind LT and Darren Sproles, Tolbert has been used primarily as a receiver this year. If you're in a league deep enough to care about this guy, it's time to find another league
• #10 - Jamaal Charles - Kansas City: With LJ getting on in years, and having just dropped a 2 yard stinkbomb against Carolina, his current backups are just waiting for the infirm alpha to weaken further and they will drive him from his territory and subjugate his progeny. Right now it appears Charles has supplanted Kolby Smith as the #1 backup. But since it looks like Herm Edwards has changed his coaching philosophy from "we play to win the game" to "we play for a high draft pick" you probably don't want any Chiefs you didn't already draft.