Fantasy Football All-Rookie Team

According to WikiAnswers.com, 30 million people around the world play Fantasy Football in some capacity. As magazines and online articles begin pouring out over the next few weeks to prepare for various fantasy drafts, I give you a sneak peak by creating my 2008 All-Rookie Fantasy team.

Historically, rookies usually don't make a huge impact in Fantasy Football. Unless a player cracks the starting line up early in the season or gets significant substitution reps, most rookies do not become a factor until late in the season when either starters are injured or weaker teams start playing them for experience. When a player is drafted in the NFL Draft is not a factor either. Whether your a Top 10 pick like 2007's Vikings RB Adrian Peterson or a 7th round pick like 2006's Marques Colston; it all depends on the team you play for and the individual opportunities that arise.

Over the course of the next few days I will post position by position who I feel will be impact Fantasy Football Rookies in 2008. Starting with the QB...

Quarterback: John David Booty (Minnesota Vikings)

Lets face it, Tavaras Jackson is not the answer in Minnesota. He has poor footwork and makes bad decisions. The Vikings are prime for a deep playoff run in a weak NFC Conference. Booty will be starting by mid season and will flourish because of what the team needs most: a game manager. He fits Brad Childress's offense well and will have targets such as WR Bernard Berrian and WR Sydney Rice to throw to. Adrian Peterson is no secret out of the backfield, commanding defenses to crowd the box in 7-8 man fronts. Teams will force the Vikings to beat them with the throw, so expect more opportunities down field . Throw in one of the best Offensive Lines in the NFL blocking for him and I expect good things out of Minnesota.

Runners-up: Chad Henne (Miami Dolphins) & Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons)

Patrick Willis: Encore Presentation?

In the 2007 NFL Draft, 10 teams passed on a talented Middle Linebacker from Ole Miss named Patrick Willis. Out of those teams, only 1 currently has a Pro Bowl Linebacker on their team (DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans). While fellow draft picks such as OT Joe Thomas and RB Adrian Peterson also had star-studded seasons, Willis' rookie campaign was the stuff of future legends.

Willis finished the 2007 campaign with an NFL-leading 174 total tackles, along with 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 passes deflected. He earned Rookie of the Week honors 4 times, GMC Defensive Player of the Week twice, NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and First Team All-Pro by the Associated Press. He was the only rookie in the NFL to make the AP All-Pro squad and the first Defensive Rookie from the 49ers to make the Pro Bowl since Ronnie Lott in 1981.

And we all know how good Lott became.

So what do we have in store for Willis' in his sophomore year?

From 49ers.com:

Q: Having this entire off-season to train and focus on this defense, how much better can Patrick Willis be in 2008?

Willis: A lot better. I believe that I’m working on a higher game than I played at last year. Last year was more just instincts. This year, I’m out there being the guy who says, “hey this is coming,” and I am able to see something before it happens. Last year it was just reaction and going off of my instincts. I have my laptop at home and I watch games from last year and I find so many things I could have done so much better. I see some stuff where I think I looked horrible out there, and so there is a lot of room for improvement. Also, I feel good. It’s always different when you are playing games, but my body feels good and I’m ready.

http://49ers.com/pressbox/news_detail.php?PRKey=4282&section=PR%20News

If this is any indication, I expect to see a lot more of the All-Pro #52 in 2008, and look forward to seeing many more reasons why 10 teams should never have passed on this great young player.

Welcome to StandOUT Scouting

Welcome to our new Professional Football Blog entitled StandOUT Scouting.

Throughout the 2008 NFL/College Football seasons, we will be posting articles, opinions, player evaluations, and various information on all things football related.

We look forward to get the ball rolling and hope you join us for the ride...