NFL Rookies: Who Will Excel in 2008

A lot of times fans get excited about who was picked in the top ten of the NFL Draft and what players got huge signing bonuses. If a player was picked #1 people expect great results from that player in week one. It's not always about the talent of the player a lot of the time a players success is determined by the talent level around him and the system that is in place. There are a number of rookies that have found themselves in great situations and will contribute a lot this season.

1. RB Felix Jones 6-0 200 Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have one of the best running backs in the NFL in Marion Barber. Barber has a punishing style of running and likes to create collisions with the defense. Once the defense becomes tired of hitting the bruising Barber they will have to deal with the speed of Felix Jones. In the fourth quarter of games expect Jones to break a lot of long runs to put games out of reach for the Cowboys. In his last season at Arkansas Jones rushed for 1,162 yards and averaged 8.7 YPC. So far in the pre-season Jones is averaging 5.4 YPC. Felix will be productive as a change of pace back and as a receiver on third downs.

2. WR Eddie Royal 5-10 180 Denver Broncos

Royal might have been the Broncos third or fourth receiver before Brandon Marshall got suspended. Mike Shanahan has been forced to accelerate Eddie's learning process. With Brandon gone for two or three games Royal will get an opportunity to prove that he can be counted on. With the help of one of the best ground games in the NFL Royal should be apart of a lot of play action passes. At Virginia Tech Royal caught 33 passes, averaged 14.7 yards per punt return and averaged 22.6 yards per kickoff return.

3. WR Limas Sweed 6-5 219 Pittsburgh Steelers