Now that dust has settled from latest NFL draft, it’s time to take a step back and take a look at which players out of 2005 rookie class may make biggest fantasy impact. Rookies, on average, fail to make that big of a splash in their first year. Historically, most players tend to need time to develop and learn before they are big playmakers in NFL and key contributors in a fantasy league. Making jump from college game to pros can be an adjustment that takes some players a year or two to get used to physically and mentally.

One position that usually bucks trend of players having a longer adjustment to game and being productive players from get go is running back. A few reasons exist for immediate production you may get out of a rookie running back as opposed to a wide receiver or a quarterback.

One reason is that teams usually draft a running back because there is an immediate need at position. Teams rarely draft a running back as experimental or development player. A few scenarios create need to draft a running back such as when a veteran who is approaching downside of his career, an existing player suffers a serious injury or when a star player blatantly abandons his team…cough, Ricky, cough. These situations almost force a team to find a talented replacement quickly who can step in on day one and carry load of team.

Another reason why rookie running backs produce quicker than other positions is fact that running backs have shortest career span of any position in NFL. An average running back will play under four years in NFL before hanging up their cleats. Teams expect them to come in, make an immediate impact and get most out of them while they are still physically able to produce. The players at this position take such a beating that you generally want a young, physical specimen to carry load instead of a grizzled veteran who may only have a limited number of carries left in his legs.

A small learning curve is yet another reason why a rookie running back can step in on day one and give you a thousand-yard season right away. Other than blocking assignments and short pass patterns, most of a running backs work is instinctive. The best backs in NFL create on fly and have a talent and instincts that cannot be taught in classroom. Other positions such as receiver or quarterback must spend a good deal of their time on practice field and in film room learning complicated schemes and techniques that will help them become a complete pro and future fantasy stud.

If you look at some of bigger names in fantasy football today and take a peek at their rookie production you’ll see that they many of them were very productive in their first seasons

Being A Boston Sports Fan Author: Jason OConnor Copyright: 2005

Being a Boston sports fan sometimes reminds me of battered-wife syndrome. You get beaten down, but you keep coming back. You’re given just enough to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, just enough to ensure your devotion, but then you’re inevitably and sorely disappointed. I don’t know why a woman would ever go back to a coward who hits her, and I often don’t know why I remain a Boston sports fan. The Pats, Celts, Sox and Bruins make you want to like them, but it’s sometimes painful to remain a devoted fan throughout all their turmoil.

I grew up in a hockey family and my dad was particularly faithful to Bruins. From a very early age I can remember him watching Bobby Orr and Esposito skate circles around other teams. By time I was old enough to actually understand what was going on, Bruins were comprised of some more awesome players like Middleton, O'Reilly, Pederson, and Milbury. I used to love to watch Boston play Montreal with my father, but it seemed like Boston lost a lot more than won.

It was great to see Terry O'Reilly beat heck out of other players, and it was cool to watch all these veterans a few years later skate around without helmets while rest of players had to wear them. I guess it was some sort of grandfather clause or something. They just looked tough. When Cam Neely and Ray Bourque started playing I enjoyed Bruins just as much. But after Orr and Esposito were gone, none of these more recent players won Boston Bruins a Stanley Cup, quite frustrating.

But not to fear, The Celtics around this time were hot. Like Bruins/Canadians, Celtics/Lakers rivalry was a blast to experience, especially when Celts won. And they did. I remember probably one of greatest NBA teams ever to exist, Bird, McHale, Parish, DJ and Ainge. They weren’t prettiest bunch of guys around, Bird being particularly funky looking, but they were so fun to watch. It was wonderful to see them beat L.A. Lakers in 1983-84 championship and Houston Rockets in 1985-86 championship.

Unfortunately last few Celtics’ seasons lately have been dismal. They don’t even make it to playoffs regularly any more. How many more “building years” do we need? Watching Pierce take off his shirt and wave it around his head while being ejected from one of playoff games against Pacers this year was sad.

But 1986 was end of Boston championship teams for a long while. In fact, it was sixteen years until Patriots finally won Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. That’s a long wait. That’s a lifetime for crying out loud.