Ted Ginn (Mia, 9^th pick overall) - Reports this off-season have said that Ginn looks better than good. In fact, "dominant" has been thrown around when talking about Ginn, and Dolphin coach Tony Sparano has said that Ginn is more confident than ever in his abilities. GM Jeff Ireland has noted that he thinks Ginn is ready to break out, and the Dolphins want him to focus on the receiver position almost exclusively, as evidenced by their making him the #2 punt returner this off-season. Ginn was decent last year, with a line of 56/790/2, and he functioned relatively well as the Dolphins' main deep threat in a group of intermediate possession receivers (he caught the ball, on average, 10.5 yards downfield). In the second half of the season, Ginn ranked 21^st in FPG among all WRs, which placed him as a solid starting WR in 12-team leagues over that span. We aren't ready to declare Ginn as a sure thing in your starting lineup, and as of right now, he's probably a #3 fantasy wideout at best if you're looking to draft him. But he's shown he can be better than that, and it wouldn't exactly be shocking, given his high-end speed and movement ability as well as his second-half production last season. The key for Ginn is to perform consistently at a high level and to command the football because he doesn't score enough to be an elite fantasy WR otherwise. In his third season, if he’s ever going to fulfill his potential in the NFL, we should see some clear signs now above and beyond what he showed last year. Most likely, he’ll never be a stud, but it’s realistic to project his upside as something similar to what Santonio Holmes has done the last couple of seasons in Pittsburgh.

Mike Walker (Jac, 79^th pick overall) - 2008 was a quiet year for Walker, since he started only one of the nine games he played in and made just 16 catches, but things should be much different in 2009, really different. After missing his 2007 rookie season with a knee injury and missing games due to a knee infection and personal issues last year, Walker now finds himself near the top of the depth chart for the Jaguars. The Jags cut loose a laundry list of head cases, slow-pokes, and overall disappointments at the WR position this off-season and over the last two years, and they brought in a reliable and hard-working veteran in Torry Holt. Holt has a firm grasp on the #1 job here, of course, but someone is going to need to start alongside him, and Walker almost certainly has the upper hand at this point, and he's been taking first-team reps all off-season. Walker has good size and reliable hands and he runs great routes, which make him an ideal possession threat, plus he’s not exactly playing with a fridge on his back like some of the other recent Jag wideouts. Since he’s done very little in his two years, he’s probably one of the most legitimate third-year breakout threats in the NFL this season – but he has to show the team he can stay healthy and can be relied on. For what it’s worth, Jag RB Maurice Jones-Drew told us in May that he’s all over Walker as a major WR sleeper this year, and he wasn’t just blowing smoke. 

Greg Olsen (Chi, 31^st pick overall) - Olsen might be the surest player to break out at the TE position this year, and calling these type of things "sure" is usually relatively risky. But the addition of QB Jay Cutler means incredible things for Olsen, who's shown flashes of being an elite TE in his first two seasons but hasn't yet put together a complete campaign. Reports indicate that Cutler is already beginning to favor Olsen in workouts, and there are reasons for that. The biggest thing about Olsen that we like is the fact that he moves like a WR despite his great size, so he immediately becomes the best possession and PPR threat on a team that's relatively young and uncertain at the WR position. Although the new QB will obviously change things, the Bears threw to their TEs 156 times in 2008, which was third in all of football. And Cutler has a history of throwing to the TE even with studs at the WR position (Tony Scheffler, anyone?). Especially on a team with a lack of size at wide receiver, Olsen should be extremely active, since he’s probably the best option on the team when it comes to making tough, contested catches in traffic, and throwing those types of passes happens to be Cutler’s specialty. Olsen is also an excellent red zone receiver, thanks to his size and athleticism. The only thing that might hold Olsen back is the presence of Desmond Clark, a good TE in his own right. But Bear OC Ron Turner said last week that "we're seeing the evolution" of Olsen's ability heading into his third season. Olsen could be the best breakout candidate in this entire article.

Zach Miller (Oak, 38^th pick overall) - Miller, despite lacking outstanding athleticism and size, developed into the favorite target for QB JaMarcus Russell in his second season, and we don't see any reason to think he won't be on pace to catch 60+ balls in the upcoming campaign with 32 pro starts now under his belt. Miller surprised as a rookie when he caught 44 balls, but in Year Two he not only increased that total to 58, but he raised his low YPC (10.1) to 13.9, one of the best totals among all TEs, which was encouraging. The reason Miller wasn't a home run in fantasy last year, though, was because he scored just 1 TD. To be honest, we don't think that was Miller's fault as much as it's a fault of the sterile Raider offense, in general. And conventional wisdom suggests that if Miller is in the 55-65 catch range again this year, it will be almost impossible for him to not score more TDs. One thing to watch is how he recovers from off-season hernia surgery, although he was worked slowly into practices, and he should be fine for training camp. With two years in the league, he should be ready to handle or continue to handle the prominent role he needs to have on a team with such limited experience at the wideout position.

Brent Celek (Phi, 162^nd pick overall) - Celek has shown the ability to take over games, despite some inconsistency on the field, and now he's the top dog in Philadelphia with L.J. Smith moved on to the Ravens. Celek really made a name for himself when he caught 10 balls for 83 yards and 2 TDs in a losing effort in the NFC Championship Game in January, after he had permanently claimed the starting role late in the regular season when Smith proved one final time that he couldn't be counted on. During the regular season, Celek went for 27/318/1 in a primarily reserve role, but he exploded for 131 yards in a single game at Seattle. That's the Celek we'd like to see more of. One thing we consistently hear about Celek is that he's a true workhorse and a "student of the game," just a guy who loves playing football. When exploring backup options at the TE position, that's a really good indicator that this guy’s going to be a nice safety blanket. Celek said his shoulder, which bothered him last year after early 2008 surgery, is now 100% healthy, and that he's confident his blocking is strong enough to warrant three-down playing time. In terms of fantasy value, one of the concerns here is the drafting of Cornelius Ingram, who could become a better red-zone threat for the Eagles. But Celek is the starter. The other concern, and it’s a big one, is: Can he truly excel now that he’s the guy and won’t be afforded the luxury of catching defenses napping? That’s the key question with Celek, but his body of work so far is encouraging, and having two years in the league should help.

Kevin Boss (NYG, 153^rd pick overall) - Boss was actually a disappointment to fantasy players who were expecting big things out of him last year, but from strictly a football standpoint, he solidified himself as an everyday player the Giants will definitely use. Boss was a sleeper pick last year after the Giants unloaded Jeremy Shockey, but while the red zone love was nice, he responded with a relatively pedestrian 33/384 stat line to go along with his 6 TDs, good for just 5.0 FPG. And it should definitely be noted that the addition of rookie TE Travis Beckum, a big guy who moves like a WR, could mean fewer looks for Boss, who didn't improve his production at all when Plaxico Burress missed time last year. But the reason Boss is a viable fantasy back-up threat is because he established himself, quite simply, as one of the best blockers at the position. That means he's still the #1 TE and he's still going to get on the field. Given the Giants' willingness to throw him the ball in the red zone, owners could certainly do worse than Boss as a bench option.

Derek Schouman (Buf, 222^nd pick overall) - The Bills are somewhat high on Schouman, and he has shown flashes as a versatile player who can move around the line of scrimmage. We initially thought Schouman might be a sleeper when the Bills released Robert Royal, given his decent 15/153/1 line in 2008, but the addition of rookie TE Shawn Nelson means he obviously isn't in the Bills' long-term plans as the guy, so his fantasy value appears to be pretty limited. Where Schouman will be useful will be as an H-back type, but those types of players typically don't put up huge fantasy numbers despite being valuable to the Bill offense on the field. Nelson is too talented not to play, and Derek Fine is a better blocker, so Schouman, as far as the TE position goes, could be the odd man out. He'll play, but he won't have much value. Nelson should be the guy.

Dante Rosario (Car, 155^th pick overall) - Rosario was a popular Waiver Wire pickup after his impressive Week One game in 2008, in which he went for 7/96 and a game-winning touchdown. Unfortunately for Rosario (and his owners), he caught just 11 balls, with no scores the rest of the season. He's an athletic and big TE with field-stretching ability, and frankly the Panthers are pretty thin beyond Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad at WR. But Rosario is still battling Jeff King for playing time, and the Panthers just don't throw to the TE often enough to make either of them viable fantasy options until proven otherwise. Muhammad once said that Chicago is where WRs go to die and, apparently, Carolina is where TEs go to meet their maker.

Already broken out but even more experience helps:

Donnie Avery (Stl, 33^rd pick overall) – Avery was the first receiver taken in the 2008 draft, and while it certainly wasn’t planned, thanks to Torry Holt’s knee problems, he found himself as something of a go-to guy by the time the season ended. The team let Holt go, which was a function of his age and health issues, but it was also a vote of confidence for Avery, who now leads a young receiving corps in St. Louis on a rebuilding team. With everyone trying to impress the new coaching staff, Avery will have to find his role in the new West Coast offense installed by OC Pat Shurmur, but it should certainly be as the #1 WR here. Shurmur comes over from Philadelphia, and he’ll run a version of the West Coast offense. The Eagles were a pass-happy team when Shurmur was there, so you have to assume they will throw the ball a good amount, so that’s good for Avery. Avery’s not the best fit for the system due to his lack of size, but Shurmur in Philadelphia saw them have success throwing to smaller receivers, which is good to know. Avery’s also stated recently that he likes the offense and how it allows receivers to freelance and make plays. His 2008 numbers (53/674/3) may not be gaudy but definitely show promise. He’d be a great example of a player poised to break out in his second season – if he was playing a #2 role and in the same offense as his rookie season. But neither is the case, so we’re a little skeptical. He’s a speedy playmaker, so he’s bound to have some bright moments, but producing consistently is going to be a tall order. At least he does have a year’s experience in the league and a year in which he played a lot in 2008.

Devin Thomas (Was, 34^th pick overall) – The Redskins drafted Thomas with the hope that he and Malcolm Kelly would be the future of the receiving corps. Unfortunately, they both struggled with injuries last season, so opportunities were severely limited. Thomas at least started to see the field later in the season, averaging 3.2 pass targets per game in their final five games. He even scored on a 29-yard TD run. There is absolutely no doubt the Redskins would love to start Thomas this year. Then they could move veteran Antwaan Randle El to the slot, where he’s ideally suited to play. But to do that, Thomas must prove he’s ready for the prominent role. Thomas has ideal tools for the offense – size and speed – but he was considered raw coming out of college, and his rookie season did little to dispute that claim. However, QB Jason Campbell has said a lot of good things about Thomas’ route-running in the OTAs, and the QB is also impressed with his overall awareness, so the light may be coming on for him in Year Two. Ultimately, Thomas may need another year of seasoning, but if he shows enough this summer, the Redskins may still give him a chance to start on the outside. That would be a play-to-win decision, and with jobs possibly on the line, infusing some youth and juice into the lineup may be the prudent thing to do. We also need to keep an eye on Kelly, who was considered more NFL-ready than Thomas this time last year but who had more injury woes. And finally, if Thomas doesn’t step up this summer, it’s possible the team signs a veteran like D.J. Hackett, which just goes to show how much they need help and size in their starting lineup.

Josh Morgan (SF, 174^th pick overall) – Drafted 130+ picks after a guy like James Hardy, a 2^nd-round pick of the Bills last year, Morgan looks like the 2008 draft’s best value at the position, and the Niners will be the first to tell you that. As he enters his second season, Morgan, despite the return of Isaac Bruce and the drafting of top pick Michael Crabtree, is expected to compete for a starting job, and the team believes he can become a top-flight receiver this year. He fell ill and lost 15 pounds just before the 2008 season started after an impressive preseason. Despite that unfortunate start to his season, he finished with 20 catches for 319 yards and 3 TDs in 12 games. Morgan may not be a stud talent, but he’s shown tremendous ability and made some great catches last year, and the team has been very high on him for over a year now. He spent most of his time last year at split end, but he’s seen time this year at flanker, so he should be able to start at either spot this year. That flexibility is a key, since the team is looking to start its best two receivers, and right now Morgan definitely looks like he’s one of them. So with a year’s experience, if he continues to progress and proves impossible to keep off the field, Morgan could have a breakout season, despite the added competition and despite the 49ers having their deepest WRs corps in a decade.

Chaz Schilens (Oak, 226th pick) - Schilens came on late last year as a potentially reliable target for JaMarcus Russell. He caught six passes and scored twice in the last two games alone, a good sign for his future potential as a possession receiver. Ideally, the Raiders would love to use Schilens as a guy to run intermediate routes, where his size (6'4") and leaping ability is put to use. Fortunately for both parties, Schilens has, so far, been extremely impressive in minicamps and is probably the #1 favorite on the roster to grab one of the two starting WR positions. The thing about Schilens is that he doesn't fit the Raiders' obsession with burning speed, which might actually work out in his favor because he can be used in different ways than Darrius Heyward-Bey or Johnnie Lee Higgins.

Earl Bennett (Chi, 70^th pick overall) – Bennett is being pegged as a sleeper this season for a few reasons. He’s part of a very young and unproven receiving corps in Chicago that by no means has any roles solidified. But the most interesting reason Bennett is getting so much attention is his connection to new Bear QB Jay Cutler. In 2005, Cutler was a senior at Vanderbilt and his #1 receiver was a first-year Commodore named Earl Bennett. Bennett would go on to catch 79 balls for 876 yards and 9 TDs, which was good for nearly 43% of Cutler’s TD production and 28% of his passing yards. When Bennett had his pro day in 2008, Cutler was the one throwing to him, so the duo certainly does have a good rapport. Now you have Cutler coming to a new situation in Chicago, and Bennett’s the only receiver in the Windy City with whom he has previous experience. Bennett has only decent size, and he’s not very fast or explosive, but he’s considered a very good route-runner, knows how to get open, and he has very good hands. For now, he’s slotted into the starting lineup, so in theory, all the pieces are in place for him to have a breakout season. However, while we like Bennett, the fact remains his sampling in the NFL is literally non-existent. This is a player who didn’t register a catch in his rookie 2008 season, and he was involved in only 16 total plays last year. Bennett projects best as their slot receiver, with rookie Juaquin Iglesias ideally starting alongside Devin Hester on the outside. Even if that’s the case, Bennett should have some value in his second year and with some experience under his belt. If Bennett does step up in his second season, then he could possibly retain the starting spot, so he’d have even more value.

Malcolm Kelly (Was, 51st pick overall) – Kelly was taken just 17 picks after the ‘Skins grabbed Devin Thomas early in the second round last year (34^th overall), as the team was attempting to solidify its receiving corps by adding some size, as well as some youth. He had a rough time last year, however, thanks to a nagging knee injury that limited him to just five games and only 3 receptions for 18 yards. The good news is that he made a favorable impression when he practiced and played last year, more so than Thomas most likely, and his size and physicality are certainly needed in Washington. Even better news this off-season, the microfracture surgery on his knee wasn’t as serious as first thought, and as of early June, he was back practicing with the team, presumably on track to open up training camp close to 100%. Although his role isn’t very clear, it would appear that he should be, at worst, their #4 WR. If Kelly impresses, however, and Thomas fails to prove worthy of more playing time, it’s not out of the realm of possibility Kelly steals a lot more playing time than expected. First up, he has to show he is healthy and can stay healthy. But with veteran James Thrash released, Randle-El playing out of position as the #2, and Thomas still raw and inexperienced, Kelly should get chances to prove that he should be part of the game plan every week.

Jordy Nelson (GB, 36^th pick overall) – Although he plays behind an excellent starting duo of Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, Nelson has the chance to shine in 2009 on the pass-happy Packers. The former Kansas State walk-on was a highly touted receiving prospect coming out, and he didn’t really disappoint, all things considered. Nelson quietly had a respectable rookie campaign going 33/366/2 while appearing in all 16 games. This Packers team is fairly young, so each year playing together is another chance to become more acquainted with the weapons in your offense. That is especially true for QB Aaron Rodgers, who had a phenomenal first year as the starter for the Packers last season. Nelson will only get better from playing with a guy like Rodgers, and because they’re both early in their careers, they’ll have the chance to develop chemistry that could make Nelson a valuable part of this team going forward. All Nelson is really doing, however, is biding his time and doing whatever he can to replace Driver in 1-2 years. However, if Driver goes down with an injury, that 2008 in the books will come in handy for the ultra-talented Nelson. Otherwise, we can’t expect much for fantasy if he’s stuck as the #3.

Limas Sweed (Pit, 53^rd pick overall) – Remember when Big Ben was pushing the Steelers to get him a taller receiver? That was supposed to be Sweed. He ended up playing in only 11 games and registered just six catches for 64 yards and was most remembered for his sure-TD drop in the AFC Championship game or, on the brighter side, his vicious block on Raven CB Corey Ivy in the same game. What Sweed wants to be known as is the Steelers’ #3 WR this season. He finds himself in a battle for that spot with rookie Mike Wallace and veteran Shaun McDonald. Sweed will need to set himself apart by using his unique combination of size and speed. The one vote of confidence he did get from the team was their willingness to let WR Nate Washington go to the Titans. The door is open for Sweed to succeed in 2009, but it will be up to him to walk through it. The good news for Sweed is that he has slowly but surely showed signs in the OTAs that he’s starting to get comfortable, and his confidence level is up. That bodes well for his chances at claiming that #3 role, and it’s especially important if either Hines Ward or Santonio Holmes misses time with an injury. If that’s the case, Sweed’s on-the-job training in 2008 should help a lot.

Harry Douglas (Atl, 84^th pick overall) – With rookie QB Matt Ryan leading the team to the playoffs and WR Roddy White and RB Michael Turner earning their first Pro Bowl selections, it was easy to overlook Douglas’ rookie season. It may not have gaudy production, but it was pretty flashy, as he finished the season with 23/320 while scoring a receiving, rushing, and return TD. He’s another guy who’ll benefit from playing in a young, high-powered offense, and the addition of TE Tony Gonzalez will only give him more chance to get open. Of course, Gonzo’s presence should mean fewer looks for Douglas. But this is a player with terrific speed, above-average quickness, sticky hands, strong football smarts, and a good work ethic. He’s also pretty scrappy, as evidenced by his taking a swing last year at 13-year veteran and tough guy Lawyer Milloy in training camp. His upside is limited on this team, but there’s no question he’s a nice little player who can add some dynamism to their offense, so he’s someone to have on your radar.

Keenan Burton (Stl, 128^th pick overall) – Burton started the 2008 season very quietly, but by the end of the year, it was apparent that he found his role in the offense. Now that Torry Holt is gone, Burton and teammate Donnie Avery both have said they are prepared for increased roles in the offense. Burton and Avery have worked with the first-team in minicamp and Burton looks to be, at worst, the #3. If he beats Laurent Robinson out for a starting job, then he’d actually be a viable late pick in fantasy drafts. Although his numbers were far from amazing (13/172/1), he is going to get more chances in yet another offense that lacks a bona fide #1 WR. Burton isn’t a burner, and he’s not considered a great route-runner, plus he’s not exactly sharp coming out of his breaks. But he’s a physical presence with good hands, and he’s considered a high-character guy. He showed flashes of having a future in the league last year, so he’s someone to keep an eye on now that he has a great opportunity and some experience.

Davone Bess (Mia, Undrafted) – Bess was last year’s winner of the right-place-at-the-right-time award, and he had one of the best rookie seasons ever for an undrafted receiver. While he was primarily used as a return man early on, Bess stepped up in the absence of Greg Camarillo, who went down with a knee injury in Week Twelve. Playing in 17 games and taking over the starting role for Camarillo, Bess would finish with 54 catches for 554 yards and a TD. He registered a catch in every single game, and became one of QB Chad Pennington’s most reliable targets. Without Bess, the Dolphins may not have made the postseason, as he became a very important part of their offensive game plan every week. Bess will probably be the #3 WR this year if Camarillo can come back from his knee injury, but at this point he has become entrenched in this offense, and he’s an ideal slot receiver. Given the experience he gained last year, he could duplicate 2008’s shocking production if given the chance.

Andre Caldwell (Cin, 97^th pick overall) – Caldwell enters 2009 with a chance to lock down a fairly prominent role as the team’s 3^rd-down receiver. Thanks to the departure of WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Caldwell looks like he could take over the slot receiver role, but with Chris Henry still on the team and looking promising this off-season, Caldwell is technically still only the team’s 4^th receiver. He will also continue to contribute on special teams as a KR, where he average 26 yards per return in late season action. Caldwell did a decent job last year, and he’s lost some weight and appears to be quicker this year, so combined with his good hands, smarts, and athleticism, he could give them a little more juice inside than they got with TJH. The return of QB Carson Palmer, who has fully endorsed his receiving corps, will only help the young Caldwell, and could make him an important part of this offense. His added experience, however, is the key.

Marcus Smith (Bal, 106^th pick overall) – Smith didn’t register any statistics in 2008, despite playing in 10 games (including 3 in the playoffs) for the Ravens. He is expected to battle for the #3 spot, and he was noted for his big plays during a May minicamp where it appeared he and QB Joe Flacco were developing some nice chemistry. Obviously, Smith still has a lot to prove, but with the position being thin as is, Smith has a chance to see more time this season. We were very impressed with him seeing him up close at Raven camp last summer, and he was one of their better stories in camp last year. Like Anquan Boldin, he’s big, physical, is a great run-after-the-catch guy, and he runs good routes. He should be better off with a year’s experience, so he’s definitely someone to watch.

Jerome Simpson (Cin, 46^th overall pick) - Simpson caught just one pass as a rookie, despite being one of the first receivers taken off the board, and reviews of his off-season progress have been mixed. In March, QB Carson Palmer praised Simpson for his effort and said it was evident the second-year receiver had "been working." But while he’s showcased his athleticism in the OTAs and has made some nice downfield catches, other reports suggest Simpson is still sluggish and unpolished as a route runner, and his average speed on top of that meant that DBs had no problem containing him. It looks like third-round pick Andre Caldwell has settled in past Simpson on the depth chart, and although it's still early, Simpson hasn't shown any reason to believe the light bulb will turn on this year.

Mario Manningham (NYG, 95^th pick overall) – Manningham didn’t do much last year, despite the team desperately needing production of out the WR position after Plaxico Burress became a non-factor down the stretch. He appeared in just seven games, including the last five of the regular season, but he finished with only 4 catches for 26 yards. With Burress now gone for good, the Giant WR corps is a collection of  young, unproven players that really doesn’t have a #1 at the present time. The coaching staff believes Manningham can play anywhere on the field, which makes him a valuable backup for a team that lacks versatility at receiver. He also practiced as a punt returner, so if nothing else, he should see time there. With no clear-cut starters, Manningham could make some waves if he makes the most of his time on the field, and having a year under his belt can only help him. Don’t expect much from him, however, since he appears to be nothing more than a rotational receiver in the NFL. He’s a long-strider and a poor route-runner, and he doesn’t always compete to the fullest.

James Hardy (Buf, 41^st pick overall) – Hardy had a pretty quiet rookie season that was ended by an ACL injury in Week Fifteen. His recovery continues, and he expects to be ready to play in preseason games. Before his injury, Hardy played in fourteen games for the Bills, catching 9 balls for 87 yards and 2 TDS. He’ll enter his second season with little to get excited about, thanks to the arrival of WR Terrell Owens. Say what you will about Owens’ attitude, but he is a professional when it comes to the receiving fundamentals. Hardy will only benefit from playing with and learning from a future Hall-of-Famer in Owens. Hardy could certainly find himself as a somewhat-active red zone target for QB Trent Edwards because he possesses good size (6’5”, 212), but we’ve been down on this guy from Day One, and he proved us correct in 2008. He lacks optimal playing speed, his route-running is poor, and he fails to embrace the physical aspect of the game. Basically, we think he’s a bum. 

Steve Johnson (Buf, 224^th pick overall) – Johnson has almost no chance to settle in as anything better than the #5 WR spot on the Bills, and that isn’t a knock on him. Johnson just happens to play for a team that added Terrell Owens in the off-season and already had a great #2 in Lee Evans, as well as a pair of good slot receivers. However, as a 7^th-round pick in 2008, Johnson did everything he could with the opportunities he was given last year. He finished with 10 catches for 102 yards and 2 TDs, which came in only 11 games. He has found himself this off-season starting in three-WR sets, thanks to the absence of Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish, and he continue to impress with his performance so far. Johnson realize that he will have to do a lot to impress, considering his position on the team, but if he continues to improve, there is a chance we hear his name called more often as the season goes on, especially if Owens gets hurt.

Dexter Jackson (TB, 58th pick overall) – Jackson has a lot to prove after many – including the man who drafted him, former HC Jon Gruden – said he may have been a reach in the 2^nd round last year. Jackson did not register a catch in the seven games he appeared in last year. He’ll have to prove himself to the new regime in Tampa Bay, but because he is a higher pick, he could still get an opportunity to, especially on a rebuilding team with not much depth at the WR position. Jackson’s a smaller receiver who projects best as a slot receiver due to his lack of size but excellent quickness and speed. When drafted, he was viewed as the replacement for Joey Galloway, but that’s a pipe dream at this point. The team’s looking at veteran receivers, so the best Jackson can hope for this year is some playing time when the team goes three-wide, and even that’s no lock.

Isaiah Stanback (Dal, 103^rd overall pick) - Stanback is one of those guys who is battling for playing time (and a roster spot) in training camp, but he might be able to sneak himself onto the roster because of his versatility. Stanback has just two catches in his NFL career, but he has also returned kicks. But the thing that is going to make him most valuable to the Cowboys or any other potential suitors is the fact that he played QB in college at Washington. Dallas owner Jerry Jones has said the team will begin running Wildcat formations using Stanback under center, and they would have done it last year if Stanback hadn’t gotten hurt. Oh yeah, speaking of being hurt, Stanback had off-season surgery on both his shoulder and his knee, although he should be ready to go by training camp. That's where he'll have to prove his worth.
 
Pierre Garcon (Ind, 205^th pick overall) – Garcon may not have made much an impact in his rookie season (4/23/0), but that doesn’t mean he’ll be looked over by the QB. Peyton Manning has come out and said to Garcon and the other receivers battling for the #3 spot that they should believe that the spot is theirs to lose. If Garcon were to win the job, he would be an immediate player to watch for the mere fact that he is a WR with Manning throwing him the ball. Right now he has an advantage over rookie Austin Collie because of his experience, but Collie looks to be the better player, and he should eventually settle in as the #3.

William Franklin (Oak, 105^th pick overall) – Franklin can’t seem to stick with any teams so far in his young career. Originally drafted by the Chiefs in 2008, he played in 13 games, catching 7 balls for 83 yards. He was cut in April, and eventually claimed by the Lions off waivers. Detroit would cut him a month later, but the Raiders scooped him up just a few days after that. Multiple teams had put in claims for Franklin, so he obvious was of some interest to them. He’ll join a Raider team with a very inexperienced receiving corps, so if he impresses in camp, he has a shot to make the team. He has a pretty solid combination of size and speed, so he may still stick in the NFL.

Jaymar Johnson (Min, 193^rd pick overall) – After spending most of 2008 on the practice squad, Johnson returns in 2009 with a legit chance to make the roster as the final WR. He has also worked as a KR, which boosts his value to the team. Johnson put on 17 pounds in the off-season, and HC Brad Childress has taken notice, even going as far as calling Johnson the hardest worker on the team. With a player being that motivated and it being noticed, Johnson is looking like he may find his way onto the Viking roster.

Tight Ends

Already broken out but even more experience helps:

Legit Breakout Candidates:

Jermichael Finley (GB, 91^st pick overall) – Finley became very well known on the Packers in his rookie season. Unfortunately, it was for his mouth. Whether he was calling out QB Aaron Rodgers for not throwing him the ball or questioning the coaching staff for how they used him, Finley did not endear himself to anyone. He has promised to let his play do the talking for him this year after finishing 2008 with 6/74/1. Finley admitted that he did not know the playbook as well as he should have, and that made him slow down during plays. In an effort to change that, he’s been meeting with TE coach Bob McAdoo after each OTA to go over film. At 6’5”, 247, Finley has the size to be a good TE, but he is also the best athlete at the position on the Packers. If Finley can play as well this year as he ran his mouth last year, he might just become a productive player in this league. Based on his positive off-season, the team is optimistic, and he may even be a sleeper in 2009.

Martellus Bennett (Dal, 61^st pick overall) – Bennett became better known for his off-field antics than his on-field production, particularly the ribbing he took on HBO’s Hard Knocks last summer. Of course, when you play with arguably the best TE in the league in Jason Witten, it is easy to get overshadowed. Bennett actually had an admirable rookie season, finishing with 20/283/4 in sixteen games and seven starts. With Witten not going anywhere anytime soon, Bennett was drafted to give the team another weapon on offense, so Bennett saw the field in 2 TE-sets that would let him exploit matchup problems with his 6’6”, 265-pound body. While it took some time, Bennett did pick up the offense and worked a lot on technique with Witten. While he will never put up great numbers as long as Witten is still on the team, Bennett is still a very talented player who should excel for years to come. If Witten does go down, Bennett will likely prove to be in over his head, but he’ll be much better off than he would have been last year.

Martin Rucker (Cle, 111^th pick overall) – Rucker’s rookie season was pretty forgettable. He was the backup to TE Kellen Winslow, played in only five games, and caught just two balls. Now, Winslow is gone, and Rucker finds himself in the middle of an unstable TE situation in Cleveland. The team signed former Bill TE Robert Royal, and they already have Steve Heiden, who is coming off a torn ACL/sprained MCL. Rucker is not the complete player those guys are because he’s not a great blocker, but he’s the most athletic. While at Missouri, he was considered more physical and quicker than teammate TE Chase Coffman, who was more highly regarded in this year’s draft. Rucker has good size (6’5”, 260) and could become a nice red zone threat for the Browns. He won’t likely start right away, but if he comes on in his second training camp, he could be utilizes in a rotational situation, which would allow him to potentially showcase his skills. His first year wasn’t very encouraging, but there is a tremendous opportunity in Year Two. 

Jacob Tamme (Ind, 127^th pick) – After an impressive rookie preseason, Tamme's 2008 season was a buzz kill, but it’s too early to write him off. He had some injury issues, but early in the year, he was ahead of Santi as the #2 TE for the team. He’s a good receiver who understands the passing game, knows how to get open, and reminds us of former Colt backup Ben Utecht, based on his size and receiving prowess. He caught only three passes as a rookie in 2008, and his fantasy value and potential is limited because Dallas Clark is one of the most prolific TEs in the business. But Tamme should make the roster because he’s talented, probably more so than Santi.