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Rookies: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Defensive Linemen | Linebackers | Defensive Backs
With the inexperience in this year's rookie quarterback class and the rarity of rookie quarterbacks having the type of season that Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco had last year, it’d be hard to expect anywhere near the type of impact that we saw from the two rookies last year. Among all of the signal callers this year, there isn't a single one who is ready to step in and play right away. Because of that, I'd be extremely cautious when considering drafting a quarterback in 2009. I'm a big fan of Stafford and Sanchez, but both have certain things that worry me. There isn't a safe pick at the quarterback position this year.
When considering drafting a rookie quarterback for fantasy football, this applies for more with keeper and dynasty league players than it does with re-draft players. For re-draft fantasy players, there isn’t much of a need to select a quarterback who most likely won’t start for half of the season, and even when he does start, he’s going to be developing and won’t put up the stats that most of the regular starters do. However, with the keeper and dynasty league players, this is very important. As juniors coming out of college, the top prospects this year are going to have to buck the trend of recent underclassmen being busts in the NFL.
Here are my thoughts and opinions on the current rookie quarterback class.
 Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions
When the Lions selected Matthew Stafford with the first pick in the draft, they envisioned that he would eventually develop into being their franchise quarterback and would be the key player in their re-building process after having been the worst team in NFL history last season. The Lions as a team are a work in progress, as is Stafford. A junior last season, there are still things that Matthew could improve on. However, with one of the strongest arms to come through the draft in the past decade, Stafford has a gunslinger mentality and he isn't afraid to try to make a play with his arm. He is the type of quarterback that likes to open up the passing game and launch the ball down the field. He is capable of making an accurate throw to any part of the field and he can make all of the throws that an NFL quarterback needs to make. Stafford has excellent mechanics with great footwork, and he does a very good job of going through his progressions. As of now, it appears that Stafford will battle with veteran Daunte Culpepper as the two players compete for the chance to begin the season as the starter. In my opinion, it’d be a far smarter move to let Stafford sit on the bench and learn the game at the pro level. Detroit already screwed up one top quarterback’s career in Joey Harrington, how about not doing it a second time. Letting Culpepper take the reins for the first half of the year before handing the starting job over to Stafford would be the best option for Detroit. While he likely won’t offer much the first year or two, Stafford could begin to shine in his third year as he becomes fully acclimated to the NFL level.
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