Welcome everyone to the final 2007 regular season installment to the Rookie Report. In case you missed the report earlier this season, the report will cover topics, trends and a game by game analysis of notable performances by the NFL’s 2007 Rookie Class to assist in your pursuit of dynasty championship gold.

The Week 17 Rookie Report will highlight both offensive and defensive rookie standouts in 2007.

So sit back, but don’t get too comfortable because here we go with our seventeenth and final regular season week’s installment of this report.…

QB Trent Edwards – Buffalo Bills

Trent Edwards was one of the few rookie quarterbacks this season to receive significant times as the starter. In the first 16 weeks, Edwards totaled close to 1,500 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions in 8 starts. Edwards will likely be back as the starting quarterback for the Bills in Week 1 of 2008.

RB Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings

Despite missing a couple of games and splitting time with Chester Taylor, Adrian Peterson has been outstanding in 2007, and shown why he drew so many comparisons to Eric Dickerson heading into the NFL season. Peterson amassed over 1,500 total yards and scored 13 touchdowns in 13 games headed into Week 17. He will likely be the run-away candidate for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and has an even brighter future ahead in the NFL.

RB Marshawn Lynch – Buffalo Bills

Much like Peterson, Marshawn Lynch has enjoyed a phenomenal rookie season totaling close to 1,200 total yards and 7 touchdowns for a Buffalo offense that experienced struggles this season. Lynch has shown in 2007 that he will be a force to reckon with in the future with his speed, athleticism, and ability to read the field.

WR Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs

Dwayne Bowe proved in 2007 as a rookie that even in Herm Edwards run oriented offense with Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard as quarterbacks, that he has the talent to overcome these obstacles and produce solid fantasy numbers.Bowe is an exceptional athlete with great size and hands. Through 15 games in 2007, Bowe has totaled 69 catches for 982 yards and 5 touchdowns, and the future looks even brighter for Bowe.

TE Zach Miller – Oakland Raiders

Zach Miller showed potential in 2007 with his size, route running and great hands. He totaled 36 receptions for 360 yards and 3 touchdowns through the first 15 games, and these numbers are likely to continue upward in 2008 as the Oakland offense becomes more established.

TE Greg Olsen – Chicago Bears

Greg Olsen had a solid rookie year in 2007 despite splitting significant snaps with Desmond Clark. He caught 37 passes for 374 yards and 2 touchdowns headed into Week 17. Olsen’s size, speed, and athleticism make him a perfect candidate to be a fantasy contributor in the future at the tight-end position whenever he takes over the majority of the snaps.

LB Patrick Willis – San Francisco 49ers

Patrick Willis is 2007’s version of Demeco Ryans. Willis leads the league in tackles by a very healthy margin. Through the 16^th week of the season, Willis has 162 total tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 4 passes defended. He will win the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and is already an IDP stud, and he will only get better.

LB Jonathan Beason – Carolina Panthers

Beason is already a stud as a rookie in 2007. He totaled 130 tackles, 1 interception and 6 passes defended. Beason has been a beast after being moved to the middle and this will continue in 2008 as he is one of the emerging stars at the position.

DT Amobi Okoye – Houston Texans

The youngest rookie in 2007 turned in a solid season in the middle of the Texans defense. Okoye still needs to develop his run defensive skills; however, he is already one of the best pass rushing defensive tackles in the league.Okoye registered 32 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2007 headed into Week 17, and his ceiling is still incredibly high as he is still so young. If you are forced to start a defensive tackle in your league, Okoye is someone you want on your dynasty roster for now and the future.

CB Eric Wright – Cleveland Browns

Despite missing a few games due to injury, Eric Wright was highly productive in the Cleveland secondary in IDP leagues. Wright totaled 73 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 11 passes defended headed into Week 17.

CB Darrelle Reavis – New York Jets

Revis had an incredibly solid IDP season as a rookie in 2007. In many IDP formats, he was in the top 10 at the cornerback position. Through the first 16 weeks, Revis registered 82 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 3 interceptions, and 16 passes defended. Much like most of these rookies mentioned, Revis has the potential to be a stud well into the future at his position.

CB Leon Hall – Cincinnati Bengals

Leon Hall had a good rookie campaign in 2007 emerging as the starting cornerback for the Bengals’ weak secondary. Hall totaled 64 tackles, 12 passes defended, 1 forced fumble and 5 interceptions through the first 16 weeks.These numbers are primarily a result of only 9 games started in 2007, and will likely increase in 2008 as he starts the first game of the season in the Bengals’ secondary.

CB Fred Bennett – Houston Texans

Following the injury of Dunta Robinson, Fred Bennett has emerged as a solid starting cornerback for the Houston Texans. Over the past 6 weeks of the season, Bennett has been top 5 at the cornerback position IDP wise. His combination of size, speed, and instincts will likely keep him in the starting lineup for the future. It is uncertain whether Robinson will ever be able to return to the cornerback position for the Texans, and Bennett is likely to remain the number 1 corner in 2008.

S Laron Landry – Washington Redskins

Laron Landry has been great in his rookie season as a productive strong safety for the Redskins. He totaled 90 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 6 passes defended through first 16 weeks of the season. Landry’s combination of speed, instinct and hard hitting will make him an elite safety in the future in the NFL.

S Reggie Nelson – Jacksonville Jaguars

Reggie Nelson has put up good numbers in 2007 as the Jaguars’ free safety.Nelson has been good at reading the quarterback and anticipating routes in 2007 as evidenced by his 5 interceptions and 11 passes defended. He also registered 61 tackles and 1 sack.

The following section of the rookie report will recap performances by rookies each week for each game.

New England Patriots vs. New York Giants

Giants TE Kevin Boss caught 4 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown filling in for Jeremy Shockey. WR Steve Smith caught 3 passes for 29 yards.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons

Falcons WR Laurent Robinson caught 1 pass for 11 yards.

New Orleans Saints vs. Chicago Bears

Bears RB Garrett Wolfe rushed 4 times for 7 yards and caught 1 pass for 32 yards. TE Greg Olsen caught 2 passes for 17 yards.

Saints RB Pierre Thomas was a beast on Sunday rushing 20 times for 105 yards, catching 12 balls for 121 yards, and scoring a touchdown.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Miami Dolphins

Dolphins WR Ted Ginn, Jr. caught 7 passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. QB John Beck fumbled his first snap of the game away to a Bengals’ defender who returned it for a touchdown as Bill Parcells looked on with extreme disapproval.Beck recovered with 13 for 21 passing for 135 yards and a touchdown as well as scoring a rushing touchdown.

Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers

Packers RB Brandon Jackson rushed 20 times for 113 yards and caught 2 passes for 22 yards. PK Mason Crosby hit both of his field goal attempts and was perfect on 4 extra point attempts. WR James Jones caught 2 passes for 14 yards.

Lions WR Calvin Johnson caught 4 passes for 54 yards.

Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Texans RB Darius Walker scored his first career touchdown and rushed for 86 yards on 10 carries. WR Jacoby Jones caught 1 pass for 14 yards.

Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Panthers’ QB Matt Moore went 15 of 24 passing for 174 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. WR Dwayne Jarrett rushed 1 time for 11 yards. TE Dante Rosario caught 3 passes for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Buccaneers RB Kenneth Darby rushed 2 times for 9 yards and caught 2 passes for 16 yards.

Buffalo Bills vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Bills’ RB Marshawn Lynch rushed 22 times for 105 yards and caught 1 pass for 22 yards.

Eagles TE Brent Celek caught 3 passes for 18 yards and a touchdown.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Cleveland Browns

Browns’ QB Brady Quinn went 3 for 8 passing for 45 yards in relief of Derek Anderson.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

Ravens’ QB Troy Smith completed 16 of 27 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown.

Steelers’ RB Gary Russell rushed 6 times for 20 yards.

San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders

JaMarcus Russell completed 23 of 31 passes for 224 yards, a touchdown and an interception in his NFL starting debut. TE Zach Miller caught 8 passes for 84 yards. WR Johnnie Lee Higgins caught 1 pass for 7 yards.

Chargers’ WR Craig Davis caught 1 pass for 12 yards.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins

Cowboys PK Nick Folk connected on 2 of 3 field goals with a long of 37 yards.

St. Louis Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals

Rams RB Brian Leonard rushed 5 times for 15 yards and caught 1 pass for 3 yards.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Denver Broncos

Broncos RB Selvin Young rushed 22 times for 87 yards and caught 3 passes for 12 yards.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson rushed 11 times for 36 yards. WR Aundrae Allison caught 1 pass for 9 yards.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Jets

Chiefs’ WR Dwayne Bowe caught 1 pass for 13 yards. RB Kolby Smith rushed 2 times for 1 yards and caught 1 pass for 7 yards before leaving with an injury.RB Jackie Battle rushed 13 times for 44 yards and caught 1 pass for 4 yards.

Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts

Titans RB Chris Henry rushed 9 times for 15 yards and caught 1 pass for 8 yards.