Welcome everyone to the fourth installment to the Rookie Report. In case you missed last week’s report. Each week during the preseason and regular season, the report will cover 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.

During the preseason, I plan to give a tiered analysis of rookies by position each week followed by a break down of each preseason game. The preseason is crucial for evaluating rookies’ long-term fantasy values as they are given the opportunity to gain valuable playing time and experience they otherwise will not get the opportunity to during the regular season.

So sit back, but don’t get too comfortable because here we go with our fourth preseason week’s installment of this report on Rookie Tight Ends and Kickers…

Tight Ends

Tier 1

TE Greg Olsen— Chicago Bears

Greg Olsen has the tools to be an excellent tight end at the NFL level.   He has an excellent release off the offensive line, speed, and good route running. The combination of his size (6 foot 6 inches and 255 lbs) and 4.45/40 speed will present match up problems for opposing defenses. Olsen still needs to work on his blocking ability and consistency; however, he is primed for a big role in the Bears offense now and in the future. So far in training camp, Olsen has impressed the coaching staff. He currently sits behind Desmond Clark on the Bears depth chart; however, he will see the field frequently throughout his rookie season and become the Bears starter in the not too distant future.

TE Zach Miller— Oakland Raiders

Zach Miller is an athletic tight end prospect that possesses excellent size, is a solid route runner, a good blocker, and has a good feel for find openings in defenses to help his QB. With limited competition at the tight end position in Oakland , Miller is the favorite to start for the Raiders in Week 1 of the regular season. Thus far in training camp, Miller has been extremely impressive with his receiving skills, and is reportedly catching everything thrown his way. I have seen Miller going in rookie drafts this year as early as the late 2^nd round and as late as the end of the third round. Given his talent and situation, he appears to be a good value pick for dynasty owners in this year’s rookie drafts.

Tier 2

TE Ben Patrick— Arizona Cardinals

After starting for Duke in his Sophomore and Junior seasons, Ben Patrick transferred to Delaware where he experienced a break-out campaign in his Senior year. Patrick has excellent hands and is a good route runner; however, he will never be the fastest guy on the field.  Arizona will likely bring Patrick along slowly, but he has the potential to develop into a strong receiving threat in the future.

TE Brent Celek— Philadelphia Eagles

Brent Celek has been impressive so far in training camp both in practice and in game situations.  Brent Celek has good hands and is an excellent route runner. Through two preseason games, he has a combined 8 catches for 104 receiving yards. Celek will likely start the season as third on the depth chart behind both L.J. Smith and Matt Schobel; however, with Smith’s injuries to-date in training camp, he could be a sleeper with only Matt Schobel to beat out for the starting gig.

TE Scott Chandler – San Diego Chargers

At 6 foot 7 inches and 270 lbs., Scott Chandler has the ability to create miss matches for opposing defenses with his size.  Chandler also has great hands, body control, and is a good route runner. Despite Chandler ’s positives, he will be behind Antonio Gates on the depth chart in San Diego , and thus his impact will be minimized.

Other Mentionables

TE Kevin Boss— New York Giants

TE Martrez Milner— Atlanta Falcons

Kickers

PK Justin Medlock – Kansas City Chiefs

Justin Medlock will be the Chief’s place kicker in 2007 after being drafted in the 5^th round of this year’s rookie draft. To-date in training camp, Medlock has reportedly been inconsistent; however, there is no indication that his starting job will be in jeopardy. Despite his starter status, Medlock’s fantasy wise will be negatively impacted by the Chiefs’ inept offense under Herm Edwards at least in the near-term.

PK Mason Crosby – Green Bay Packers

Mason Crosby is currently battling incumbent starter Dave Rayner for Green Bay ’s kicking job in training camp. It is still unclear to whether he will be able to beat out Rayner for the starting job; however, he has looked good thus far in training camp.

PK Nick Folk – Dallas Cowboys

Nick Folk is competing with Gramatica for the starting place kicker job for the Cowboys in this year’s training camp. It is still unclear whether Folk will win the kicking duties for the Cowboys; however, it is the hope of the Cowboys that he will win the job and provide stability to the position for the future.

Other Mentionables

K Josh Huston— New York Giants

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

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville rookie RB D.D. Terry had a nice game with 5 carries for 29 yards and 1 catch for 29 yards. WR John Broussard had 1 catch for 16 yards.

Green Bay rookie RB Brandon Jackson continued his struggles in the preseason with 11 carries for only 20 rushing yards and 4 catches for 23 yards.  Jackson did manage to get a touchdown, and looked better in picking up the blitz. WR James Jones continued his impressive training camp finishing with 6 catches for 80 yards. Starting WR Donald Driver was carted off the field after injuring his foot, so Jones should continue to get work with the first team offense and is worth a late round pick in redraft leagues. RB Corey White finished the game with 11 carries for 60 yards. PK Mason Crosby connected on his only field goal attempt of 38 yards.

New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs

New Orleans RB Pierre Thomas was impressive in this game with 11 carries for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns. RB Antonio Pittman recorded 11 carries for 36 yards and 2 catches for 10 yards. QB Tyler Palko saw limited action with 2 for 2 passing for 19 yards.

Notable Kansas City Chief rookie performances include: QB Jeff Terrell going 5 for 5 for 54 yards; RB Marcus O’Keith’s 3 carries for 10 yards, 1 catch for 4 yards, and a touchdown; RB Kolby Smith’s 3 carries for 6 yards; and WR Dwayne Bowe’s 1 catch for 21 yards.

Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills

Bills rookie RB Marshawn Lynch turned out another lackluster preseason performance with 9 carries for 9 yards and 1 catch for 3 yards. It appears that the Buffalo Bills offensive line was having issues opening running lanes for their running backs in the game, so hopefully they fix this in the final preseason game. Other notable rookie performances for the Bills include: QB Trent Edwards going 7 for 10 for 100 passing yards; RB Dwayne Wright’s 9 carries for 21 yards and 1 catch for 9 yards; and TE Derek Schouman’s 1 catch for 7 yards.

Notable Titans rookie results include WR Biren Ealy’s 2 catches for 67 yards and a touchdown and WR Chris Davis’ 1 catch for 21 yards.

New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers

Patriots’ notable rookies included QB Matt Gutierrez’s 2 of 3 passing for 26 yards and RB Quinton Smith’s 4 carries for 8 yards and 1 catch for 5 yards.

Notable Panther’s rookies include QB Dalton Bell’s 3 of 5 passing for 19 yards and WR Dwayne Jarrett’s 2 catches for 24 yards.

St. Louis Rams vs. Oakland Raiders

Ram’s rookie RB Brian Leonard finished the game with 6 rushes for 20 yards.

Oakland rookie WR Johnnie Lee Higgins finished the game with 2 rushes for 15 yards. TE Zach Miller had 1 catch for 8 yards.

Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts

Lion's rookie WR Calvin Johnson has 3 catches for 25 yards.

Notable Colts rookie performances include WR Roy Hall’s 4 catches for 23 yards and RB Clifton Dawson’s 3 rushes for 13 yards.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Miami Dolphins

Tampa Bay rookie RB Kenneth Darby had 4 carries for 12 yards.

Dolphins rookie QB John Beck was 11 of 22 passing for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns. RB Lorenzo Booker had 1 carry for 2 rushing yards and 6 catches for 41 receiving yards. WR Ted Ginn, Jr. recorded 3 catches for 29 yards.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Washington Redskins

The only notable rookie performance in this game was Redskins RB Marcus Mason’s 1 carry for 5 yards.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears

San Francisco rookie RB Thomas Clayton had 4 carries for 19 yards. WR Jason Hill had 1 catch for 9 yards and a touchdown.

Chicago Bears TE Greg Olsen has 2 catches for 39 receiving yards. RB Garrett Wolfe had 13 carries for 41 rushing yards and 2 catches for 7 yards.

New York Jets vs. New York Giants

NY Jets RB Danny Ware had 15 carries for 57 rushing yards, 1 catches for 18 yards, and a touchdown.

NY Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw had 8 carries for 42 yards. WR Steve Smith had 2 catches for 25 yards. TE Kevin Boss caught 1 pass for 6 yards. PK Josh Huston missed his only field goal attempt and was 1 for 1 on extra point attempts.

Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans rookie WR Jacoby Jones put on another impressive show this week returning a punt for 91 yards for a touchdown. Jones also had 1 rush for 10 yards and 2 catches for 26 yards and a touchdown.

Dallas Cowboys notable rookie performances include: PK Nick Folk connecting on his only field goal attempt from 23 yards and going 1 for 1 on extra points. WR Isaiah Stanback caught 1 pass for 5 yards.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Seattle Seahawks

The only notable rookie performance in this game was Minnesota rookie RB Adrian Peterson’s 10 carries for 41 rushing yards.

Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos

Browns QB Brady Quinn had another impressive showing with 7 for 11 passing for 84 yards and a touchdown. Despite the past two weeks, it is still unlikely that Quinn will be the starting QB in week 1.

Denver rookie RB Selvin Young had a solid outing with 17 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown.

San Diego Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals

Chargers WR Legedu Naanee caught three passes for 30 yards.

Cardinals’ WR Matt Trannnon caught 3 balls for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Eagles RB Tony Hunt improved his anemic yard per carry average this preseason with a 7 carry for 36 rushing yards and 2 catches for 7 yards performance on Sunday night. WR Zac Collie had 1 catch for 26 yards. TE Brent Celek had 1 catch for 13 yards.

Pittsburgh RB Gary Russell had 4 carries for 8 yards.