The Rookie Report

Welcome everyone to the eighth regular season installment to the Rookie Report. In case you missed the report during the first seven weeks of the 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.

This week we will unveil our Mid-season All-Rookie Team.

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

Mid-season All-Rookie Team….

QB Trent Edwards – Buffalo Bills

Trent Edwards is the only rookie thus far to see significant playing time, but he has been impressive since taking over the starting job after JP Losman went down early in the season. Through Week 7, Trent Edwards has thrown for 660 passing yards and completed 66.6% of his passes. Edwards has only thrown one touchdown pass thus far and four interceptions; however, he will improve in the second half with more experience.

RB Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings

Adrian Peterson has been the most impressive rookie thus far in the first half of the season. In the first seven weeks of the season, Peterson has rushed for 670 rushing yards (6.2 yards per carry), caught 11 passes for 187 yards, and scored 6 touchdowns. Peterson looks like the second coming of Eric Dickerson, and has already established himself as one of the top running backs in the league despite his idiot coach. If you were lucky enough to get Peterson in your rookie, redraft, or keeper league drafts, you are one happy fantasy owner right now.

RB Marshawn Lynch – Buffalo Bills

Marshawn Lynch has not had the same impact as Adrian Peterson; however, he has had a solid first seven weeks of the season. In addition to being a solid runner, Lynch has displayed good hands in the receiving game as well. Through the first seven weeks of the 2007 season, Marshawn has rushed for 457 yards, 10 catches for 82 yards and 4 touchdowns.

WR Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions

Injuries have slowed down Calvin Johnson in the first seven weeks of the season. He has shown flashes of his talent when healthy and should continue to improve in the Lions pass happy offense now that he is healthy. Calvin has totaled 13 catches for 229 yards and scored 3 touchdown passes.

WR James Jones – Green Bay Packers

When Greg Jennings missed the first two games of the season, James Jones started in his place and continues to get looks due to his impressive performances. In six games this year, James Jones has 23 catches for 293 receiving yards and 1 touchdown.

TE Greg Olsen – Chicago Bears

I am giving Greg Olsen the nod in this slot over Raiders’ Zach Miller due to Olsen’s performance after returning from injury. Olsen has caught 15 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown despite missing two games. Desmond Clark continues to get looks at TE; however, it appears that Olsen is receiving plenty of looks from QB Brian Griese and is someone to watch in the second half of the season.

PK Nick Folk – Dallas Cowboys

Going into the Cowboys bye week, Nick Folk is a surprise kicker this year as he is currently ranked 2^nd for place kickers in fantasy scoring. He should be owned in every league as he is on a high powered offense that will generate plenty of scoring opportunities, and he should finish in the top 5 of kickers in fantasy points.

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

New York

Giants vs. Miami Dolphins

Dolphins WR Ted Ginn, Jr. caught 1 pass for 21 yards and a touchdown.

Oakland

Raiders vs. Tennessee Titans

Raiders TE Zach Miller caught 2 passes for 19 yards.

Titans RB Chris Henry rushed 4 times for 48 yards and a touchdown.

Cleveland

Browns vs. St. Louis Rams

Rams RB Brian Leonard rushed 15 times for 33 yards and caught 3 passes for 31 yards.

Minnesota

Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson rushed 20 times for 70 yards. He also had a long run called back due to penalty. WR Sidney Rice caught 3 passes for 27 yards.

Pittsburgh

Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

There were no notable rookie performances in this game.

Due to the timing of this report, a recap of Monday night games will not be included in the Rookie Report.

Detroit

Lions vs. Chicago Bears

Bears TE Greg Olsen caught 6 passes for 59 yards and a touchdown pass.

Lions WR Calvin Johnson caught 2 passes for 44 yards.

Indianapolis

Colts vs. Carolina Panthers

Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez caught 1 pass for 16 yards.

Buffalo

Bills vs. New York Jets

Bills’ QB Trent Edwards went 14/21 passing for 130 yards and an interception before he left with an apparent wrist injury. RB Marshawn Lynch rushed 21 times for 80 yards and caught a pass for 7 yards. Dwayne Wright rushed 12 times for 25 yards and caught 1 pass for 8 yards.

Houston

Texans vs. San Diego Chargers

Texans WR Jacoby Jones caught 5 passes for 51 yards.

Jacksonville

Jaguars vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There were no notable rookie performances in this game.

New England Patriots vs. Washington Redskins

There were no notable rookie performances in this game.

San Francisco

49ers vs. New Orleans Saints

49ers WR Jason Hill caught 1 pass for 6 yards.

Saints RB Pierre Thomas rushed 3 times for 9 yards.

Due to the timing of the rookie report, Monday night’s game will not be recapped.