Despite having to fight for carries in a crowded Oakland backfield, Darren McFadden is too prized an asset not to be worked hard. Greg Trott/Getty Images

By Jon Stulberg, Fanball.com, Special to SI.com

Welcome to the first installment of the Rookie Report, a weekly column where we'll discuss the fantasy potential and future ramifications of this year's crop of rookies.

History suggests that when analyzing NFL rookies, the main focus always falls on the running back position. Usually a running back is drafted with the idea that he'll either start right away or, at the very least, be part of a committee. With quarterbacks you have a steeper learning curve, as it takes time to adjust to the speed of the NFL game. As a result, it's rare for a rookie quarterback to see anything more than spot duty during his first season. This season, however, is the exception. With wide receivers, there's the now-infamous third year breakout theory. However, there are exceptions to every rule. Last season guys such as Santonio Holmes and Brandon Marshall experienced breakouts in Year 2. That means you have to be ahead of the curve if you want to win.

In this first piece, we'll introduce you to a number of the NFL rookies who are starters, committee members or who may eventually produce solid fantasy returns. As the season progresses, we'll likely narrow the focus each week to a number of rookies actually making said impact and how you should treat them as far as your roster is concerned.

Quarterback

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Ryan will be handed the reins in Week 1. The question, though, is whether that's an indication about how ready and prepared Ryan is for the NFL, or just how awful the other choices were. Seems it is a combination of both. The knock on Ryan is he doesn't possess the arm strength of a true gunslinger. What Ryan does have is all the intangibles. His in-game IQ and field intelligence are well ahead of many quarterbacks at this stage. He's a leader who will command respect in the huddle from his very first snap. From a fantasy perspective, he's likely not ready to make an impact in the NFL in 2008 while leading a predominantly run-first offense, which, outside of Roddy White, isn't blessed with explosive weapons in the passing game.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

At 6-foot-7 and 236 pounds, Flacco can easily see the field, has excellent pocket presence and his arm has been called a howitzer. The negative, of course, is the level of competition he was exposed to in college, as well as the fact that Delaware's mostly shotgun offense is very different from being under center in the NFL. The good news for Flacco is that he enters a run-first offense that will not put a great deal of pressure on him to lead them down the field. Potential breakout receiver Mark Clayton, sure-handed veteran Derrick Mason and tight end Todd Heap make for an extremely productive trio of weapons. He's still a rookie, so counting on production this year is an extremely risky proposition. Look at the rookie seasons for such quarterbacks as Elway, Manning and Marino, and you won't see a guy who'll lead you to the promised land. As for the future, if his learning curve matches his skill set, it purports to be extremely bright.

Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins

Henne possesses a strong arm and can stretch the field with wide sideline throws as well as deep balls. While not the ideal size (6-foot-2, 225 pounds), Henne makes up for it with toughness and his ability to read and breakdown defenses. Joining the worst team in football is never a promising proposition for a young player, but when you combine Chad Pennington's recent history of injury with the fact there's a reason new general manager Bill Parcells opted for Henne in the draft, there's a chance he could be the starting quarterback before the close of the '08 season. With a hopefully healthy Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams in the backfield, and speedster Ted Ginn Jr. lining out wide, Henne has some options in the passing game. A rookie quarterback is never a good bet for current production, but Henne could be very useful in '09 and beyond.

Brian Brohm, Green Bay Packers

Brohm's mechanics are ready to play, as are his above average arm strength, great touch and ability to hit receivers in stride. In addition, Brohm has great football smarts, a strong work ethic and the ability to read defenses very well. He ran a complicated offense in college, so he should be a quick study for an NFL West Coast offense. The negative for Brohm is that the Packers have been grooming Aaron Rodgers to be Favre's replacement for three seasons. With a solid running attack led by Ryan Grant, and with star receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings aboard, Brohm would be afforded weapons no other rookie quarterback can boast should Rodgers struggle or get injured. Like most rookie quarterbacks, his prognosis for this season is rather bleak since playing time will be an issue. The future not only depends on Brohm's development, but also on how Rodgers fills the immense shoes of Brett Favre.

Running back

Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders

McFadden begins the season as the complement to Justin Fargas. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds McFadden has elite speed (4.33 40-yard dash) to get around the corner and that extra gear to take it to the house. While McFadden has excellent upper body strength, some question his leg drive and ability to move the pile and break tackles. In the Raiders, he joins a team in a rebuilding mode. With a weak offensive line and a quarterback with all of 66 career pass attempts under his belt, running room might be sparse. In addition, the presence of Fargas and Michael Bush on the roster might create a small logjam for touches. Rest assured, Al Davis won't let his prize go unutilized. While not this year's Adrian Peterson, McFadden could be very productive this year and his athleticism on third downs makes him somewhat of a prize in point-per-eception leagues. While tough to predict early, McFadden will likely be an extremely solid second running back in the second half.

Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers

At 5-foot-11 and 235 pounds, Stewart is a power back who should complement the speed of DeAngelo Williams. Stewart has great strength to pick up the tough yards combined with quickness and the ability to get to the outside and go the distance. With zero career fumbles in college and plus blocking ability, Stewart will be on the field often. Head coach John Fox wants to return to the power running game he ran with Stephen Davis, so Stewart might be the rookie running back most likely to have a 1,000-yard season. Don't sleep on his potential simply because Williams is in the mix.

Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys

The 22nd overall pick out of Arkansas, Jones will find his role in the NFL quite similar to his days in college, as he'll be counted on to complement incumbent starter Marion Barber. At 6-feet and 200 pounds, speed, quickness and home run-ability are his biggest assets. Running behind the biggest offensive line in football, running lanes will be there for Jones to exploit. With his speed, if he makes the linebackers miss, defenders could be seeing a lot of the back of Jones' jersey this year. His carries and overall production will likely be low, barring an injury to Barber, but his touchdown total could be valuable. He should also warrant plenty of looks on third downs, so he'll be a bigger asset in point-per-reception leagues.

Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers

Last year's season-ending knee injury to Willie Parker prompted the Steelers to take Mendenhall with the 23rd overall pick. At 5-foot-10, 224 pounds, Mendenhall will be counted on to complement the return of Parker and should replace Najeh Davenport as the short-yardage back, assuming he gets over the fumbling problem he's had thus far. That role could make him a touchdown scoring machine. He can pick up yards between the tackles but has the speed to go the distance. He joins a Steelers team with a very solid offensive line, and Mendenhall's size is perfect for the physicality of the AFC North. With above-average hands, Mendenhall will see plenty of third-down duty. A must-have for Parker owners, his value will skyrocket if Parker isn't 100 percent this season.