NFL Rookie Of The Year Picks

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Everyone has probably heard about Calvin Johnson’s outstanding pre-season performance last Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. Now everyone is clamoring that Johnson is the surefire pick to win the Rookie of the Year award in 2007. This writer is not one to hand out awards before the actual season starts, but let’s sift through the rookie class to see if we can narrow down the field for NFL betting purposes.

Starting from the top, quarterback JaMarcus Russell has yet to sign a contract in Oakland and Daunte Culpepper and Josh McCown seem to be battling for the top spot for the Raiders. Even if he signs a contract this very second, he is so far out of the quarterback picture in Oakland that he will be held out of play for the entire 2007 season. With that in mind, the smart bettor would avoid him when selecting an actual ROY.

The aforementioned Johnson is a freak, easily the best athlete in the draft. The problem is that he is not the only first-round draft pick the Detroit Lions have spent on a wide-receiver. The other problem is that Jon Kitna is tossing him the ball and that Detroit is an abysmal team. Johnson will have trouble winning more then four games this season, let alone winning ROY honors.

The problem in Minnesota is that Adrian Peterson will be fighting for carries against veteran Chester Taylor. I already wrote an article on this, but Taylor is more familiar with the playbook and he is a much better blocker. The latter is a service that first year starter Tarvaris Jackson will need desperately. I simply do not see Peterson getting enough touches to rack up the numbers that will garner him the attention when the ballots are submitted in winter.

So if Russell, Johnson and Peterson are out, then who will take home the illustrious honor in 2008? Here are the top five rookies most likely to take home the Rookie of the Year award when all is said and done in 2007. Remember that this award favors offensive players, most of all running-backs and players on teams that are either in the playoffs or on the bubble.

5. Ted Ginn Jr. – Miami Dolphins

His foot is a major concern, but if he is healthy he will be an offensive force in Miami. Forget about the fact that the Dolphins chose him over Brady Quinn with the ninth pick in the draft. That was not his fault.

Go to youtube and check out some Ginn highlights. The kid is an alien as far as I am concerned, because nobody can run like he can. Ginn will be an impact player on the Dolphins offense and will be used to return kicks, as well as stretch the field for Chris Chambers who is better suited as a possession receiver. Ginn is the type of playmaker that can put up massive numbers, which usually gets the most attention by voters.

4. Brady Quinn – Cleveland Browns

Despite the training camp holdout, the Browns need Quinn under center. Frye was atrocious last year and the Browns will work feverishly to get Quinn acquainted with the offense. Pretty Boy has played in a pro-style offense in Notre Dame meaning the transition will be essentially seamless for him.

The Browns are better then everyone thinks and Quinn has some solid weapons. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards are killer receiving threats, and Jamal Lewis is said to be in much better form then last year. Quinn has all the talent in the world, but how fast he can become the starter will be imperative to his contention for ROY.

3. Robert Meacham – New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees made Marques Colston and Terrence Copper look like pro-bowlers last year. Imagine what he can do with a first-round receiver with Meacham’s size and hands? The Saints have a ton of offensive weapons, but defenses key mainly on the Bush and McAllister tandem which will leave the big bodied Meacham in one-on-one coverage. If that is the case, the Volunteer can excel statistically on a highly competitive squad.

2. Greg Olsen – Chicago Bears

Yep, you are not going crazy. The former Miami Hurricanes tight-end will be the missing link to the Chicago Bears offense that both Lovie Smith and Rex Grossman have been waiting for. Olsen is in line to put up huge numbers this season and has the work ethic and physical talent to get it done in Chi-town. Roll your eyes if you want, but your time is better spent betting on Olsen to win the title.

1. Marshawn Lynch – Buffalo Bills

Lynch, above all others, will have the most pressure to perform statistically. He is replacing Willis McGahee, is going to be an underachieving team that lost the bulk of its defensive nucleus and is playing with an offensive unit that has underachieved since its inception.

Coach Dick Jauron is a running-back friendly coach. The Rookie of the Year award is a running-back friendly award. Seems like its written on the wall if you ask me.

The class of 2007 has two athletic studs in Calvin Johnson and Adrian Peterson, and two franchise quarterbacks in Russell and Quinn. But the Rookie of the Year will be the running-back Lynch or the tight-end Greg Olsen. Get to the BetUS.com NFL futures and props to place your bets and cash in on these rookies.

With 2007 NFL games still a ways away, we at the BetUS.com sportsbook will keep your interest high throughout the NFL offseason with the most exciting and innovative NFL props and NFL futures on the online sports betting market. In the Sportsbook in the Future / Props section, you will see NFL Futures, Specials and Week One NFL Lines for all your favorite NFL teams.

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