Rookie running backs -- Who will have an impact this season?

Rookie running backs are unlike any other rookies in fantasy football in that they can have a huge impact on your team. If you do a little homework and grab the right one, you can hit a goldmine on draft day.

The biggest question on most Fantasy Football player's minds the day after this year's NFL draft was: will any of these running backs actually be able to help me out this year? That is the $10,000 question. These rookies can make or break your fantasy team, and careful consideration has to go into who you draft, and in what round.

This year is just like any other -- there will be players who will be able to step right in and contribute, especially for anyone in a 10-12 man league. There will also be players that'll have you pulling your hair out, chalking up the bad decision to having one too many Coors Lights on draft day.

Let's take a look at those young bucks drafted last month and flush out what kind of impact they'll have from a Fantasy perspective:

Will have an impact:

William Green, RB, Cleveland Browns:

There is no doubt that Green will come out of camp with the starting job for the Browns. He will have beat out an inconsistent James Jackson by the last pre-season game or first regular season game. Green has shown flashes of "franchise back" brilliance, and should be a force to be reckoned with as the season goes on.

DeShaun Foster, RB Carolina Panthers:

There's a very good chance Foster will leave many General Managers shaking their heads after he shows why he was a strong Heisman hopeful at UCLA last year. The Panthers signed free agent Lamar Smith from Miami to run the ball, but expect Foster to wrestle the job away early in the season. I would go as so far as to say that Foster will be the best rookie running back this year if Carolina wasn't so bad.

T.J. Duckett, RB, Atlanta Falcons:

We are left wondering why Atlanta drafted Duckett after they overpaid for Warrick Dunn, but life goes on. Duckett will not get a bulk of the touches, but one can only assume he will see the ball in a lot of goal line situations. He may be the new Mike Alstott, and will have the least impact of the three listed here.

Some Fantasy Impact:

Jonathan Wells, RB, Houston Texans:

How Houston got another football team is beyond me, but that's a topic for another time. Wells is in the unique position of going into camp as a rookie and having only a back-up in James Allen standing in his way of the starting job. I look at Wells to be one of those rookies you'll be glad you drafted when in week 11, when your starting RB's are down with injuries.

Clinton Portis, RB, Denver Broncos:

If you're a running back, and you are drafted by the Broncos, you have to feel as though you were given a gift. The fact that the last three RB's in the Denver backfield went for over 1,000 yards in their first season gives you a little "hip-hop" in your "giddy up." Portis has great speed, shifty moves and could be only a sprained ankle away from the starting job now that Mike Anderson has been moved to fullback and Olandis Gary looks to be released after June 1. It doesn't hurt that Terrell Davis just had another surgery on his knee. I am very tempted to move Portis up with the big three.

Maurice Morris, RB, Seattle Seahawks:

Morris is another rookie who could get a lot of touches if Shaun Alexander goes down with an injury or ends up in Mike Holmgren's doghouse, which can easily happen. Morris was a surprising second-round pick, so there's some real pressure to perform sooner, rather than later. He has classic West-Coast offense type skills -- can run outside, pick up the blitz, and has great hands out of the backfield. As it stands right now, he is already the second string halfback since the Hawks were thin at the position going into the draft.

Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles:

Big things are expected when you are the first person in NCAA history to go for 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in a single season, as Westbrook did. He lacks great size, but is a game-breaker, so he'll be given chances to succeed as a third down back for the Eagles. Now that Correll Buckhalter is out for the year, Westbrook could be an injury away from putting some decent numbers if Duce Staley goes down. Keep an eye on Westbrook, he's in a great situation.

Minimal Fantasy Impact:

Ladell Betts, RB, Washington Redskins:

Betts put up some big numbers at Iowa, but will be primarily a third down back for the Redskins, battling Stephen Davis for carries.

Luke Staley, RB, Detroit Lions:

An educated man would think that after eight operations, Staley will end up on the IR at some point this season. But if he stays healthy, he could really put the heat on James Stewart.

Travis Stephens, RB, Tampa Bay:

I think we're looking at the new Warrick Dunn. Don't expect much, he'll be sitting behind Mike Alstott and Michael Pittman. He may be of some help on third downs for John Gruden.

Lamar Gordon, RB, St. Louis Rams:

If Gordon went anywhere else, he would stand a chance to really contribute. But he is caught in a log-jam behind Marshall Faulk -- one the greatest backs in history, and Trung Candidate -- a more than capable back-up.