Gridiron 11

Gridiron 11

Once an afterthought in fantasy leagues, rookies have become major contributors, increasingly worthy of serious draft consideration. While we're not advocating taking quarterbacks like Sam Bradford or Tim Tebow, players from other skill positions, such as Ryan Mathews and Dez Bryant, are slated for veterans minutes, which allows them to be slotted as if they've been in the league for years. Except in the smallest of leagues, the following 11 rookies will all be active in big ways at some time during the season. So, instead of grabbing a twilighter like Torry Holt or Larry Johnson at the end of your draft, take someone with great upside instead.

For more insights, follow SI's fantasy expert David Sabino on Twitter at SI_DavidSabino.