Analyzing the Incoming Freshman:

* Quarterbacks

* Running Backs

* Wide Receivers

Let me preface this series of articles by stating that rarely does a true freshman light the fantasy college football world on fire; although, it is becoming a little more common place due to early NFL draft entries.  Redshirt freshmen, or at the very least early enrollees, are more likely to contribute to your college fantasy football roster. 

In my opinion the easiest position to make a first year impact is at WR and the hardest is at QB; although, this year’s RB class is loaded and will once again have the biggest fantasy impact. 

While my list of possible impact freshmen does include highly rated prospects, it primarily focuses on where they decide to go to school.  I’ll take a 50th rated QB recruit who decides to go to a “weaker” conference school over a #1 going to a power house program in the SEC, for example, because he has a much better chance to play and produce early in his career.  Remember it’s all about fantasy stats not NFL grades.

Before we get started, let’s quickly review some of the more prominent True Freshman fantasy producers of ’09.  Dion Lewis has to be considered the best of the lot, in my opinion, and he wasn’t even the most heralded Freshman RB at Pitt coming into last season (fellow running mate Ray Graham was a PS#33 and Lewis a PS#110, proving that predicting HS or JUCO kids transitions to college football isn’t an exact science)!

QB – Tate Forcier, Austin Carta-Samuels, Matt Barkley, Spencer Keith, Tom Savage and Kyle Padron

RB - Dion Lewis, Bernard Pierce, Charles Sims, Christine Michael, Shawn Southward, Trent Richardson, Charles Ross, Toben Opurum, Brandon Wegher, Matthew Tucker, and Alvester Alexander

WR - Eric Page, Mohamed Sanu, Uzoma Nwachukwu, Alshon Jeffrey and Tyshon Goode