NFL's Most Likely to Amaze: Eight Exciting Players to Follow in 2009

We'll call this the T.O. Effect.

Already carving out a niche as a dangerous return specialist, the speedy receiver is entering his fifth season with an opportunity to catch defenses completely off guard.

With the offseason acquisition of Terrell Owens to complement veteran Lee Evans, the Bills are on pace to have one of the NFL's most dangerous receiving tandems this side of Arizona.

This is where Roscoe Parrish can thrive.

With Owens and Evans commanding a double team, Parrish can find himself in packages that match him up against slower, less physical nickelbacks.

There's no reason to believe Parrish will completely eclipse any of the career highs he's established thus far, but with 4.37 speed, there's no reason to believe every defense is going to have an answer for him.

While Patrick Willis dominates headlines as the leader of the San Francisco 49ers' defense, it's Parys Haralson who's emerged as the biggest surprise.

Making the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker, Haralson has become a pass-rushing specialist in the 49ers' 3-4 defense, leading the team in sacks in 2008.

His efforts earned him a new contract in the offseason.

At 25, Haralson is entering his prime and is poised to become a focal point in Mike Singletary's defense.

"Parys is only going to get better. He is the ultimate 'blue-collar' guy. He'll give you all he has day in and day out," said Singletary.

"You give me 10 others just like Parys and we could win championships."

With his rookie season behind him and the injuries that kept him sidelined all healed, the versatility Darren McFadden promised out of college should be on full display in 2009.

There are so many places for McFadden to line up and create mismatches that his highlight reel will be a masterpiece from an offensive chameleon.

He can be split out wide as a receiver, take snaps from under center in the Wildcat, and create absolute havoc if he and Darrius Heyward-Bey complement one another properly.

The Raiders' offensive backfield is deep enough to keep McFadden fresh from the pounding of an every-down back, and he's strong enough to take advantage of a defense tired of chasing him.

We'll call this the T.O. Effect, Part II.

The Dallas Cowboys have high hopes for Miles Austin. With the distractions gone, Austin is expected to jump up the depth chart to the No. 2 receiver spot as a complement to Roy Williams.

Despite his depth chart positioning, he'll still be a third receiving option behind Jason Witten.

But that's not a bad thing.

Austin will have opportunities to catch defenses sleeping while he uses his speed to get over the top of the secondary.

He's much more than a streaking receiver though. Austin is good enough to generate yards after the catch when he slips through slower defenders.

DeSean Jackson had a huge highlight in 2008—for all the wrong reasons.

In a Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys, Jackson was one yard shy of the goal line after a 61-yard catch-and-run when he began his celebration prematurely.

Tossing the ball behind him before crossing the plane, Jackson's would-be touchdown became a fumble, and he was ridiculed for it.

Putting the blunder behind him. Jackson went on to record over 900 receiving yards as a rookie, becoming one of Donovan McNabb's most reliable targets as the season progressed.

With the offseason addition of Jeremy Maclin, a healthy return for Brian Westbrook, and improvements to the offensive line, Jackson figures to become a fast weapon for McNabb in a well-rounded offense.

Entering his fifth season in the league, Kerry Rhodes seems to have been straddling the border of greatness for about three years.

Posting Pro Bowl-caliber numbers in 2006 and 2007, Rhodes was overlooked in favor of John Lynch and his reputation. So when Lynch left the game in 2008, the road was supposed to have been cleared for Kerry.

Fate had different plans.

Forced to play away from his strengths in 2008, Rhodes was asked to linger in the defensive secondary to protect the New York Jets from being scorched through the air.

That strategy didn't work. One of the Jets' best defensive playmakers was rendered useless.

That should all change in 2009 with Rex Ryan bringing his Baltimore Ravens' defense to the Jets. The defense that made Ed Reed so dominant provides an opportunity Rhodes hopes to relish in.

Rhodes is a ball-hawk who isn't afraid to blitz or make contact in traffic. With Ryan giving him an opportunity to roam, the ability to become a premier playmaker is in his hands.

It can be argued that Steve Slaton already amazed in 2008.

With over 1,200 rushing yards as a rookie, it's without question that the 5'9", 203-pound running back opened everyone's eyes.

Slaton is the electrifying runner that makes it look easy.

While people foolishly tried to overlook him because of his size, he managed a 4.8-yard average on 268 carries, proving his frame is not a hindrance to being a feature back.

His speed alone makes him exciting to watch.

Using his quick feet, Slaton is one of the most well-rounded talents in the NFL. He's elusive, reliable out of the backfield, and won't hesitate to hit tight holes at the line of scrimmage.

Think a younger Brian Westbrook with the benefit of one of the NFL's top receivers in Andre Johnson.

Dwayne Bowe's first two seasons were spent with an inept head coach in Herman Edwards and a revolving door at quarterback.

But that didn't hold him down too much.

Despite the stagnant offense, Bowe still averaged a little over 1,000 yards per season and has 12 touchdown receptions in his career.

The Chiefs made critical improvements in 2009 that should help Bowe continue down his path of dominance.

The issues that slowed him down were remedied when Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley was hired to coach the team. The gift of Matt Cassel from the New England Patriots was the cherry on top.

With Haley bringing his Super Bowl-caliber offense to Kansas City and Cassel establishing himself as a quarterback capable of a 4,000-yard season, Bowe figures to become the centerpiece of a pass-happy system that no longer features Tony Gonzalez.