NFL Offense Preview: Top 10 Rookie Players With Yards to Gain in 2010

This year more than most years, rookies will have even more pivotal roles on title contending teams.  Be it teams that underachieved at playoff time looking to breakthrough or teams already having achieved and looking to shore things up with a key player.  With the Browns loss of Montario Hardesty, this year's rookie class lost a key performer (not to mention the Browns as well).  Yet this year's cream of the crop—on the offensive side of the ball—is well endowed for a run into the books.

Honorable Mention: Jimmy Clausen (Carolina Panthers: Quarterback)

Jimmy Clausen (Carolina Panthers)

Jimmy Clausen comes into the backup role in Carolina for another backup (Matt Moore) who ended up as the primary starter when Jake Delhomme went down.  Expect Clausen to get a shot quickly as the Panthers continue to rebuild their franchise around the future franchise quarterback.

10. Jordan Shipley (Cincinnati Bengals: Wide Receiver)

Jordan Shipley (Cincinnati Bengals)

Jordan Shipley came to the Bengals in the third-round of the NFL Draft as Colt McCoy's favorite target.  It quickly became apparent that, though McCoy was a stellar collegiate quarterback, that Shipley may have actually made Colt look more like the gun slinger than he apparently was.  Carson Palmer quickly hooked up with this rough and tumbling receiver in the slot and Shipley did not dissapoint.   Despite being listed fourth on the current depth chart for the second-receiver position, he will be seen quite often this season.

9. Victor Cruz (New York Giants: Wide Receiver)

Victor Cruz (New York Giants)

Coming out of the Football Championship Subdivision program from the University of Massachusetts, Victor Cruz walked onto the New York Giants training camp grounds as a long shot.  By the end of the preseason, Cruz was number three on the depth chart and far from being settled there.

With four preseason touchdowns, including three int the Giants-Jets debut game at the New Meadowlands Stadium, Cruz embedded his name in the hearts of the G-Men's faithful followers.  Victor's ranking may be too low on this list, but time will tell (and very shortly).

8. Sam Bradford (Saint Louis Rams: Quarterback)

Sam Bradford (Saint Louis Rams)

The number one overall pick did not dissatisfy his handlers, coming in with poise and command for the hapless Rams in a rare but welcome debut of stature.  Sam Bradford is expected to follow in the footsteps of another quick to start rookie—Joe Flacco—and turn around this franchise looking to return to championship form behind this team foundation (building block would be an understatement).

Though Bradford is expected to have a long and successful career, this first year is likely to be a brutal dose of reality for this young startup.

7. Jahvid Best (Detroit Lions: Running Back)

Jahvid Best (Detroit Lions)

Best comes in with trailblazing speed to compliment last years breakout rookie in quarterback Matthew Stafford.  Listed at number two behind Kevin Smith, Jahvid will likely be shedding the competition with his fleetness of foot very shortly after the beginning of the season.  Expect big things from this Lion on a team that is still very much in rebuilding mode with a long-term purpose.

6. Mike Williams (Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Wide Receiver)

Mike Williams (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Drafted in the fourth-round, this 101st overall pick moved into the first-string, first-position wide receiver slot for a Tampa Bay team craving a resurgent, well resurgent team in the very team's entirety.  The Buccaneers have looked less like pirates and more like a yacht that got too close to Somalia as of late.  Williams is part of the new resurgent Bucs seeking to right that ship.

Williams was a big target leading to large gains in the preseason and is looking to only continue into a hotly anticipated regular season campaign.

5. Dexter McCluster (Kansas City Chiefs: Wide Receiver)

Dexter McCluster (Kansas City Chiefs)

Drafted as a running back out of Mississippi, Dexter has been so impressive as a receiving option that on the Chiefs depth chart he is listed as the second-string for the second wide receiver position.  Then go to the Chief's depth chart for special teams and McCluster is number two not only for kickoffs but punt returns as well.

Dynamic, explosive, and every adjective used to describe strong speed demons like McCluster are in short supply as the Chiefs got a steal in this second-round pick.

4. Dez Bryant (Dallas Cowboys: Wide Receiver)

Dez Bryant (Dallas Cowboys)

Despite missing nine games to an NCAA suspension during his senior year and the entire preseason due to an ankle injury, Bryant is the highest regarding wide receiver and most anticipated debut in Dallas in a long time.  Bryant is the one that everyone is hoping will erase Cowboy Nation's memories of TO and give Romo the final piece to the championship run puzzle that would bring them back home for a chance with Lombardi.

3. C.J. Spiller (Buffalo Bills: Running Back)

C.J. Spiller (Buffalo Bills)

C.J. was not supposed to be inline for the starting job, yet this ninth pick has had to set up with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch going down to injury—and he has not disappointed.

Spiller lit up the Colts' first-team defense for a 31-yard touchdown and then took it in twice against the Bengals during the first half.

Similar to Jackson, who acquired his position due to stepping up when the player in front of him went down to injury, the Bills are not as quick to make C.J. number one on the depth chart.  Nevertheless, the lingering effects of Jackson's injury will give Spiller plenty of time to make his case early on.

2. Ryan Mathews (San Diego Chargers: Running Back)

Ryan Mathews (San Diego Chargers)

With Vincent Jackson fighting for more money, Ryan Mathews will be fighting for a new offensive scheme.  Couple this along the lines of Phillip Rivers without Marcus McNeil to protect him and Vincent Jackson to go long, and the short yardage game just became the primary key to the Chargers' offense with Mathews and Antonio Gates leading the way.

1. Jermaine Gresham (Cincinnati Bengals: Tight End)

Jermaine Gresham (Cincinnati Bengals)

The Bengals made a risky move by prior standards and make a smart draft choice to bolster the Bengals' offense.  Carson Palmer will be very happy having Gresham to watch his back and haul in his passes.  This potential rookie of the year has not lost a step despite missing his senior year at Oklahoma due to injury.  Watching Gresham's preseason develop, his down to the wire signing left nothing on the table as the Bengals look to reach the next level with this complimentary player inline.