2011 NFL Power Rankings: NFL's Top 10 Young Studs

The 2011 NFL season is finally around the corner.

As a fan this is a sweet dream after a long, cold nightmare.

The next few weeks in football will be a frenzy and everyday will bring excitement. Just think about it, the season will most likely start in about eight weeks. 

It's time to get put all your worries aside, dust off your favorite team's gear, and get pumped for the new NFL season.

While there are your perennial shoe-ins for players who will produce, one is always left to wonder what young players will make some noise and become NFL studs.

Here are the top 10 players to have a break out season. Enjoy.

No. 10- Baltimore Ravens CB Jimmy Smith

Q: What's the quickest way for a rookie CB to gain notoriety in the NFL?

A: Get drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.

Jimmy Smith was chosen 27th overall in this year's NFL draft and will make an immediate impact.

At 6'2", 211 lbs. Smith will make opposing receivers think twice before they catch the ball. 

Not to mention that he has some amazing mentors in Baltimore. 

Look for Jimmy Smith to become the newest star on Baltimore's already great defense. 

No. 9- Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley

2010 was supposed to be the break out season for Jermichael Finley before he suffered a season ending knee injury in week five.

The TE looks to make up for lost time in 2011 after being marred by injuries the last two seasons. 

Jermichael Finley is 6'5", athletic, and only 24 years old.

In five games last season he caught 21 passes for 301 yards and a TD.

This season will be different for the TE as he'll end up with over 1,000 yards receiving. 

With his help, the defending Super Bowl Champions will again be in the hunt for the Lombardi Trophy. 

No.8- Kansas City Chiefs WR Jonathan Baldwin

Jonathan Baldwin was selected 26th overall in the 2011 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs desperately needed another threat to throw to, as Bowe had more yards than the rest of the Chiefs receivers(not RB/TE's) combined last year.

The 6'4'' WR looks to be the perfect compliment to Dwayne Bowe.

QB Matt Cassel now has Dwayne Bowe, Tony Moeaki, and Baldwin as targets.

Baldwin is just what the young Kansas City Chiefs need to make the playoffs again.

Look for the rookie to make an instant impact and nab 1,000+ yards as a deep threat. 

No.7- Buffalo Bills RB/KR C.J. Spiller

C.J. Spiller was a disappointment in his rookie season after being selected No. 9 in the 2010 NFL draft.

 Although Spiller did have 1,014 kick return yards he only had 278 yards on the ground and 157 through the air.

C.J. Spiller only had 74 rushing attempts and caught only 24 balls in 2011

Expect Spiller to have matured in the off season and receive many more touches in the 2011 season.

With his explosiveness look for C.J. Spiller to amass over 1,000 kick return yards and 1,000 total yards on the ground and through the air.  

No.6- New Orleans Saints RB Mark Ingram

Mark Ingram will be an overnight success in 2011 for the New Orleans Saints.

The 2009 Heisman Trophy running back had over 3,300 yards on the ground in three years at Alabama. Ingram also had an impressive 60 catches in his college career. 

Mark Ingram will be a juggernaut in the New Orleans backfield and makes their high powered offense that much more dangerous.

Look for Ingram to have over 1,100 total yards for the Saints in 2011. 

No.5- Detroit Lions RB Jahvid Best

Jahvid Best had a good rookie campaign for the Detroit Lions in 2010. 

Best could have had a stellar rookie season but he was hampered by a turf toe injury the last seven weeks. He never got more than 17 carries on the ground all season. 

Despite the injury Jahvid Best had over 1,000 total yards in 2010. Best compiled 555 yards on the ground and 487 through the air. Best had 58 receptions, showing his versatility. 

With the Detroit Lions drafting RB Mikel Leshoure this allows Jahvid Best to become the lightning to Leshoure's thunder.

Jahvid Best will be downright scary for defenders in 2011 and eclipse nearly 1,300 total yards for Detroit.  

No. 4- Los Angeles Raiders WR/KR Jacoby Ford

Jacoby Ford earned respect as a rookie in 2010.

The Oakland Raiders WR/KR should be feared going into 2011.

Jacoby Ford had 1,280 kick return yards and averaged 18.8 yards per catch in 2010. Oh, Jacoby Ford also scored two TD on the ground. Ford scored seven total TD in 2010. 

This triple threat will only put up bigger numbers and be something to watch in 2011.

Expect Jacoby Ford to net 1,200+ KR yards, catch 70+ balls, and have 200+ rushing yards.

No. 3- Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant

Wearing the #88 in Dallas, Dez Bryant has some big shoes to fill.

Bryant only had 45 catches for 586 yards in his rookie campaign in Dallas. 

The Dallas Cowboys finished 6-10 and the season was one to forget for fans.

2011 brings a new day for the organization and Dez Bryant will have a break out season.

With QB Tony Romo healthy and some NFL experience under his belt, Bryant will become the WR the Cowboys thought he would be.

Look for Bryant to have over 1,200 reception yards and the Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs. 

No. 2- QB Kevin Kolb

At the moment, Kevin Kolb is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

This will likely change as early as the weekend.

Kevin Kolb has forever been in controversy among Philly fans since being drafted by the Eagles in 2007.

It is no secret that Kolb wants a chance to be a starting QB. It is also no secret that he wants out of Philadelphia. 

A good candidate for Kolb's services would be the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are in desperate need of a starting QB and Kolb could get the job.

2011 is the year for Kevin Kolb to break out of the doubt in Philadelphia and become a good starting QB elsewhere. What Kevin Kolb needs most is peace of mind.

 Given the opportunity, Kevin Kolb could throw for 3,500+ yards in 2011.  

No. 1- Detroit Lions Defense

The Detroit Lions are no longer the laughing stock of the NFL.

After being in the cellar of the sports world for nearly a decade they are not to be taken lightly anymore.

Coming into 2011, the Detroit Lions defense has something to prove —that they are a relentless force.  

This year the Lions have arguably the best D-Line in football and will surely sign a free agent to the secondary. The Lions depth at D Line will keep men fresh to thwart opposing rushing attacks and be a constant bother to enemy QB's. With a more experienced and an improved secondary the Detroit Lions will contend in 2011.

Led by the aggressive drafting of GM Martin Mayhew and defensive mentality of Jim Schwartz, the Lions are for real.

On the field the Lions D is led by Kyle Vanden Bosch and All-World super hero Ndamukong Suh.

Vanden Bosch has taught this team to give 100% at all times and Suh is a Pro Bowler for years to come.

With a healthy Matthew Stafford at QB, the Lions offense could put up some serious numbers, giving the Lions defense adequate rest during games.

The 2010 Lions ended the season on a four game win streak and finished the season at 6-10.

Don't expect the Lions to slow down in 2011. Don't be surprised to see double digit numbers in the win column.

Expect the Lions D to win respect and the team to make the playoffs.