Sigmund Bloom - Rookie 100 Part 2 (Top 26-50)

LaRon Landry, SS, Washington - Landry is coming in as the #6 overall pick, but according to his position coach Steve Jackson, he's not coasting. Jackson singled out Landry for his intensity and passion and called him a "hard worker with talent". Landry's value also took a leap with the news that he will play strong safety to Sean Taylor's free. FBG scoring slightly de-emphasizes DBs, so bump Landry up if your scoring system puts DB point total at LB levels. Landry missed a recent practice because of a paintball to the groin. Ouch.

Laurent Robinson, WR, Atlanta - Robinson made a huge impression on his team and was definitely one of the biggest stories of the Falcons minicamp. The Falcons WR coach Hue Jackson said that the team "got this one right" and praised Robinson's speed, explosiveness, and the way he caught the ball. Brian Finneran's second ACL tear in as many years will give Robinson the chance to see the field in four WR sets, and he could push Roddy White or Michael Jenkins if either struggles. Vick seems to kill WR value - staying away from White and Jenkins in past rookie drafts was a smart move - but Vick's hold on Atlanta could be slipping with his latest legal issues and his reaching a plateau in his play, and Robinson's initial investment is much lower than what it took to bag White or Jenkins. You probably won't have to take Robinson this high to land him.

Jacoby Jones, WR, Houston - Jones has shown the talent to merit a first day pick despite going to a division II school. He has also been a bit inconsistent, but head coach Gary Kubiak said Jones "fits in", so it looks like his athletic ability and natural talent will translate. Kevin Walter is the current feel good story at WR2 for the Texans, but Jones will eventually get his shot, the only question is when he'll be ready for it. He's a big WR who thinks like a small WR, which makes him a tri red zone/deep ball/YAC threat, and that equals fantasy gold if this offense ever gets on track.

Johnnie Lee Higgins, WR, Oakland - Jerry Porter has stepped up, and Ronald Curry is the most dependable WR on the Raiders roster, but there are few formidable obstacles for Higgins to overcome to become the #3. It's so bad at WR for Oakland that they had to go out and sign Travis Taylor. JaMarcus Russell's arm could unlock the fantasy potential of Higgins straight line speed. Higgins has an exceptional work ethic - if he fails it will not be for a lack of dedication.

James Jones, WR, Green Bay - Jones has already impressed Mike McCarthy with his strength, hands, and small area quicks. He's also a physical WR who is not shy about attacking the ball when it's in the air. He's lasting too long in rookie drafts. He's worth a higher pick if you own Donald Driver or Greg Jennings.

Zach Miller, TE, Oakland - Miller should be a lot higher in TE premium leagues, and maybe in every league. Coach Lane Kiffin said, "When you watch him he's a football player that digs in there and grinds away. His coaches called him, the best competitor they ever had. So those are the type of guys you are looking for and at the same time he has great football savvy as well." It's not hard to picture Miller beating out John Madsen and Courtney Anderson to start as a rookie. Miller's a dependable target and he has the hands and toughness to become a security blanket for JaMarcus Russell.

Gaines Adams, DE, Tampa Bay - Simeon Rice's back to back finishes as the #2 fantasy DE in 2002 and 2003 are probably out of reach for Adams, but he can be certainly be that kind of talent. Bucs DL coach Larry Coyer said Adams the difference between Adams in rookie camp and Adams in a recent OTA was "180 degree turnaround" due to "increased knowledge and confidence of his teammates". Adams is currently lining up at the right defensive end position behind Simeon Rice. If Rice gets cut, Adams becomes a possible fantasy starter this year. A Rice cut would also signal confidence in the rookie. DEs usually take a few years to hit their stride, so Adams might clog a roster spot for a year or two before you see startable production.

Kevin Kolb, QB, Philadelphia - Marty Mornhinweg said Kolb was "really consistent" and "very accurate" for a rookie. Kolb seems to take a cerebral approach to football, which makes him an excellent fit in Andy Reid's offense. Kolb is a great value pick who could be surprisingly good down the line in a system that made Jeff Garcia a startable fantasy quarterback last year.

John Beck, QB, Miami - Beck has struggled in mini camp, which is par for the course for a QB. The Dolphins have brought Trent Green in to be the caretaker until Beck is ready. He will be inheriting an offense in flux, and one with a subpar offensive line. Cam Cameron developed Drew Brees and saw something in Beck, but he seems destined to be no better than an average fantasy QB to me - Kevin Kolb has better raw skills and is a better value than Beck.

Paul Williams, WR, Tennessee - Williams has impressed the Titans thus far, owning fellow rookie Michael Griffin during his transition to CB, and flashing his first-round quality physical tools. For the time being, he's probably too raw to win the #2 job, and Tennessee is also likely to bring in a veteran during training camp. For the long haul, there's not much standing in his way if he can play up to his physical gifts.

Dwayne Wright, RB, Buffalo - Wright will have to strive to be the thunder to Marshawn Lynch's lightning, but he has a lot more latent upside than a typical 4th round RB. If he can regain the form he showed in 2003 before tearing his patellar Wright's value could skyrocket. After a recent minicamp, offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild said he was "more elusive than I thought he'd be."

Antonio Pittman, RB, New Orleans - Like Kenny Irons, Pittman seems buried behind an entrenched starter, but Deuce McAllister's long term status with the Saints might be more precarious than you would guess at first because of his 3.6 million cap number in 2008 and 5.2 million cap number in 2009. Reggie Bush's presence still limits Pittman's ceiling, and also like Irons, I'm sure not he's got the ideal skillset for the job he was drafted to do. Pittman's participation with the Saints has been limited thus far because he was finishing up classes at Ohio State.

Jamaal Anderson, DE, Atlanta - Anderson should get a chance to start right away, and if John Abraham stays healthy, he might make a fantasy impact. He's not the big play beast that Adams was in college, but the likelihood of him making an impact earlier and the fact that he is earlier in his development as a DE makes his ceiling close to Adams.

David Harris, LB, New York Jets - Harris will compete with Eric Barton for the spot on the inside next to Jon Vilma at first, but he should eventually win the job and settle into a decent LB3 as a run stuffer. When Vilma missed a practice to see his sister graduate at Harvard, Harris replaced Vilma with the first team instead 2006 3rd round pick Anthony Schlegel.

Michael Okwo, LB, Chicago - Lance Briggs should be smart enough to take the franchise tag salary this year, but if this game of chicken goes on into the season, Okwo could have immediate fantasy value. The team will not overpay for Briggs for the long term, so Okwo should get his shot in 2008 either way. He's ideal for the cover 2 WLB role.

Isaiah Stanback, WR, Dallas - Dallas is taking it easy with Stanback's foot, so we haven't heard much about this exceptional athlete, but the wows will come soon enough. Stanback's innate talent and toughness make him a great fit as a gutsy WR in the Hines Ward mode, but with more speed and wiggle. Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are thirty-three, they can't figure into the long term plans of the team. The foot injury that prematurely ended his 2006 continues to improve and the team expects him to be full-go for training camp.

Aundrae Allison, WR, Minnesota - Allison's star continues to fade after sliding to the fifth round. Russ Lande told us that Allison's lack of flashy skills and some character concerns caused him to fall. He could regain value if Williamson tanks, but he hasn't stood out in minicamp/OTAs like he did in Mobile at the Senior Bowl.

Anthony Spencer, OLB, Dallas - Greg Ellis is bellyaching about a contract while he's coming back from an Achilles tear, and he's on the wrong side of 30. Spencer is picking up the defense and switch to LB quickly, and he should be DeMarcus Ware's partner in crime for the foreseeable future. Ellis will start the season at SOLB, but Spencer's time is coming.

Lawrence Timmons, LB, Pittsburgh - Timmons has looked… hurt. He strained his groin on the first day of minicamp and hasn't been able to turn it on at full go yet. Like Robert Meachem, he's already behind, and his chances of making an impact this year are less than rookies who have been getting reps. Timmons was also considered more of a raw athlete than a player who is close to a finished product, so the instruction he's missing out on hurts even more. Word that the Steelers are making a complete move to a Cover 2 (only ungrounded speculation at this point) would increase his value since he would be the WLB, but I'm still not sold on him living up to his considerable athletic potential.

Buster Davis, LB, Arizona - Kent Somers told us that the 3-4 is likely to become the base defense, which creates another ILB slot. Gerald Hayes was excellent last year but his health has been unreliable in the past, and Davis should get a chance to compete with him for the spot next to Karlos Dansby by 2008.

Brian Leonard, RB, St. Louis - If you draft Leonard, you are basically relegated to hoping for a Stephen Jackson injury for Leonard to have fantasy relevance. Leonard does have the ability to put up solid numbers if that happens, so there is value there, but this a Michael Turner situation, except that the Chargers were not inclined to make Turner a fullback.

Quincy Black, LB, Tampa Bay - Jim Flynn from the Pewter Report told us that Black has been lining up inside, which gives him another way to have considerable future value, even if Derrick Brooks has a few years left in the tank. Black is well suited for the WLB role, but Flynn hinted that the Bucs may be trying out some 3-4 looks with both Barrett Ruud and Black inside. Black could also benefit if Ruud struggles. He's set up to inherit a high tackle position in the Tampa defense no matter how the LB corps sorts itself out.

Sabby Piscitelli, S, Tampa Bay - Piscitelli has the hitting ability and instincts to make big plays in the secondary, but the deep coverage responsibilities of safeties in the Tampa 2 put a cap on Piscitelli's fantasy potential… or does it? Jermaine Phillips had over 100 total tackles last year, and John Lynch had three 100+ total tackle seasons in the 90s. The team is very impressed with Piscitelli and he should be starting by the end of the year unless he struggles in his development.

Justin Durant, LB, Jacksonville - Durant will require some patience, but when the team is ready to let Mike Peterson go, the Durant era begins. He's extremely athletic and profiles as a three down LB. The middle could be open to him, watch to see A) whether Jacksonville plays Smith in the middle and B) whether Smith steps up his play from his 2006 stint at the "mike". If the answer to either question is no, then Durant could be set up inherit that plum fantasy spot.

Anthony Waters, LB, San Diego - With all due respect to Matt Wilhelm and Stephen Cooper, if Waters returns to pre-ACL tear form, they stand no chance to hold him off in the long run. Waters is a fiery leader and the kind of player who can be an engine for a defense in the middle. Inside linebacker in a 3-4 can also hide any mobility and burst Waters loses permanently from his unfortunate injury. Waters said he was at "95%" coming back from his September injury, but the team is holding him back out of caution as Waters has experienced some inflammation in the surgically repaired knee.