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The 2008 NFL Draft is in our rear-view mirror and we now know where those selected will be plying their trade. And that means it's time to start getting a feel for who fits in best where, who gets the opportunity necessary to make immediate contributions and who might have to sit a spell before getting their shot.

In other words, it's time to start assessing the Fantasy potential of this year's incoming rookie crop.

As in past seasons, I'll approach this first pass with a position-by-position overview posted on a daily basis throughout the week (QBs Tuesday; RBs Wednesday; WRs today; TEs and PKs on Friday).

Remember: The primary focus is on players I expect to have immediate and legitimate Fantasy value -- or a reasonable chance of achieving that status.

But we're talking wide receivers today. And that -- for those of you just getting into the Fantasy game -- can be a bit dicey. I realize, of course, that predicting the future is a risky proposition under the best of circumstances. But divining the Fantasy prospects of rookie receivers takes it to another level.

As Buffalo News beat writer Allen Wilson reminded readers, six wide receivers were selected in the first round last year, but their overall impact was marginal.

Dwayne Bowe, the 23rd overall pick and the third receiver taken, led all rookies with 70 receptions, 995 yards and five touchdowns for Kansas City. Meanwhile, Calvin Johnson, the second overall selection and widely considered the best player in the 2007 draft, had more modest numbers -- 48 receptions for 765 yards and four touchdowns.

So, the list of players like Ted Ginn (the ninth pick overall last year), Troy Williamson, Mike Williams, Charles Rogers and David Terrell -- to name just a few high-profile busts, goes a long way towards explaining why there were no wideouts selected in the first round of this year's draft.

The fact that 30 receivers were drafted before New Orleans grabbed Marques Colston in 2006 offers further explanation.

All that said, Fantasy Football owners are in the predicting business and I'll do my part to introduce you to this year's incoming crop with my primary focus on situations that appear to be most conducive to success.

Given that, I'll stress this information should be used to begin building your baselines of information. It's safe to say I'll be keeping a close eye on mini-camps and other off-season workouts in coming weeks to help further refine this list and your understanding of the prospects.

So, with the general disclaimers out of the way, I'll note the focus today will be on the top 10 (okay, 11) prospects with the thumbnails of the remaining draftees for those of you in Dynasty and keeper leagues.

1(a and b). Devin Thomas/Malcolm Kelly, Washington Redskins
No, this pick isn't actually a cop out. ... Okay. So it is. Looking to get bigger at receiver, the Redskins weren't content to take a tall rookie pass-catcher in the second round. Instead, they selected two.

And one of them is going to be the team's No. 3 receiver this year.

With Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El still on hand, Thomas (the 34th pick out of Michigan State) and Kelly (the 51st selection out of Oklahoma) will square off this preseason for that third spot.

According to his NFL.com scouting report, the 6-2, 215-pound Thomas might be one of the strongest receivers in college football on a pound-for-pound basis. A well-built athlete with massive upper body muscle tone, Thomas not only has the strength to power through arm tackles, but also displays blazing quickness.

Thomas' physical attributes make him a good compliment to more the diminutive Moss and Randle El.

The 6-4, 218-pound Kelly, meanwhile, takes full advantage of his size and strength to break arm tackles rather than trying to get fancy with moves when trying to separate. He also has great hands; Kelly was charted with only one dropped pass in the last two years.

Speed has been a question. But Jason Campbell was part of a Redskins contingent that traveled to Oklahoma to work out Kelly and the QB had no qualms.

"A lot of people want to talk about his 40 time, but he seems faster on the field," Campbell said. "The way he ran routes, he looked really smooth."

Fantasy Bottom Line: Based on his breakthrough junior season in 2007, Thomas is expected to have the early edge in his one-on-one duel with Kelly. But as SI.com's Don Banks suggested, the good news is there's plenty of three-receiver (and a number of four-receiver) sets in the version of the West Coast offense new head coach Jim Zorn brings with him from Seattle, so there should be enough playing time available for Thomas and Kelly to contribute.

2. James Hardy, Buffalo Bills
According to his NFL.com scouting report, the 6-6, 220-pound Hardy is a tall, lanky receiver with a great reach and excellent leaping ability whose jump ball skills will create nightmares for smaller cornerbacks.

Those defenders generally get into lots of trouble trying to stop Hardy, selected out of Indiana with the 41st pick overall, from getting to the jump balls, evident by the 10 pass interference penalties charged to those covering Hardy in 2007.

He lacks the bulk, strength and explosive burst that Plaxico Burress -- a player with a similar body type -- has, but used on fades or bubble screens, Hardy is sure to move the chains. Still, he is going to have to dedicate a few hours to the weight room, as lack of strength could become an issue, especially trying to beat the jam.

Fantasy Bottom Line: The need for a solid starter to work opposite Lee Evans clearly drove the Bills to make this pick. Hardy's imposing physical presence will give Trent Edwards a big-time target in the red zone while allowing coaches to more effectively utilize Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish in the slot.

3. Limas Sweed, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger talked about adding a bigger receiving target earlier this year and Sweed fits the bill. According to his NFL.com scouting report, the 6-4, 212-pound Sweed is a long strider with a good burst off the line against a clean release.

Selected out of Texas with the 53rd pick overall, Sweed is quick to gobble up the cushion and get behind the defender, but he is not the most polished route runner you will find.

With his size and ability to shield passes from defenders, he does a fine job of getting to the ball in a crowd. When out in front of the defense, he can take the ball to the house, evident by his 20 touchdown catches. Sweed has had injury issues, but all indications are he's healthy now.

Fantasy Bottom Line: According to Banks, Sweed walks in the door as the obvious candidate to push Nate Washington for the third-receiver role behind starters Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. At the very least, Pittsburgh found a talented replacement for Cedrick Wilson, the recently-released veteran. ... Banks also suggests that because Sweed essentially fills a personal request, Roethlisberger could have an interest in getting him the ball.

4. Earl Bennett, Chicago Bears
According to the Sports Xchange, the 6-0, 209-pound Bennett might lack blazing speed, but he shows good quickness and body movement in his routes and can get off the line of scrimmage using power or finesse.

His patterns are sharp and crisp with no wasted motion and he gets in and out of his breaks quickly when he keeps his pads down. He has outstanding field awareness and the ability to read coverage. He can locate the ball in a crowd and then separate. It is rare to see him misjudge a deep throw and he has also developed into a solid cut blocker.

"I like Earl a lot," offensive coordinator Ron Turner said of his newest receiver. "He has great quickness. He's a really good route runner. ... He's good right after the catch [and] he will go up and catch the ball and battle for it and catch it in a crowd."

If not used as a deep threat, he will have good success moving the chains.

Bennett played just three seasons at Vanderbilt yet finished as the Southeastern Conference's career leader in receptions with 236. He caught 75-plus passes in each of his three seasons, including 82 as a sophomore in '06.

Fantasy Bottom Line: As Chicago Tribune staffer Vaughn McClure reminded readers, the Bears lost top receiver Bernard Berrian to the Vikings and cut No. 2 man Muhsin Muhammad. Aging veteran Marty Booker is back, Brandon Lloyd was signed, and Mark Bradley and Devin Hester are in the developmental stage, meaning the Bears don't have a solid No. 1. In other words, the door is open. ... "We will give him an opportunity, obviously, to come in and compete right away," Turner said of Bennett.

5. Early Doucet, Arizona Cardinals
Like his former LSU teammate Bowe, the 6-0, 212-pound Doucet has valid straight-line quickness and good strength to beat the press and get into his routes.

But for player purported to have "explosive speed to be a go-to receiver," as most scouting reports say, he just seemed to be nothing more than a possession receiver as a senior. And according to the Xchange, Doucet, selected with the 81st pick overall, needs to work on route refinement; he often takes soft-angle cuts and fails to sink his hips coming out of his breaks.

Still, Doucet who was considered one of the nation's top receivers entering 2007. He caught 15 passes in LSU's first two games, then suffered a severe groin pull in practice and saw minimal action in the team's next four games.

He still managed to catch 57 passes.

"He was high on our board," Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "He would have been a first-round pick if he hadn't been nicked up."

Doucet's stock also probably was hurt by his 40-yard times.

"I'm a consistent 4.5 guy," Doucet said after being drafted. "I'm not a 4.3 guy. Never will be. But I'm a football player."

Fantasy Bottom Line: As East Valley Tribune staffer Mike Tulumello suggests, Doucet might not be a classic speedster who hits the "home runs," but he will clearly have value as a slot receiver -- the most glaring need in Arizona following the off-season departure of Bryant Johnson. ... Working in his favor is the fact Doucet will compete with a less-than-impressive field that includes Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban and Sean Morey.

6. Andre Caldwell, Cincinnati Bengals
The 6-1, 200 pound Caldwell has the second gear to get into routes quickly and takes pride in his ability to stretch a defense and make his opponent account for him on every play.

In addition to being a playmaker with the ball in his hands, Caldwell is a punishing blocker. Like new teammate T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Caldwell has the physicality to fight through man coverage and does a good job of tracking the ball in the air.

Caldwell, the 97th pick overall, must improve the crispness of his routes but shows fine body control.

Downside? He's had some durability concerns the last two years. And his lack of change-of-direction agility and hip swerve mean his best chances of beating coverage come when accelerating straight-line.

But he's very capable in that regard -- and very dangerous in the open field. Certainly dangerous enough to emerge as an effective slot receiver in Cincinnati's scheme.

Fantasy Bottom Line: The Bengals already invested a second-round pick in Jerome Simpson from Coastal Carolina, but they still selected Caldwell, a more polished product than the higher pick. In fact, Caldwell knows the ropes of how the NFL works with his brother, Reche Caldwell, having played in the league for a number of years. He also looks like the odds-on favorite to take on the No. 3 role previously handled by Chris Henry.

7. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles
According to Philadelphia Daily News beat man Les Bowen, Jackson understood what it meant when he stepped on the scale at the NFL Scouting Combine and the little weights stopped moving at 169 pounds. This was more of a problem than the 6-0 height listing that turned out to be 5-10.

No first-round glitter for the fastest receiver at the combine (4.35 seconds).

The mock drafts that had Cal's explosive junior wideout and return man -- 29 touchdowns in 36 career games -- going around the middle of the first round quickly were adjusted. Draft experts weren't surprised when the Eagles were able to get Jackson with the 49th overall pick Saturday, in the second round.

Despite the considerable skepticism surrounding Jackson's ability to excel at the pro level, the youngster has a booster in Jerry Rice, who helped Jackson prepare for the draft.

Rice has been pushing the comparison to Carolina's Steve Smith. "He has all the talent in the world," Rice said of Jackson at a workout this spring. "There's no reason he can't be everything he wants to be at the next level. ..."

Fantasy Bottom Line: Hmmm. ... Jackson and Smith do have a similar combination of explosive burst, quick change-of-direction agility and cutting ability to threaten the deep secondary consistently. But I'll remind you Smith needed time to develop into the dangerous threat we know him as now. Jackson will, too.

8. Donnie Avery, St. Louis Rams
While it's hard to find an analyst who didn't consider it a major reach for the Rams to take Avery as the first receiver off the board (selected with the 33rd pick overall) last Sunday, head coach Scott Linehan sees something they obviously don't.

According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch staffer Jim Thomas, Linehan is a stickler for run-and-catch receivers. With the speedy University of Houston wideout, there's a big emphasis on run.

Avery ran a 40-yard dash time at the combine that many wide receivers would be happy with: a 4.43. He did that with a pulled hamstring. A healthy Avery turned in a 4.34-second 40 at his pro day, and he has run as fast as 4.29 seconds.

But it takes more than that to succeed at the pro level. As Linehan said: "You have to be able to play, too."

Avery, 5-11, 190 pounds, caught 91 passes for 1,456 yards last season, and had 210 catches over his college career. Avery had some problems with drops last season, but played part of the season with a thumb injury. An added value for Avery is on kickoff returns. He averaged 28.3 yards on 15 returns last season for Houston, including a 100-yard return.

Fantasy Bottom Line: The Rams have been missing a deep threat in the wide receiver corps since Kevin Curtis signed with Philadelphia in free agency one year ago. Avery, who has a chance to be the team's No. 3 wide receiver this season, could fill that role. ... In fact, after being selected ahead of everybody on this list, he'd better fill that role.

9. Mario Manningham, New York Giants
According to New York Daily News staffer Ralph Vacchiano, the Giants took a risk by selecting Michigan's Manningham with the 95th pick overall. He's a big-play receiver with first-round talent, but his failure to admit past drug problems and a reported score of 6 on the Wonderlic intelligence exam raised serious questions about his head.

"We did our homework on him," GM Jerry Reese insisted. "Our coaches spent a lot of time with him. He convinced me, he convinced our coaches, that he made a couple of mistakes. Hopefully he learned from his mistakes."

There certainly are a lot of mistakes for the 5-11, 178-pound Manningham to learn from, beginning with his arrest last April after Vicodin that was prescribed to one of his teammates was found in his car and his passengers were found to be in possession of marijuana. Charges were later dropped in part because Manningham had a Vicodin prescription of his own.

It was also later revealed that Manningham had failed two drug tests in college. Making matters worse, Manningham lied to NFL team officials at the scouting combine in February when he was asked about those failed tests.

Still, the Giants were impressed by Manningham's 72 catches for 1,174 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games last season and the fact he could be, in head coach Tom Coughlin's words, "what we wanted, which was an ability to put the fear of the deep ball" into opposing teams.

Fantasy Bottom Line: Both Reese and Coughlin think Manningham can be an instant impact player. As such, the Giants are hopeful an Eli Manning-to-Manningham connection will strike deeply into opposing defenses this season, opening up things for Burress on the other side and Jeremy Shockey in the middle. If Manningham's mind is right, he could make Reese look like a very smart man. ... At the very least, Manningham's arrival is bad news for Sinorice Moss.

10. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers
At 6-3 and 218 pounds, Nelson has excellent size and great hands, though Green Bay Press-Gazette staffer Pete Dougherty notes that scouts for some teams questioned his long speed -- he ran the 40 in 4.51 seconds.

Still, by taking him at No. 36 overall, the Packers surprisingly made Nelson the third receiver off the board, behind only Avery and Thomas. That meant the Packers rated Nelson ahead of Sweed, Kelly and Hardy.

Jordan didn't generate as much pre-draft buzz as those others, but the Packers were impressed with his amazing 122 receptions last season for an average of 13.2 yards a catch as the focal point that every Kansas State opponent tried to shut down.

For what it's worth, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper offered the following assessment: "Nelson is a great athlete, and will be a faster version of former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark."

The Packers project him to fit well into the West Coast offense because of his size and strength on crossing routes, and ability to run after the catch. GM Ted Thompson said head coach Mike McCarthy's liberal usage of four- and five-receiver sets contributed to making Nelson a smart pick. ...

Fantasy Bottom Line: While it appears Nelson will compete with James Jones for the No. 3 spot this year, Donald Driver's advancing age (33) means we'll be seeing a top three of Greg Jennings, James and Nelson in the not too distant future.

The best of the rest (in alphabetical order):

Adrian Arrington, New Orleans Saints (6-3, 203, Michigan, Round 7)
According to NFL.com, some thought Arrington was a very good player that was overshadowed by Manningham at Michigan. He has good hands and caught a lot of passes -- but isn't a big fan of contact. ... Character issues and a hamstring injury that prevented him from working out at the combine hurt his stock.

Keenan Burton, St. Louis Rams (6-1, 200, Kentucky, Round 4)
Burton has decent size and speed (4.4 in the 40), and Linehan likes his change-of-direction skills. Often injured -- but willing to play when hurt. ... The Xchange suggests that much like Arnaz Battle, Houshmandzadeh and Ward), Burton will make a nice living going over the middle at the next level.

Harry Douglas, Atlanta Falcons (5-11, 176, Louisville, Round 3)
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the selection of Douglas could mean that Joe Horn, Adam Jennings and/or Brian Finneran are in jeopardy. ... While the AJC believes Douglas could emerge as a shifty slot receiver, it will take time to break into the regular rotation with Roddy White, Laurent Robinson and Michael Jenkins.

Will Franklin, Kansas City Chiefs (6-1, 214, Missouri, Round 4)
Franklin has impressive speed (he ran a 4.3 40) for a guy his size. ... According to the Kansas City Star, Franklin is fast enough and has enough ability to be a productive NFL player. But it might take a year or two for that to happen.

Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis Colts (6-0, 210, Mount Union, Round 6)
Even though he played at a lower level of competition, his production was eye-opening. His 60 touchdown receptions rank second in NCAA Division III history. He also became just the sixth player in Division III annals to gain over 4,000 yards receiving (4,380) in a career. ... Most observers believe Garcon will need time to develop.

Justin Harper, Baltimore Ravens (6-4, 198, Virginia Tech, Round 7)
Harper has excellent size and speed, but he played only about half the snaps during his collegiate career. He needed to post career-highs in 2007 to prove he wasn't just a size/speed candidate for the NFL -- and that is precisely what he did. Still, there are questions about the real Harper: Is he the guy who struggled to make an impact throughout his early career despite obvious physical tools, or the one who stepped up his play as a senior. ... Either way, he'll need time to develop at the next level.

Lavelle Hawkins, Tennessee Titans (5-11, 187, California, Round 4)
Hawkins has the ability to separate from defenders despite not having super speed and put up solid numbers with 72 receptions last season for Cal. ... According to the Nashville City Paper, if he can adapt to Mike Heimerdinger's system, Hawkins can be a factor sooner rather than later. Few of the eight other wideouts on the Titans' roster can claim they have a role already locked up for 2008, so there is opportunity to be had.

Marcus Henry, New York Jets (6-4, 207, Kansas, Round 6)
Kansas coach Mark Mangino is usually stingy with his praise, but he gushed about Henry, who had 54 catches for 1,014 yards (18.8-yard average) and a school-record 10 TDs last season. "Getting Marcus with the 171st pick is a steal for the Jets," he said. ... Henry might have upside, but is just figuring out how to play the game.

Paul Hubbard, Cleveland Browns (6-3, 221, Wisconsin, Round 6)
Big and fast, a knee injury last season hurt Hubbard's draft stock. Went to Wisconsin on a track scholarship (had a wind-aided 52-7 in the triple jump in '03). Joined the football team in 2003. In the past two seasons, caught 52 passes for 932 yards and five touchdowns. ... The Browns are hoping Hubbard can step in and replace Joe Jurevicius someday.

Dexter Jackson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-10, 182, Appalachian State, Round 2)
Jackson is an excellent return man with tremendous speed, a 4.33 in the 40. But he needs to refine his route running and eliminate his penchant for gathering before coming out of his breaks. He still demonstrated the ability to make big plays. He averaged 16.8-yards on 110 receptions. ... He could give opposing secondaries someone besides Joey Galloway to watch.

Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills (6-2, 210, Kentucky, Round 7)
Johnson is a solid player with decent speed and size. He only played two years at Kentucky after transferring from a junior college in California. According to NFL.com, Johnson projects as a special teams player who will add depth at receiver.

Marcus Monk, Chicago Bears (6-4, 222, Arkansas, Round 7)
Monk considered entering the NFL draft after his junior season, had two procedures performed on his knee in August that ruined his senior year and was a good enough athlete to have played for the Razorbacks basketball team too. According to Chicago Tribune staffer Mark Haugh, Monk isn't assured of making the Bears' 53-man roster, but if he does, Turner could have another option in the red zone.

Kenneth Moore, Detroit Lions (5-11, 195, Wake Forest, Round 5)
Moore had a huge senior year with 98 catches for 1,011 yards. He is versatile and despite his qualities as a receiver, you can also put him in the backfield as his 500 rushing yards his junior year demonstrate. He also has abilities as a return man. ... According to the Xchange, his versatility and new-found punt return skills could save the Lions a roster spot with his ability to play a variety of roles.

Josh Morgan, San Francisco 49ers (6-0, 219, Virginia Tech, Round 6)
Morgan was the only wideout taken by the 49ers. He had 46 receptions for 552 yards and five touchdowns in 2007, and has a 2006 arrest on his record for disorderly conduct and obstructing justice. The police used pepper spray to subdue him. "I just made a mistake and learned from it," he said. ... The Niners apparently agree. ... Morgan is a solid special teams player capable of contributing in that aspect at the pro level.

Kevin Robinson, Kansas City Chiefs (6-0, 190, Utah State, Round 6)
Robinson is fast and elusive, but he clearly is a more accomplished returner than he is a receiver. He was a receiver who also returned punts and kickoffs and occasionally played running back. He became one of the most decorated kick returners in college football when he returned eight kicks for touchdowns, also an NCAA record. ... Looks like a lock to make the squad based on return skills alone (sorry Eddie Drummond).

Eddie Royal, Denver Broncos (5-10, 184, Virginia Tech, Round 2)
According to his NFL.com scouting report, Royal will give the Broncos a skill set comparable to that of Buffalo's Parrish. Royal is much stronger than Parrish, but both are speed merchants and capable returners. Head coach Mike Shanahan told reporters that Royal automatically improves the team's return game. ... As for his ability to contribute on offense, Royal is a capable playmaker who will fit well in the slot -- a role that will be hard to claim if Brandon Stokley is healthy.

Chaz Schilens, Oakland Raiders (6-4, 208, San Diego State, Round 7)
Schilens excites people because of his exceptional size and speed. Due to his pure athleticism, he will have a chance to make the roster. According to NFL.com, he still needs some polish as a receiver.

Arman Shields, Oakland Raiders (6-1, 194 Richmond Pick 26, Round 4(125)
Shields did not have as good a senior year as he did as a junior, but he's still tall and he's fast. ... Shields and Schilens (above) are expected to compete for roster spots and playing time behind Javon Walker, Ronald Curry and Drew Carter, along with second-year players Johnnie Lee Higgins and Chris McFoy. "You bet," Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said when asked if speed played a role in selecting Shields and Schilens. "Both the guys, Chaz and Arman, run a 4.41, 4.42 40-time and really can stretch the field." Shields has actually been timed at 4.37.

Jerome Simpson, Cincinnati Bengals (6-2, 190, Coastal Carolina, Round 2)
The Bengals have released one receiver (Henry) this offseason and another (Chad Johnson) has requested a trade, so the need -- unlike Simpson -- has been highly publicized. ... While largely unknown, the Cincinnati Enquirer believes Simpson might be a gem. Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski has a track record of finding talented receivers, dating back to recommending Johnson and Houshmandzadeh to the front office in his first months with the team in 2001. ... Ideally will have time to develop but circumstances could dictate a more prominent role in the rotation.

Matt Slater, New England Patriots (5-11, 195, UCLA, Round 5)
The son of Jackie Slater, he is a great kick returner and took back three for touchdowns this year at UCLA. He is also very fast and ran a 4.4 at his Pro Day. He has the size and hands to compete for time as a slot receiver, but assuming he's capable of cutting into Wes Welker's playing time would be a mistake. ... That said, Slater is a standout special teams player and fits the Patriots' schemes.

Marcus Smith, Baltimore Ravens (6-2, 221, New Mexico, Round 4)
Smith is a good route-runner, but there are some questions about his ability to separate from defenders. He caught 153 balls for 2,073 yards at New Mexico. According to the Baltimore Sun, Smith could find a niche if he lives up to expectations as a receiver who can make tough catches over the middle.

Brett Swain, Green Bay Packers (6-0, 200, San Diego State, Round 7)
Swain has decent speed and size, but NFL.com advised readers he's not particularly outstanding in any particular area. Still, he has a chance to make the roster. The Packers have done well in the past taking receivers late in the draft with players such as Driver and Ruvell Martin.

Mario Urrutia, Cincinnati Bengals (6-6, 232, Louisville, Round 7)
A turf toe in 2007 prevented him from having as big a year as he did in 2006, when he had 58 catches. And according to the Xchange, Urrutia would have been well-served to stay in school an extra year but will have a chance to carve out a role as a goal-line receiver.

That's it for the 2008 WR class. Check back tomorrow for my rookie tight end/place-kicker previews.

Otherwise, keep an eye on the News & Views section of this site for late-breaking news and other tidbits of interest. Also watch the Headline News section for more in-depth reviews of current events -- including the weekly Fantasy Notebook, published every Sunday throughout the offseason.