talent + opportunity = fantasy stardom ?

Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys. The most talented receiver in this year's draft could miss the entire preseason due to an ankle injury, but Dallas hopes he'll be on the field by Opening Day. Like most rookie wideouts, Bryant will need time to adjust to the NFL; but few think Roy Williams will keep him out of the starting lineup for long. If he can develop a rapport with Tony Romo quickly, Bryant could be a force by midseason.

Jahvid Best, RB, wholesale Lions jerseys. Best is another explosive back who strolls into a starting job. He is fully expected to be Detroit's workhorse this season, but a history of concussions from his senior year in college could haunt him. The Lions' infrequent visits to the red zone might prove to be an even greater worry for Best's fantasy owners.

 C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills. What a difference a day makes. With both Fred Jackson (hand) and Marshawn Lynch (ankle) expected to miss 3-4 weeks with injuries suffered Saturday, the ninth overall draft pick vaults near the top of the hot rookie list. Despite getting little air cover from Buffalo's passing attack, Bills rushers have managed to be decent fantasy performers. Spiller, whom many see as a Reggie Bush clone, could seize the starting job and never look back.

Ryan Mathews, RB, wholesale Chargers jerseys. Rarely has the 12th overall draft pick wound up in such an ideal situation. Mathews immediately steps into the shoes of future Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson, in a high-octane offense perfectly suited to his strengths. An every-down back with good hands and the size needed for goal-line work, don't be surprised to see Mathews flirting with the Top 5 fantasy ranks by season's end.

Don't be surprised, though, if the pendulum swings back, as several NFL clubs are banking on significant contributions from first-year players. Here are the members of the Class of 2010 that I project to make a noteworthy impact during their inaugural seasons, in order of importance.

The Class of 2009, in contrast, was rather disappointing. Just one player at each position cracked the year-end Top 25 rankings -- Mark Sanchez (24), Knowshon Moreno (17), Percy Harvin (25) and Brandon Pettigrew (25). As a result, rookies played little, if any, role in the vast majority of last season's fantasy championships.

(It's interesting to note that of the above, only Johnson and Jackson followed up with stellar sophomore campaigns. Keep that in mind when casting your lot with this year's second-year stars.)

Many of us fondly recall the 2008 rookie class, whose members were instrumental in our fantasy title runs. Matt Forte, Steve Slaton and cheap Chris Johnson jerseys highlighted a bumper crop of first-year tailbacks, while Eddie Royal and DeSean Jackson vaulted up the wide receiver rankings. John Carlson and Dustin Keller made waves at tight end, and even Matt RyanJoe Flacco proved to be valuable relief pitchers. and

Does the newcomer have a clear path to substantial playing time? Will he join a high-powered offense, or one whose punter is its most lethal weapon? Is he healthy heading into the season, or has he missed invaluable preseason reps due to nagging injuries?

When evaluating the fantasy potential of any rookie class, talent is but one salient factor. Equally important is the opportunity afforded each individual, which is also a multi-faceted equation.