Donnie Avery, Laurent Robinson and Jason Smith are still largely inexperienced.

Sam Bradford, Mardy Gilyard and Rodger Saffold are really inexperienced.

That’s why the Rams’ decision to pass on Terrell Owens today was the correct one. This is a team in rebuilding mode and adding a 37-year-old receiver coming off a bad year and who has a history of criticizing quarterbacks isn’t ideal. Can T.O. still contribute in the right situation? Yes, but not in St. Louis.

Some are quick to point out that T.O. wasn’t a distraction last year in Buffalo. That’s because he couldn’t have been a distraction – the team was awful and so was he. Does anyone really think that he would have kept his mouth shut if he had posted solid numbers week in and week out and the Bills still lost? Not a chance.

The Rams are better off in the long run. Avery, Robinson and Gilyard all of upside – Owens doesn’t. Besides, what’s the best case scenario if the Rams sign T.O.? He plays well and they go 4-12 instead of 2-14? It’s saying a lot that Owens would even be worth two wins, so signing him would almost seem unnecessary for St. Louis.

Cincinnati, however, is a different story. They made the playoffs last year, have a veteran quarterback at the helm and in their offense, they have enough playmakers so that T.O. wouldn’t be the focal point (unlike if he landed in St. Louis). Not to mention, their locker room isn’t as inexperienced as the Rams’ is and one would think that Chad Ochocinco would nullify anything Owens brought to the table in terms of personality. Carson Palmer wouldn’t stand for being treated like a 2-year-old either.

The Bengals are a decent fit for T.O. – the Rams are not. We’ll see if Cincinnati eventually pulls the trigger on a contract for Owens. My guess is they will.

In other Rams-related news, FOX Sports is reporting that the team is close to signing No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford.

Players like Matt Ryan, Chris Johnson and Joe Flacco have already pulled a seat up to the proverbially NFL dinner table after turning in solid rookie seasons. But which second-year players (who didn’t have great success in their rookie campaigns) are set for breakout seasons in 2009?

Here are 10 that jump out to me:

(Note: I consider players like Ryan, Johnson, Flacco, Jonathan Stewart, Matt Forte and Steve Slaton as already having breakout seasons, so you won’t find them on this list.)

In no particular order:

1. Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders
Justin Fargas is a favorite of head coach Tom Cable’s in Oakland, but the Raiders didn’t select McFadden with the fourth overall pick in last year’s draft not to take full advantage of his talents. Thus far this summer, the Raiders have lined McFadden up not only at running back, but also at receiver and even quarterback. With Cable calling the offensive plays this season, McFadden is set to see plenty of opportunities to excel in Oakland’s offense and as long as he can stay healthy (a turf toe injury slowed him down last season) the former top 5 pick could emerge as the Raiders’ most potent offensive weapon. The one part of his game that he’ll need to improve on, however, is his ability to run between the tackles. If he can’t, the hard-running Fargas will steal plenty of McFadden’s touches this season.

2. Leodis McKelvin, CB, Bills
McKelvin already broke onto the scene as a kick returner in 2009, racking up the most return yardage in the AFC with 1,468. But this is the year McKelvin could turn heads as a cornerback. After emerging as a playmaker down the stretch last season, the Bills decided to make McKelvin a starter opposite Terrence McGee for 2009. McKelvin received plenty of criticism for having poor ball skills while coming out of college, but anyone who watched Buffalo’s 54-31 romp of the Chiefs in Week 12 last season knows that he’s up for the challenge of playing DB in the NFL. In that game, McKelvin intercepted Tyler Thigpen twice, including on a 64-yard touchdown after reading what Thigpen wanted to do with the ball, jumping the slant route and getting underneath the receiver to make the pick. Now that he’s a starter and playing opposite McGee, McKelvin will have plenty of opportunities to show we can do in ’09.

3. Sedrick Ellis, DT, Saints
Ellis finished with four sacks, 30 tackles and four pass breakups in 13 games as a rookie last season, but he did so while having to learn both the three-technique, and the nose position. This summer, the Saints want Ellis to focus solely on the three-technique position, which would make him the primary interior pass-rusher on their defense. With him concentrating more on providing a push up the middle and less on occupying multiple offensive linemen in run defense, Ellis could double his sack output from a year ago and start to emerge as one of the better interior pass-rushers in the NFL.

4. Keith Rivers, LB, Bengals
If it weren’t for Hines Ward’ jaw-breaking crackback block in Week 7 of last season, Rivers wouldn’t be on this list because he was already having what appeared to be a breakout year as a rookie. Rivers has fully recovered from the jaw injury, as well as offseason arthroscopic ankle surgery, and could lead the Bengals in tackles this season if he stays healthy. He was one of the few bright spots on Cincinnati’s defense last season and with the addition of Roy Williams, Abram Elam, Tank Johnson, Rey Maualuga and Michael Johnson this offseason, Rivers might be freed up to make plenty of plays in ’09.

5. Branden Albert, OT, Chiefs
After reporting to OTAs in March weighing a hefty 341 pounds, Albert quickly got into shape after new head coach Todd Haley cracked the whip on his left tackle. Albert is reportedly down to 305 pounds, which is the lightest he’s been since high school. Assuming his strength won’t be zapped due to the weight loss, Albert should excel by being in better shape and having more experienced than a year ago. While it’s tough to measure whether or not offensive linemen can have breakout seasons, maybe one sign that Albert is on his way to becoming a quality tackle is how well Larry Johnson and Matt Cassel fare this season. Personally, I think both players are in store for solid ’09 seasons and Albert will likely be a big reason why.

6. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Cardinals
This is an easy one; Rodgers-Cromartie was named a started in November last season and quickly made an impact by intercepting four passes in the final seven games of 2008 and two more in the playoffs. Given the opportunity to start for an entire 16-game season, DRC could easily amass 10 inceptions in his second season. He’s incredibly talented and is a gifted athlete. He also has enough ability to shadow the opposition’s number one receiver, as he did with the Falcons’ Roddy White and the Panthers’ Steve Smith in the postseason last year.

7. Kenny Phillips, S, Giants
After coming out of Miami early following a somewhat down junior season, a lot of teams passed on Phillips in the first round last year. The Giants snatched him with the No. 31 overall pick and while he didn’t set the stat sheet ablaze last season, he did show signs of why he was once considered a top 15 pick. Since last season, Phillips put on 16 pounds of muscle and is expected to start this year at one of the two safety positions. He’s physically gifted and certainly has enough tools to succeed in the NFL, so if he can prove that he can become a vocal leader in New York’s secondary, then Phillips could make a huge impact for the G-Men this season.

8. Donnie Avery, WR, Rams
Avery just suffered a stress facture in his foot and will be sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks. The injury certainly puts a damper on the start of his ’09 campaign, but that doesn’t mean he can’t recover to turn in a breakout season. He caught 53 receptions for 674 yards and three touchdowns last season and could explode in the Rams’ newly installed West Coast Offense. The injury, Marc Bulger’s lousy play and/or an inexperienced offensive line could hinder Avery’s breakout status. But he certainly has the speed and playmaking ability to build off the success he had last season.

9. Curtis Lofton, LB, Falcons
Some may label what Lofton did in 2008 as a breakout season considering he totaled 94 tackles and forced a fumble while starting 15 games for the Falcons as a rookie. But there’s reason to believe that he’ll make an even bigger impact in his second season, gain more national attention and thus, turn in a true “breakout” season. Lofton started in the middle of the Falcons’ defense last year, but was replaced in nickel situations because Atlanta was concerned about his pass coverage abilities. But Lofton shed eight pounds this offseason and is expected to be a three-down ‘backer this year. Considering the amount of opportunities he’ll have being on the field at all times, Lofton could become Atlanta’s team-leader in tackles and maybe even make his first Pro Bowl appearance.

10. Martellus Bennett, TE, Cowboys
Bennett has had a tumultuous offseason after receiving criticism for filming a profanity-laced YouTube video (which he was fined for), but his desire to become an Internet sensation shouldn’t sidetrack what he could do on the field this season. At 6’6”, 265 pounds, Bennett is so talented that the Cowboys are implementing more two tight end packages this season to take advantage of his playmaking ability. His development in the passing game could also be another reason why Dallas decided to cut T.O. in the offseason. While some don’t like his cockiness and feel that he lacks focus, there’s no denying Bennett’s talent.

The Browns may be looking to make a change after Derek Anderson’s shaky outing (14/37, 136 yards, TD). The Brady Quinn era could start soon…As long as Chris Chambers is out, Malcom Floyd (7-140-2 over the last two weeks) looks like a sneaky good start…With both Brandon Lloyd and Devin Hester hobbled, Rashied Davis (3-24) and Marty Booker (3-79-1) become even more important at WR…Cedric Benson (15 touches, 62 yards) is now the starting running back in Cincy, and he didn’t look too bad in the Steelers’ blowout win…Ryan Fitzpatrick (164 yards, TD) did a pretty good job filling in for Carson Palmer, who may be out a while…Kolby Smith (12 touches, 25 yards) was the main ballcarrier with Larry Johnson out and he (and the Chiefs) were ineffective against the Titans’ stout defense…Greg Camarillo (6-74) continues to post spot starter numbers in PPR leagues…Josh Morgan (5-86-1) finally had a good game. I wouldn’t run out and try to acquire him, but he’s a guy to monitor…Vernon Davis (1-5) proved that last week’s nice game was a fluke. Leave him on the waiver wire unless you’re absolutely desperate…Donnie Avery (9-138-1 over the last two weeks) is worth a pickup in bigger leagues…Kevin Smith (11 touches, 68 yards, TD) may not technically be the starter, but he sure looks like the Lions’ best RB…Mike Furrey (6-89) deserves a big upgrade (especially in PPR leagues) now that Roy Williams is gone…Ahman Green (15 touches, 65 yards, TD) looks like he’ll get considerable work as long as he’s healthy. The Texans want to avoid wearing down Steve Slaton…There was a Javon Walker (5-75-1) sighting! Is this a reason to get excited? Doubtful, but monitor the situation going forward…Jeff Garcia (310 yards, TD) is back in the saddle in Tampa and he’s roster worthy going forward.

Last year’s wide receiver crop was a bit thinner. Dwayne Bowe was the top rookie, finishing in the top 20 in most scoring formats. This was an upset considering all the fantasy owners that were drooling over Calvin Johnson’s intangibles before the season started. James Jones and Anthony Gonzalez flirted with fantasy relevance, but otherwise rookie wideouts didn’t make much of an impact in 2007. But every year, it seems like there’s one or two that become starter-worthy. (Who can forget Marques Colston’s 2006 campagin?)

So let’s take a look at this year’s top fantasy rookies and see who’s likely to make an impact.

RUNNING BACKS

1. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers (pictured)
Stewart is a power back and that’s the Panthers’ style. DeAngelo Williams has been something of a disappointment, so if Stewart runs well during the rest of the preseason, it’s not inconceivable that he could earn a starting role. However, durability is a concern with Stewart, so it is more likely that the Panthers will split carries to keep him fresh and injury-free.

2. Darren McFadden, Raiders
Due to his combination of strength and speed, some compare the #4 overall pick to Adrian Peterson. McFadden joins Justin Fargas and Michael Bush in the Raider backfield. Fargas had something of a breakout season in 2007 and Bush is running very well in camp, but McFadden will still get his touches. The team has said they’d like to use McFadden like the Saints used Reggie Bush in his rookie season. Oakland won’t want to wear him out, so this looks like a RBBC for the time being.

3. Matt Forte, Bears
The Bears drafted Forte in the second round to shore up a struggling running game. Cedric Benson was a bust, but the offensive line has been suspect for a couple of years now, so there’s no telling just how much Forte will help Chicago’s ground game. He has looked solid in the preseason, and should be a solid RB3 in most fantasy leagues.

4. Kevin Smith, Lions
Smith is one of the more promising rookies simply because the Lions don’t have any other good options at tailback. Tatum Bell and Brian Calhoun haven’t made their mark, so it’s Smith’s job to lose. He has had durability and character issues during his career, so there is some question as to whether or not he can hold up to the wear-and-tear of a 16-game season. Still, given the lack of competition, he’s an intriguing middle-round fantasy pick.

5. Chris Johnson, Titans
The diminutive speedster seems to be earning a bigger and bigger role as the preseason wears on. LenDale White will get most of the work between the tackles (and, presumably, around the goal line), but Johnson will see a lot of work in the passing game and as a change-of-pace back.

6. Ray Rice, Ravens (pictured)
With Willis McGahee coming off of knee surgery, and Rice impressing in camp, there’s a real possibility that the rookie starts at tailback in Week 1. There are rumblings that the team is none too happy with McGahee’s (lack of a) work ethic, so Rice’s value is enhanced in keeper or dynasty leagues.

7. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
The Steelers raised some eyebrows (including Willie Parker’s) when they drafted Mendenhall in the first round. For now, they see him as a complement to “Fast” Willie, but he should eventually turn into an every-down back. The writing is on the wall for Parker; it’s just a matter of time before Mendenhall takes over as the Steelers’ feature back.

8. Steve Slaton, Texans
Ahman Green is hurt. Big surprise. Chris Brown is hurt. Big surprise. Somebody has to carry the ball in Houston and Slaton is second in line after Chris Taylor. Slaton has better speed, but Taylor is a little more physical. If Green and Brown continue to miss time, we might be looking at a Taylor/Slaton RBBC in Houston.

9. Felix Jones, Cowboys
Jones is the “lightning” to Marion Barber’s “thunder,” but this isn’t a timeshare. Barber is the main back, and Jones will be used to spell him and to add some punch out of the backfield in the passing game. Barber owners should definitely target Jones as a handcuff in the late-middle rounds.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Eddie Royal, Broncos (pictured)
Having already earned the starting spot opposite Brandon Marshall, Royal seems poised to be the top receiver in this year’s rookie class. He’s fast and quick, but he’ll struggle against the more physical corners. He should be able to post solid WR3/WR4 numbers if he and Jay Cutler can find a groove.

2. Josh Morgan, 49ers
Morgan was just a sixth round pick, but the lack of talent in the San Francisco WR corps has him slated as a starter to begin the season. He’s had a great preseason and should produce in Mike Martz’ pass-happy offense.

3. DeSean Jackson, Eagles
With Kevin Curtis sidelined, the door is open for Jackson to start opposite Reggie Brown. He’s smallish, but has excellent speed and can make defenders miss in the open field. Keep an eye on this WR2 battle as camp progresses, because the winner will have value in deeper leagues.

4. Donnie Avery, Rams
Avery is expected to be the Rams’ third receiver and will see most of his time in the slot. He is fast, shifty and agile, but he’s undersized. He’s a possession receiver with speed, and only Drew Bennett stands between Avery and a starting job.

5. James Hardy, Bills
Hardy is battling a bad hammy in the preseason, which is stunting his development. If all goes to plan, he’s going to be the starter opposite Lee Evans, but if he can’t get healthy by the start of the season, he’s a late-round flier at best.

6. Jordy Nelson, Packers
Nelson looks like the prototypical West Coast Offense wideout. He’s big, strong and is a good route runner. He projects to be fourth on the depth chart behind Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and James Jones, but keep an eye on Jones’ recent knee injury. Nelson stands to benefit if any of those three go down.

7. Devin Thomas, Redskins
Thomas has had a rough preseason thus far. Coming off an injury, he had a couple of drops in his preseason debut. If he gets his act together, he could overtake Antwaan Randle El as the Redskins’ WR2, but right now it’s not looking too good.

8. Early Doucet, Cardinals
Doucet is just returning from a hamstring injury, so he’s behind and probably won’t be able to win the WR3 job before the season starts. That said, with Anquan Boldin in a consistently bad mood, Doucet could be pressed into action if the Cards decide to move Q.

9. Limas Sweed, Steelers
Sweed is big, strong and fluid, but has yet to pass Nate Washington on the depth chart. With Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward also ahead of him, the Steelers are in no rush to press the rookie into duty before he’s ready.

TIGHT ENDS

1. Dustin Keller, Jets (pictured)
Chris Baker is the Jets’ starting TE, but Keller has been used as a slot receiver and red zone threat during the preseason. Brett Favre loves throwing to his TE, so Keller could make for a capable TE2 as the season progresses.

2. John Carlson, Seahawks
Seattle drafted Carlson in the second round for a reason, and Mike Holmgren recently said that Carlson is the player that they thought he was. He hasn’t been running much with the first team, but he’s a guy to keep your eye on in deeper leagues.

QUARTERBACKS

1. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
Ryan has been named the starter in Atlanta, which means he’s on the fantasy radar, especially in leagues that start two QBs. He has played pretty well in the preseason and has a few offensive weapons to utilize, so a decent season isn’t out of the question. It’s tough to get excited about a rookie QB, however.

2. Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens
Flacco is in the midst of a three-way QB battle with Troy Smith and Kyle Boller. His numbers look pretty good, but he’s done most of his damage against the opponents’ scrubs.

3. Chad Henne, QB, Dolphins
The Fins didn’t bring Chad Pennington in to ride the bench, so Henne will be holding the clipboard for the time being. If Miami gets knocked out of the playoff race early, they could turn to the rookie to get him some experience.