The NFL is upon the fans and that means a lot of things. One thing it means is fresh draft picks will impact teams and make them better on both offense and defense. Ryan Matthews, Jahvid Best, Jermaine Gresham, Sean Witherspoon, Dez Bryant and C.J. Spiller will all improve their respective teams. Matthews, Best and Spiller will have the most immediate impact just because they’re all running backs. The adjustment isn’t that difficult from college to the NFL. Gresham will play in a quality offense, being a solid third option behind Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco. He’s going t be open against slower linebackers because the safeties will be protecting the deep ball against T.O. and Ochocinco.

Matthews is replacing an important player in San Diego Chargers history in LaDainian Tomlinson. The team will look to build upon their 31st ranked running offense last year. Matthews will be the workhorse that will improve the ranking. He’s having an impressive preseason, averaging 5 yards per carry average. He’s also showcasing great hands, making him an asset in the passing game along with the running threat. Expect Matthews to get about 200+ carries, resulting in a 1000 yard season and most likely the offensive rookie of the year.

Best brings a lot of talent to the Detroit Lions. He will quickly become second year quarterback Matthew Stafford’s best friend because of all the things he can do on the field. He has tremendous quickness and recognizes the blocking schemes. He will also be asked to catch the ball out of the backfield when teams decide to double cover wide out Calvin Johnson. All the talent that Best has, along with Kevin Smith recovering from injury means Best could see 15-20 touches per game. He will definitely improve the Lions offense and give the franchise a stud running back for the first time since Barry Sanders.

Spiller was the first running back drafted. Many experts had him as the best back available. The team that took him, the Buffalo Bills already have proven running backs in Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. The Bills aren’t a good football team. The three headed monster is running behind a patch work offensive line that includes an Oakland Raiders cast off in Cornell Green. Spiller will become QB Trent Edward’s favorite target during the season because of his tenancies to check down to backs and tight ends instead of airing the ball out. he’s done some really electrifying things during the preseason while the other two have nursed injuries, but expect experience to win out over the youth. Spiller is a threat to take any play to the house, so Bills fans might have something to cheer about when Spiller makes a play of 30 yards + to the end zone. Spiller isn’t going to have as big an impact because Lynch and Jackson are ahead of him on the depth chart. H

Bryant will get probably get as many chances as Matthews and Best to succeed. They have lofty goals for the first round pick, even giving him the fabled number 88, Michael Ervin’s old number. They expect a lot of big things and Bryant will deliver in the three wide receiver sets. He’s going to start as the third receiver, behind Miles Austin and Roy Williams. Tony Romo knows how to find the open receiver. He’s always had a ton of time to throw the football. Bryant will still have some growing pains learning to shed defensive backs, but expect a huge surge in the second half of the season from Bryant.

Weatherspoon will be harder to grade because he plays on the defensive side of the ball. The Atlanta Falcons will primarily use his athleticism covering running backs and tight ends in the nickel packages. He will also play in the base formations on defense for Atlanta. He recorded 406 tackles during his college career. Those numbers, along with his tremendous athleticism should translate well into the NFL. Brian Cushing, last year’s rookie defensive player of the year, flew around the field and made some amazing tackles, expect the same from Weatherspoon. If he racks up enough tackles and sacks, expect Weatherspoon to be crowned the 2010 Defensive Rookie of the Year.