When most people think of a rookie draft, they froth at the mouth about that next great running back, or maybe the next great WR or QB. Flashback to 2006 and you are sitting on 1.06 pick and TE Vernon Davis has landed in your lap;

ALRIGHT!!! Wait, something seems to be missing. But what?

The thing that's missing is an integral part of today's Fantasy Football; IDP, or Individual Defensive Players.

Real Fantasy Football is when we kick the defensive/special teams unit to the side and start playing FF the way it was meant to be played; with Individual Defensive Players. That's right folks. Kiss off those days of only having to know one side of the ball. Ratchet it up a notch and learn to love the players on the other side. When you know the starting defensive players as well as you know the offensive ones, you will truly have taken that step into the serious side of Fantasy Football.

Welcome to The Whiz's first Rookie Recon that feature the Individual Defensive Players, and what better way to start it off then with the running backs of the defense, the LINEBACKERS.

If you have already had your veteran draft, or if you are in a dynasty league and your current LBs are not as strong as you like, then do not fret our young, inexperienced IDP padawans. We are here to shine a little light into the tunnel of rookie Linebackers and hopefully find you some hidden gems.

This is where we give you insight into some rookies that will be firing off your draft board, and some that others may not even know yet. Last year there were six linebackers that were drafted in the first round of the real NFL Draft:

A.J. Hawk - Green Bay at 1.05
Ernie Sims - Detroit at 1.09
Kamerion Wimbley - Cleveland at 1.13
Chad Greenway - Minnesota at 1.17
Bobby Carpenter - Dallas at 1.18
Manny Lawson - San Francisco at 1.22

Of those 6, 4 were productive for their fantasy teams, Hawk, Sims, Wimbley and Lawson. Greenway was injured and Carpenter did not get many chances to play. These players were the hot commodities in your rookie draft last season, but if you truly did your homework, you may have been the lucky one to pickup DeMeco Ryans, who was picked by Houston in the second round. Ryans went on to be in the top 3 of all LBs in most fantasy leagues in 2006.

Enough with the rambling. Here comes a look at the best outside and inside linebackers that the 2007 NFL draft class has to offer your Fantasy Football team.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

Paul Posluszny (6-2; 238)

This is possibly the weakest linebacker class to hit the NFL in years, but Paul Posluszny is the best and brightest prospect at the position. All you need to do is watch a few film clips and you can see that he is a player that goes full throttle the entire play. When Penn State played Minnesota during the 2005 season, Posluszny made a huge, over the pile, hit on running back Gary Russell that drove Russell straight back. This hit alone has shown many skeptics the amount of drive and power that he possesses.

His numbers at Penn State were impressive, with 372 tackles and nine sacks. He has impressive athleticism, instincts, and work ethic. Do not let his 4.65 40-time fool you; he is a player that plays much quicker than his numbers.

One real issue with Posluszny is the injury he suffered in the Orange Bowl in his junior year. He had partial tears in both his ACL and MCL ligaments in his right knee. There were times during the 2006 season he did not look completely healed, but then again these type of injuries can normally take a year or two to completely heal. That being said, he still went on to lead the team in tackles with 119.He should be a solid foundation for your fantasy team.

We consider him a low-end first round to upper-second round selection and we recomment you try to grab him. Oh, and a little tidbit; Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham stated; He is the best linebacker to ever play at Penn State. Pretty stout recommendation.

Jon Beason (6-0; 237)

If you were to ask most women, they would tell you that size matters.

However, in the case of Jon Beason, his size could be the one attribute that makes most people do a double take when he hits the playing field. He is a short linebacker at 6 feet nothing, but makes up for that with a very solid build and the ability to get to the ball fast. He is a sideline to sideline player that seems to know where the ball is at all times. While he played the weak side in college, many feel that he will move inside in the Pros. He will need to bulk up a little at the next level, but overall he should be a productive player from the start.

He should come off the draft board in the mid-to-late second round. He will be a solid second linebacker in the coming years.

Lawrence Timmons (6-3; 232)

Many folks have Lawrence Timmons projected as the second best outside linebacker in the nation. He could easily be interchanged with Beason, but he still has room to grow both physically and mentally at the position. His showing at the combine and his pro day did not do much to help his situation. He seemed to be a little out of shape on his pro day, which doesn’t speak highly to his work ethic, and may cost him come draft day.

He has the ability to get into the line and make plays due to his height, but he should add a few pounds to become less movable. He is a strong linebacker, having done 25 reps of 225lbs. during the NFL Combine, but still needs to bulk up a little to play at the next level. I would play close attention if your league highly credits sacks, but if not, let someone else take the chance on this work in progress.

He will go during the mid 2^nd round of your rookie draft and we suggest, unless he falls into the perfect situation, that you leave him for someone else.

Justin Durant (6-1; 230)

Durant is not going to impress many people right off the bat due to his being from a Division 1-AA school, Hampton. However, let us, as fantasy owners, step away from that mind set. This kid is fast and hits with a ferocity that will scare any running back coming out of the backfield. In his junior year, he posted 124 tackles and averaged 107 a year through his college career, excluding his freshman year when he missed time due to injury.

He is quick to the ball and has the excellent coverage skills. His one downside is that he is not bulked up and lacks the strength to shed blockers.  The drafting team will address the first immediately and the other should be fixed by learning the proper technique. Depending on where he lands, he could even end up as a Strong Safety, so watch this closely.

He will likely go late in your rookie drafts, but this is a player who has good chance to surprise many fantasy owners.

Quincy Black (6-2; 240)

You are likely going what the heck is this guy on. Sorry, but we see Quincy Black being one of the better weak side linebackers to enter the draft. He has blazing speed, running a 4.42 40, shows that he will be able to close quickly on the ball carrier. With the right team, he could be used in multiple blitz packages to put pressure on the quarterback and disrupt the backfield. You can give him another notch in the belt with his outstanding coverage skills and could be consider by some teams to interchange between linebacker and safety. He is another one that has room to bulk up and become stronger in the trenches, if he is to succeed at the position at this level. It is important to note that he had a stellar senior year with 114 tackles and three interceptions.

Originally many though Black was a late round pick, if picked at all, but after his combine showing he could jump to the mid third in some drafts. This is another player who, if he falls into the right position, could create plays from day one. We recommend you take the chance on Black.

Stewart Bradley (6-4; 254)

Bradley is the first of the outside linebackers that is best suited for the Sam slot on a team. He is a strong player that can take on blockers at the point of attack and still make the play on the ball carrier. If he decides to bulk up another 10-plus pounds, he could easily convert to a defensive end and not lose any of his agility. He is an average blitzer and coverage player that is penalized by his slowness (4.72 40-yard). His durability is in question as he missed the final seven games of the 2005 season due to a torn ACL.

Due to fact that he could end up as either a strong side backer or a DE, we recommend letting someone else take a chance on him.

Rufus Alexander (6-1; 227)

First, I have to say, that it pains me to have to put a former Sooner on this list being from Texas, but I have to call'em as I see'em. Alexander is a very good outside linebacker that has great sideline-to-sideline athleticism. He is fluid in making his way to the ball carrier, and is very quick to react. He enjoys making the ball carrier remember who tattooed him during a play, which accounts for his big hit ability. Even with all these solid attributes, he is still not as bulked up as most teams would like him. He has trouble getting off blockers and seems to get lost in the box. During the game, he is believed to be inconsistent and does not always give his all every down.

Rufus may be a day one pick during the NFL Draft, but will likely be drafted late in rookie drafts across the board. He might surprise, but we believe you should stay away.

Earl Everett (6-3; 238)

Everett comes straight out of the SEC where the competition is at an elite level and the experience really gets you prepared for the NFL. He has great upper-body build and the stamina to play the entire field. On film, the kid looks to have great closing speed. However at the NFL Combine, he posted a paltry 4.88 40-yard that will definitely hurt his overall stock. He has plenty of frame to add on bulk to allow him to take on blocks better than he has in the past. Another downfall, Earl is not solid on reading plays and reacting quickly enough to the ball.

He should be considered a late round rookie pick in your fantasy drafts, as it may take some time for him to make it to a starting lineup.

Juwan Simpson (6-3; 225)

Simpson is one of those linebackers that you love to have on the weak side. With a 4.55 40-yard at the NFL Combine, it was the fourth best among outside linebackers and one of the best off the line with a 1.53 time. He is excellent at wrapping up the ball carrier, none of that hand grabbing that some linebackers pass off as tackling. His fluidity and hip movement are questionable as he posted some of the slowest times in the cone and shuttle drills during the Combine. He will need to add on bulk and get stronger to be able to take on blockers or will face being manhandled at the next level. There is one issue that could also hurt him coming into the draft and it is off-the-field and character issues.

He may or may not be a late round selection in your rookie drafts, but we recommend you leave him for someone else.

Rory Johnson (6-0; 232)

Johnson had an excellent season in 2006 with Ole Miss, as he recorded 94 tackles in 12 games, while only starting in seven of those games. He has very good quickness and above average speed, which is evident in his 4.59 40 time that put him sixth among all participating linebackers at the NFL Combine. He can play either an outside or inside linebacker. However, one huge glaring issue with him is his single season of playing collegiate level football. He is a bit raw and will take some time to develop at the pro level. He is solid athletically and has very good coverage skills, but he will have to learn to be more aggressive at the point of attack and bulk up.

He may go undrafted in your rookie drafts, but it might be a good thing to keep him on your radar, as he does have some very good skills.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

Patrick Willis (6-1; 242)

If there is a linebacker in the draft that should appeal to every team, Patrick Willis is that player. Given his speed and great instincts, he should definitely excel at the next level. He has been compared to Dan Morgan of the Panthers, but for his sake we hope he does not come with concussions. He had one injury filled season in 2005 with a broken middle finger, a partial AC joint right shoulder separation, and a broken bone in his right foot. He only missed one game with the broken middle finger, as he played through the other injuries. That gives you an idea of his toughness and tolerance to pain. He ran a blazing 4.27 40 during at the Pro Day at Mississippi, which proves that he has the speed to be an effective blitzing linebacker, which is evidenced by his 11 sacks while at Ole Miss.

He is a powerful and strong linebacker with excellent upper-body build. Unfortunately, he his easily moved around by bigger players and can get trapped by blocking offensive lineman. Willis will need to work on bulking up to ensure better performance in this area at the NFL level, but should see no loss in speed with it. He is an average coverage linebacker. If he is unable to improve on that facet of his game, he will be requested to blitz or put pressure shallow in the middle of the field.

He should go early in your rookie draft in either the late first round or early second and could provide an immediate impact to your fantasy team.

Buster Davis (5-10; 239)

Many think Davis that he will be unable to convert well into the NFL due to his smallish build, and he has no room to add bulk. He could move to the outside linebacker position, or convert to a free safety. He is quick off the ball and hits with authority. Davis has great instincts and is excellent at pass rushing and blitzing. He had a slow 40 with 4.64, but most say that his game speed is much better than his straight run speed. Another plus for Davis is his football intelligence, he is considered by some to be another coach on the field. He has some good instincts, but will need to work harder at the next level to truly succeed.

It will be interesting to see where he lands, as that will definitely determine his place in your rookie drafts. He should be projected near the late second to early third rounds.

David Harris (6-0; 243)

After suffering an ACL tear in his left knee during his freshman season and two full years of recovery form it, Harris excelled in his final 2 seasons with Michigan, accounting for 191 of his 203 total tackles in his junior and senior seasons. His senior season accounted for the only sacks of his college career with four. However, do not let this fool you, as he does not stand out in pass defense. He gets caught in the pile too often and seems to have a problem finding the QB. He is an excellent run-stuffer and is a reliable tackler as is evident in the numbers he put up in his last two seasons. He will have to learn more patience and how to react if he is to make a positive impact in the NFL.

Harris is another player whose fantasy viability is totally dependant on where he lands. Depending on that, he could either go in the third round or later. We recommend you let someone else take the chance on him.

Zak DeOssie (6-5; 250)

Several sites have DeOssie slated as an inside linebacker, while some have him sitting as an outside linebacker or defensive end. Either way, he is one of the most impressive backers that I have seen come into the draft, which is rather shallow this season overall. He really turned heads at the NFL Combine putting up the third fastest 40 time at 4.59 seconds. Zak is another one of those smaller school players that could make an immediate impact in the NFL, see Justin Durant above. He is very good at all aspects of the position from tackling and pursuit to coverage. He averaged over 10 tackles a game in his sophomore thru senior seasons. He has had problems with his right shoulder. He had a torn labrum in his right shoulder in 2004, and then in 2005, he had Bankheart surgery to repair his shoulder.

DeOssie will move off the draft board during the late second to mid-third round in your drafts, unless he is drafted to be moved to DE, then he may not go until very late in the draft. Watch this closely on draft day.

H.B. Blades (5-11; 237)

Blades is one of those linebackers that you salivate about when you hear that he posted an amazing 433 tackles in his four years with Pitt, with 147 of those in his senior year. The kid plays at a high-octane level and keeps himself around the ball at all times. He is very instinctive, with the ability to feel out the plays and make the needed adjustments. He is a very good team leader and has solid intangibles that cannot be measured by sprints and other track and field activities. His drawback is the fact that he is barely 5’11”, which will cause some teams to overlook him early. Blades does struggle taking on blockers due to his size, but does not hesitate to battle in the trenches when needed.

He is a linebacker that should be taken in the middle rounds of your rookie draft, but could move up in the right situation.

Brandon Siler (6-2; 241)

Siler is a solid player that has all the intangibles that a coach will desire in a strong middle linebacker. He does an excellent job at taking on blockers and fending them off to enable him to make the play. Siler is very good in the box and does a superb job of covering his lane. He has adequate speed, but has game quickness that enables him to be a solid pass rusher. His effectiveness in the backfield is evident with his 10 sacks and 30 tackles for a loss in his three years at Florida. If there is a weakness in Brandon’s game, it is his pass coverage skills. Many scouts do not believe that he will be able to get better in playing pass defense, which could limit his playing time to two downs. Depending on where he lands on Draft Day, he most likely will be selected around the mid-to-late-4^th round of your rookie draft.

Anthony Waters (6-3; 245)

If there is a linebacker in this draft that has a mean streak, Waters is the one with the golden ticket. Having been suspended in 2004 for a game, he plays at a high intensity and loves to mix it up in the box. He has solid size to play the middle linebacker position and has excellent instincts. His build and strength will make him an excellent addition to at 4-3 defense. Waters will have no trouble continuing to develop his play identifying abilities at the next level. He is a little tight in the hips, which will make him have issues with staying in on pass defense situations. He is also coming off major knee reconstruction surgery that saw him miss all of 2006. Also, he has not been cleared by doctors to test the knee properly, so teams are going to have a hard time trying to evaluate him. This could really hurt his draft status.

Some fantasy owner may take the chance on him, we just recommend it isn't you.

Desmond Bishop (6-2; 243)

Bishop is one of those inside linebackers that actually look the part when you come face to face with him. He has a thick frame with good arm length and powerful legs to get solid leverage on blockers. He put up solid numbers in his two years at Cal with 215 tackles and three sacks. Unfortunately, he is poor in pass coverage and will be a two-down player or used exclusively in situational plays. Simply put, Bishop is a run stopper and teams will use him as such in the NFL.

He is going to move off the board in the late rounds of your rookie drafts, if he goes at all.

Michael Okwo (6-0; 232)

Once again, we move into the undersize realm of linebackers, which appears to be a mainstay this season. However, Okwo is one of those guys that will give you one hundred percent from start to finish in a game. He will key in on the ball carrier and make the hit, while leaving a lasting impression. He ran a bit slow at the NFL Combine with a 4.70 40, but shows solid game quickness and nice lateral movement on the field. Nevertheless, his overall size is a hindrance to him, as Michael is usually manhandled by blockers and lacks the overall ability to shed the block. His upside is limited and there is a good chance he lands as a solid backup and nothing more.

He will likely be a Day Two pick in the NFL draft, and we recommend that you leave him to the other owners.

Marvin Mitchell (6-3; 249)

Mitchell is another of our numerous two-down linebackers coming into the league this season. All the same, he is a powerful linebacker that takes on blockers and has no problem moving them aside with his upper and lower body strength. He has the fluidity in his hips to change direction and can cover a lot of ground, which makes him a solid sideline-to-sideline player. However, that is where his solid attributes end. He is not very instinctive and sometimes gets lost during the play. His coverage skills are lacking, which has an end result of him having limited upside at the NFL level.

Marvin could go in the late rounds of your draft and could go undrafted, but keep your eyes on him for possible sleeper status in your league.