Chris Wells, RB – Arizona Cardinals

The NFL betting odds put Chris Wells of the Arizona Cardinals among the leading favorites to win Rookie of the Year, and it’s pretty easy to understand why. Wells is stepping into a high-octane offense on a team that doesn’t really have a reliable running back. Wells can and should be the go-to guy in the backfield and will get lots of goal line plunges as well. While he may not be the most talented player from the 2009 NFL Draft, he should have some of the best stats.

Donald Brown, RB – Indianapolis Colts

When the Colts added Donald Brown, their Super Bowl odds actually increased, as a lot of sportsbooks felt that this move helped the team significantly. A lot of pressure was put on Peyton Manning’s arm last year and with Marvin Harrison off the team now, the Colts don’t have a choice but to run the ball. While Brown will have to share carries with Joseph Addai, the reality is that both backs could put up stellar numbers in this offense.

Andre Smith, T – Cincinnati Bengals

A lot of online betting handicappers predicted that the Cincinnati Bengals would draft the most troubled player at the top of the board, and that’s exactly what they did when they called out Andre Smith’s name. But Smith is going to help them rebuild their offensive line and, given how he dominated the college game, he might be the most ready rookie tackle for the NFL. If that’s the case and the Bengals can climb back to .500, he should have a decent chance to win Rookie of the Year honors.

Knowshon Moreno, RB – Denver Broncos

Lost in the horrendous offseason in Denver is the fact that the team still has a solid offensive line, good wide receivers and a deep threat at tight end. That’s a running back’s dream, and for Knowshon Moreno, that might be enough to pave the way to a fantastic season. Although Kyle Orton is the quarterback and Moreno will face lots of defensive attention, he should have plenty of touches this year as he figures to be the centerpiece of the offense.

Eugene Monroe, T – Jacksonville Jaguars

I’m betting management was pleased to see Eugene Monroe still on the board at eighth overall in the 2009 NFL draft, as the Jaguars needed an NFL-ready body. The Jaguars offense is built around running the ball, and if Monroe is as mature as many people believe, he might be a Pro Bowler this year. Look for him to have a good year as he clears a lot of defenders out of Maurice Jones-Drew’s way.