It’s the year of the rookie wide receiver in the NFL and as much as Giants WR Odell Beckham has stood out, he’s got plenty of company.

A dozen or more rookies are making impacts, and while the list includes first-round picks like Beckham, the Bucs’ Mike Evans, the Panthers’ Kelvin Benjamin, the Bills’ Sammy Watkins and the Saints’ now-injured Brandin Cooks, second rounder Allen Robinson of the Jaguars, third-rounder John Brown in Arizona and even an undrafted free agent like the Browns’ Taylor Gabriel are getting into the act.

Of the 12 WRs selected in the first two rounds of the 2014 draft, only one, Cody Latimer, who has been a healthy scratch most of the year for the Broncos, hasn’t reached double digits in catches. At this pace, it will be the best receiving class in history. Draft experts agreed this was going to be a rich, deep vein but they’ve even gone beyond expectations.

It never used to be that way but rookie WRs are now making an immediate impact and help to make it a deep position in the fantasy world. Drafting them in the right round is often the key to taking advantage of their value, though. For the most part, the guys mentioned above in the story did take at least some time to develop. As always, the later you can snag a rookie, and let him ride your bench until he develops is the key. We try not to advise our subscribers to jump too early on them despite excitement surround them.

Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (rib, probable) took full practice reps on Friday after being limited earlier in the week and is probable for Week 9. Jackson continues to nurse the rib injury but will be fine for a solid matchup against the Browns. He has been outplayed by rookie Mike Evans thus far, but should eventually get it going.

Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson (rib, questionable) took limited practice reps all week and is questionable for Week 8. Jackson is still dealing with a rib injury, though he should be able to play through it against the Vikings. Tampa plays early on Sunday. If V-Jax happens to sit, Mike Evans and Louis Murphy would both get a bump against a so-so Minnesota pass defense.

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans (groin, questionable) took limited practice reps all week and is questionable for Week 6. It looks like Evans will play, though the Bucs play early so we should know for sure on Sunday morning. He’s a WR4-type in his first game back in a so-so matchup against the Ravens.

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans (groin) took limited practice reps again Thursday. Consider him a WR4 type if he’s able to face the Ravens.

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans (groin) took limited practice reps Wednesday. This comes as something of a surprise as Evans was expected to miss at least two weeks with the injury. We’ll see how much he’s able to participate throughout this week’s practice. Consider him a WR3/WR4 type if he’s able to face the Ravens.

Back in training camp and the preseason, Buccaneers rookie receiver Robert Herron often looked lost. That’s mainly because he was.

“I was thinking about 100 things at a time instead of playing and going out and making plays like I know I can,’’ Herron said.

The sixth-round pick out of Wyoming made the roster, but he was buried on the depth chart -- until Sunday. One week after being inactive for a game at Pittsburgh, Herron played a key role for the Bucs in Sunday’s loss to New Orleans.

Herron caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Mike Glennon to give the Bucs a 31-20 lead with 13:28 remaining. It was the kind of play Herron wasn’t making in the preseason.

Herron is getting more comfortable in the offense and is looking to take advantage of Mike Evans missing time. Herron was active in large part because Evans was out with a groin injury. But Herron made the most of his opportunity and that might help him stay active for the remainder of the season. Ideally, the Bucs would like to use Herron as their slot receiver. That’s what he was drafted for the story pointed out. He's at least behind Vincent Jackson and Louis Murphy at this point but could stick around when Evans returns if he continues to play well.