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Each preseason features a player or two who comes out of nowhere -- a late-round pick, an unknown backup, an undrafted rookie. Through two preseason games, let's nominate Rod Streater as one of those players.
NFL.com doesn't even have a picture of the youngster out of Temple on its website, but it might want to get on that. Streater, who has moved up the depth chart thanks to Denarius Moore's lingering hamstring injury and a strong offseason, was Matt Leinart's favorite target with the second string Monday, and Carson Palmer's favorite target Friday. He couldn't hang onto a touchdown from Palmer while being interfered with, then got clobbered on another end-zone chance a couple of drives later.
He finished Week 2 of the preseason with 7 catches on 8 targets; in Week 1, he had 6 catches on 8 targets. When both quarterbacks are locking in on you over veterans Jacoby Ford and Darrius Heyward-Bey, it seems pretty clear you've arrived.
To qualify: if Moore and Ford are healthy, it's possible Streater will drop back down to the No. 4 wideout. He's not a lock for fantasy value in 2012.
But big and rangy with good hands and an apparent knack for getting open, Streater has drawn praise from coach Dennis Allen, and he passes the eye test. He looks better than Ford and, frankly, Heyward-Bey. If Moore can't get healthy -- and this is an epic hamstring injury -- Streater could be a Week 1 starter.
--Andy Richardson
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Posted by DAVID GARRICK | Aug. 18 at 06:40 PM
Couldn't post on today's trivia question because site wouldn't allow, but the question seems wrong. What about Eddie George, Marshall Faulk and Curtis Martin to name a few exceptions?
Posted by IAN ALLAN | Aug. 18 at 07:40 PM
David: question could be clearer. I will add wording to clarifying I'm talking about rookie of the year and Super Bowl in the same year.