By Barry Wilner
The Associated Press

Julius Peppers approaches the rookie sacks record. Clinton Portis surges past 1,000 yards rushing. Jeremy Shockey leads NFL tight ends in catches.

Antwaan Randle El makes sensational plays as a receiver, runner and passer. Marques Anderson solidifies an injury-ravaged secondary. Ben Leber holds his own in a linebacker corps with Junior Seau and Donnie Edwards.

There's even a choice of Williamses: Dallas safety Roy Williams has had a huge impact as a tackler and a leader; Tennessee safety Tank Williams has been a starter all season; Buffalo tackle Mike Williams has been a strong blocker and a massive presence.

Quite an impressive rookie crop.

Thanks to the salary cap and injuries, NFL newcomers have taken on added responsibilities in 2002. Has any team benefited more from the performance of rookies than Buffalo?

After finishing 3-13 last season, the Bills had a strong draft that brought Mike Williams, wideout Josh Reed and safety Coy Wire. Williams solidified a weak area and is a main reason Travis Henry is among the league leaders in rushing. Reed is a superb third receiver and, should free agent Peerless Price leave, easily could slide into the starting lineup. Wire has been less impressive, struggling in coverage, but is a solid hitter with huge upside.

"We expected him to be a big-time player, and I think he's developing that way," Bills personnel director Tom Modrak says, referring to Williams. "Yeah, we're excited about him.

"I think Josh is in an excellent situation. We've got a third receiver that I think is one of the better third receivers in the league right now, and he's a rookie."

Other impressive receivers - a position where rookies tend to perform well - are Denver's Ashley Lelie, Pittsburgh's Randle El, New England's Deion Branch and New Orleans' Dante' Stallworth. There are also tight ends Shockey of the Giants, Randy McMichael of Miami and Doug Jolley of Oakland.

The Giants have been ravaged by injuries at receiver, so Shockey's rapid development was essential. He leads all tight ends in catches (54) - and in outrageous celebrations.

"He is going to be one of the great ones at tight end," Redskins cornerback Champ Bailey says.

Eagles CB Bobby Taylor adds: "He's a young hothead coming out of Miami."

Shockey might not be the best rookie out of the Hurricanes' powerful program. That probably is Portis, a second-round pick who is the latest young sensation in Denver's backfield. Portis is sixth among AFC rushers with 1,098 yards and has nine TDs rushing, one receiving. He's made Broncos fans accept the move of 2000 offensive rookie of the year Mike Anderson to fullback - and forget the loss of Terrell Davis.

Is Portis impressed by his own numbers?

"Corey Dillon always has 1,000 yards, and nobody talks about him because he plays for the Bengals," Portis says. "If the team is successful and everyone can benefit from it, then it's something good. Having 1,000 yards and being the only player on the team is no good. Ask Corey Dillon."

The Bengals, who draft high if not well every year, actually came up with two pretty good rookies: tackle Levi Jones and Matt Schobel, yet another developing tight end.

Jones was taken 10th overall, for which Cincinnati received plenty of criticism. He became a starter after Richmond Webb tore chest muscles in the fourth game and has steadily improved.

"Levi's playing great," quarterback Jon Kitna said. "He's surpassed expectations from anybody. He went in after not playing the first four games and got thrown in against some of the best pass rushers in this league. If you're going to play left tackle in this division, you're going to have to be pretty darn good."

While rookie quarterbacks haven't been all that good, at least they are getting an opportunity. David Carr has taken every snap for Houston - sometimes painfully, considering he's on pace to set a record for being sacked. Joey Harrington has started most of the season in Detroit, and Chad Hutchinson has replaced Quincy Carter in Dallas. Patrick Ramsey figures to start the rest of the year for Washington. Randy Fasani even got a start, by default, in Carolina.

"I'm 100 percent glad that I'm playing, because I've learned things and seen things that I could've never learned from the sideline," Harrington says. "When you're on the sideline, you can say, 'He should've done this or that.' But until you have huge guys breathing down your neck, and you have a split second to make a decision, you're not going to learn."

One thing Carolina opponents learned before Peppers was suspended for the final four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy was to design game plans to block him. Peppers was a main reason for Carolina's vast improvement defensively and finished with 12 sacks, one short of the rookie record.

The suspension could be costly, however: If he fails to make the Pro Bowl and does not win honors as defensive rookie of the year, he would stand to lose $1.1 million in bonuses.

Coach John Fox says Peppers deserves both honors.

"I can only say that Julius has played outstanding for us and I'm very pleased with his performance," Fox says. "I think he's deserving, in my opinion."

His main competition could come from Colts DE Dwight Freeney, who has been more inconsistent, but has had a strong impact in Indianapolis' stingier defense; Jacksonville's John Henderson, who has been steadier than Freeney, but less spectacular; Leber, a versatile linebacker with pass-rushing skills; or a safety such as one of the Williams, Baltimore's Ed Reed or Green Bay's Marques Anderson.

Roy Williams has produced some highlight-film hits, and his interception for a touchdown on Thanksgiving vs. Washington gave him additional national exposure. Williams has played his best since star safety Darren Woodson was lost for the season, further evidence of Williams' leadership.

"His play shows that he's a playmaker," Cowboys coach Dave Campo says. "He's getting more confidence in what he's doing and where he's supposed to be. When you're not thinking, that's when you make plays."

Like Roy Williams, Tennessee's Tank Williams also has achieved something few rookies manage: successfully taking on a regular role.

"That's one of the hardest things to do back there," Titans linebacker Peter Sirmon says. "He's making a lot of calls. He's involved with the run front. He's involved with pass coverages, and he blitzes. I think he's doing a great job, and he's continuing to get better."

Anderson, a third-rounder, supplanted Antuan Edwards as a starter and is a ballhawk. He's been the NFL rookie of the week three times.

"He has a ton of responsibility right now, and he's doing a good job with it," Packers coach Mike Sherman says. "He still makes mistakes, but he is a guy who's in the right place at the right time and has a nose for the football."

While the 2002 rookie collection is formidable, that doesn't make the guys who do the scouting and selecting any more comfortable about the process. All they need to do is watch the other games and questions arise.

"You don't only keep report cards on your guys, but on the guys you think that maybe you missed somewhere else that are doing well," Buffalo's Modrak says. "It's 'Why didn't you like him better?'

"You put on 'Monday Night Football,' and you say, 'Geez, that guy's doing better than I thought he would.' I guess you have to be a middle-class neurotic.

"Let's assume we had a good draft, and we did. It only lasts as long as the next one comes, so we better get ready for that one."

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