As the NFL season nears the mid-point and teams aim for a second-half push, rookies around the league are playing vital roles.

In Detroit, wide receiver ROY WILLIAMS, a first-round pick from Texas, has developed into a big-play threat. Williams leads NFL rookies with five touchdowns and has helped the Lions to a 4-2 start, including three consecutive road wins. Last week, he had an impressive four-catch, 67-yard, one-touchdown effort in a 28-13 Lions win over the New York Giants.

"Roy enjoys the game and he gets it," says Detroit head coach STEVE MARIUCCI. "He’s going to get better and better as the season progresses. I’m anxious to watch him."

ARIZONA: For the second consecutive year, the Cardinals’ offense is graced by an outstanding rookie wide receiver. Last season it was ANQUAN BOLDIN, who may see his first action of 2004 (knee) on Sunday against Buffalo. This season it’s first-round draft choice LARRY FITZGERALD from Pittsburgh. The No. 3 overall selection ranks second in the NFL among rookies in receptions and receiving yards, posting 26 catches for 371 yards and two touchdowns…… Defensive tackle DARNELL DOCKETT, a third-rounder from Florida State, has started every game, posting 15 tackles.

ATLANTA: Cornerback DE ANGELO HALL is back in action after missing the first six games with a hip injury. The first-round pick from Virginia Tech is anxious to contribute, as the 5-2 Falcons aim for their first division title since 1998 ……Fourth-round pick DEMORRIO WILLIAMS from Nebraska has played in all seven games at linebacker, totaling 21 tackles.

CAROLINA: Former Ohio State star CHRIS GAMBLE, the No. 28 pick of the first round, has started all six games at cornerback, notching his first career interception in a Week 2 28-17 win at Kansas City……On offense, second-round wide receiver KEARY COLBERT of Southern California has started five games, leading all NFL rookies with a 15.6 yards- per-catch average on 20 receptions for 311 yards and two touchdowns.

CHICAGO: The Bears used their first round – TOMMIE HARRIS, Oklahoma – and second round – TANK JOHNSON, Washington – draft picks on a pair of defensive tackles. Harris has started all six games and leads the club with 2.5 sacks, posting at least 0.5 sack in three of six games. Johnson has similarly played in every game, with one start, posting five tackles and 0.5 sacks…….QB CRAIG KRENZEL, a fifth-round selection from Ohio State, made his NFL debut last week, completing 9 of 19 attempts for 69 yards.

DALLAS: First-year pro RE SHARD LEE was an undrafted rookie free agent from Middle Tennessee State who spent time with the Cowboys in preseason in 2003 before returning to earn a roster spot in 2004. Lee has returned 14 kickoffs for 288 yards, averaging 20.6 yards per return with a long of 62 yards……Cornerback JACQUES REEVES, a seventh-round pick from Purdue, has played in all six games, making his first start against the Giants on October 10, totaling five tackles and recovering a fumble.

DETROIT: In addition to the standout performance of Williams, whose 362 receiving yards (24 catches) are third most among rookies in the league, the Lions have had other newcomers contribute as well. Running back KEVIN JONES (first round, Virginia Tech) is the third leading rookie rusher with 171 yards, scoring his first touchdown in the win over New York……On defense, former Oklahoma linebacker TEDDY LEHMAN, a second-round choice, has been a starter all season and ranks second on the team with 41 tackles.

GREEN BAY: Arkansas’ AHMAD CARROLL was selected with No. 25 pick of Round 1 and is making his presence felt. Carroll has started the past two games at left cornerback, helping the Packers to impressive wins against Detroit on October 17 (38-10) and Dallas on Sunday (41-20)……Arkansas State’s COREY WILLIAMS, a sixth-round choice, has played in seven games at defensive tackle, posting nine tackles.

MINNESOTA: Running back MEWELDE MOORE has emerged as one of the NFL’s most exciting rookies, leading the class of 2004 with 559 yards from scrimmage. A fourth-round pick from Tulane, Moore’s 347 rushing yards are also tops among rookies, posting 100-yard rush games in each of his past two outings…….Fellow rookie NAT DORSEY, a fourth-round pick from Georgia Tech, has helped pave the way for Moore, starting the past three games at right tackle......DE KENECHI UDEZE (first-round, Southern California) has 2.0 sacks.

NEW ORLEANS: Defensive end WILL SMITH, the Saints’ first-round pick from Ohio State, has played in all seven games with three starts, posting 16 tackles and 2.0 sacks. Fellow rookie linebacker COURTNEY WATSON from Notre Dame was nabbed by the Saints in the second round. Watson has made five starts and posted 25 tackles……Seventh-round pick COLBY BOCKWOLDT of BYU helped New Orleans to a 31-26 road win over Oakland last week, scoring his first NFL touchdown on a six-yard fumble return.

NEW YORK: The Giants have forced 15 turnovers in 2004, tied for third-most in the NFL, and rookie safety GIBRIL WILSON has played a major role. Drafted in the fifth round from Tennessee, Wilson ties for third among rookies with two interceptions. He has also added 34 tackles and 2.0 sacks……A starter at guard, second-round draft choice CHRIS SNEE of Boston College has helped the club to an average of 4.7 yards per rush, sixth highest in the NFL.

PHILADELPHIA: Fourth-round pick J.R. REED of South Florida has emerged as the primary kickoff returner for the undefeated Eagles. Reed has 19 kickoff returns for 492 yards with a long of 66 yards. His average return of 25.9 yards is tops among NFL rookies.

ST. LOUIS: Running back STEVEN JACKSON has been the perfect compliment to MARSHALL FAULK for the first-place Rams. Selected with the No. 24 pick in the first round, Jackson has paid immediate dividends in St. Louis, rushing for 260 yards and averaging 5.7 yards per carry, both second best among rookies. Jackson was a college standout at Oregon State, averaging 100.1 rushing yards per game in 36 career contests.

SAN FRANCISCO: The second round of the NFL Draft yielded the 49ers a pair of productive players. Guard JUSTIN SMILEY of Alabama has played in six games, starting four. On defense, cornerback SHAWNTAE SPENCER of Pittsburgh has three starts, including each of the past two games, totaling 29 tackles and three passes defensed ……ANDY LEE, also from Pittsburgh, was chosen in the sixth round and earned the punting job. Lee has averaged 40.8 yards on 33 punts.

SEATTLE: The Seahawks’ defense has been sparked by an influx of rookies. In addition to first-round pick MARCUS TUBBS of Texas, second-rounder MICHAEL BOULWARE of Florida State has played a significant role. Boulware ties for the NFL rookie lead with three interceptions, helping Seattle tie Baltimore for the NFL lead with 10…….Linebacker NIKO KOUTOUVIDES, a fourth-rounder from Purdue, has played in every game, finishing with a season-high of seven tackles against Arizona.

TAMPA BAY: Wide receiver MICHAEL CLAYTON has been everything the Buccaneers hoped for when they used the No. 15 pick of the first round to select the former Louisiana State standout. Clayton leads all rookies with 37 receptions for 505 yards, including a pair of touchdown catches. He ties for 10th in the NFL with seven receptions of 20 or more yards and posted a career-best 142 yards receiving on eight catches against the Rams on October 18.