NFL Player News

Saturday, April 27

• 04/27/13 - 10:47AM ETMarcus Lattimore : Snagged By 49ers

  The 49ers selected Lattimore (knee) in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 131st overall.

  Lattimore (knee) might be medically cleared at some point in 2013, but San Francisco's depth at the position affords the team the luxury of essentially redshirting Lattimore as a rookie, putting the burden instead on Frank Gore, LaMichael James, Kendall Hunter (Achilles) and perhaps even Jewel Hampton instead.

• 04/27/13 - 9:46AM ETRyan Nassib : Eli Manning's Backup?

  The Giants selected Nassib in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 110th overall.

  The Bills had a lot of fun tricking media insiders into thinking they'd take Nassib eighth overall, yet here he is with the Giants over 100 picks later. Nassib will not compete for a starting role as long as Eli Manning is around, but he's a high-upside backup project who could be flipped in a trade in a year or two.

• 04/27/13 - 9:08AM ETMatt Barkley : Picked By Eagles

  The Eagles selected Barkley (shoulder) in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 98th overall.

  Barkley doesn't have the running skills that people typically assume Chip Kelly needs from his quarterback, but Barkley does have the quick decision, quick release sort of game that Kelly requires more than anything else. Barkley is at the very least a future trade chip for the Eagles, and Kelly is creative enough to accommodate Barkley if necessary. Barkley probably has about a 20 percent chance of starting in 2014.

Friday, April 26

• 04/26/13 - 7:28PM ETKnile Davis : Picked By Chiefs

  The Chiefs selected Davis in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 96th overall.

  There was a time when Davis was one of the most fearsome players in college football, but a broken ankle prior to the 2011 season resulted in him looking like a pitiful shell of himself in 2012. Davis averaged 3.4 yards per carry in 2012, getting thoroughly outplayed by his backup. A dominant showing at the Combine (4.37-second 40-yard dash at 227 pounds) would seem to indicate his struggles in 2012 were mental rather than physical, but there's still a lot of uncertainty here for Kansas City.

• 04/26/13 - 7:13PM ETStedman Bailey : Reunited With Tavon Austin

  The Rams selected Bailey in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 92nd overall.

  Bailey can't keep up with Tavon Austin in a track meet, but he might be the better pure receiver between the two, even if Austin will be far more featured in the offense. The cluster of wideout talent in St. Louis isn't great news for fantasy footballers, as there might not be enough to go around between Austin, Bailey, Jared Cook, Chris Givens and Brian Quick, but it will be a joy to watch on the real field. The Rams all of a sudden have a wealth of speedy playmakers on offense.

• 04/26/13 - 6:24PM ETKeenan Allen : Picked By Chargers

  The Chargers selected Allen in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 76th overall.

  A shaky PCL tear recovery and perhaps an ankle issue likely pushed Allen this far. If healthy, Allen will be a great investment for San Diego at this spot. Allen is fast enough to get by when healthy, and the short-area movement he possesses is uncommon for a player with his frame and length. Allen ran effectively after the catch at California, so he should be more than a mere possession wideout if he regains full health. He's a worthwhile dynasty target, because San Diego is thin at receiver.

• 04/26/13 - 6:14PM ETMike Glennon : Selected By Tampa

  The Buccaneers selected Glennon in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 73rd overall.

  Greg Schiano has long made obvious his lack of attachment to Josh Freeman, but we suspect the second-year coach will be disappointed if he thinks Glennon will be anywhere near as good. Glennon can throw a pretty pass when he doesn't have to move, and he stands tough in the pocket. But his mobility is such an issue that merely dropping back from center can compromise his accuracy. Glennon will need to be more comfortable moving his feet if his arm and accuracy are to translate into any practical NFL use.

• 04/26/13 - 5:33PM ETEddie Lacy : Picked By Packers

  The Packers selected Lacy in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 61st overall.

  Health issues and a lack of impressive pre-draft workouts pushed Lacy this far. Make no mistake about his talent -- if Lacy gets over the hamstring and turf toe issues that followed him throughout the pre-draft process, Lacy will be a standout producer for the Packers. The problem is that these little injuries nicked up Lacy much more than one can acknowledge comfortably. His health is a legitimate red flag. His talent is gold, though.

• 04/26/13 - 5:21PM ETMontee Ball : Selected By Denver

  The Broncos selected Ball in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 58th overall.

  Ball won't run away from defenses, but his quick feet and hard running allow him to consistently break into the secondary despite his lack of speed. Ball is a very skilled receiver with strong vision and balance, and Willis McGahee's grip on the starting role in Denver is very loose by now. If he can earn a starting role, Ball should thrive as a fantasy option. Given McGahee's age, Ball is a top dynasty target.

• 04/26/13 - 4:44PM ETLe'Veon Bell : 2nd-Round Steeler Pick

  The Steelers selected Bell in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 48th overall.

  Bell is a throwback runner who lacks speed or flashiness, and he's a nice fit for a Steelers squad desperate for reliability at running back. Bell is big and durable, and he makes the most of each play thanks to his strong vision, excellent patience and fluid short-area movement. Bell isn't an obvious bruiser, but he falls forward and is surprisingly good at slipping through traffic. He's one of the top fantasy targets to emerge from the draft so far, because it's difficult to see guys like Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman holding off Bell for long.

• 04/26/13 - 4:19PM ETRobert Woods : Selected By Bills

  The Bills selected Woods in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 41st overall.

  Woods won't wow in any one area, but his all-around game is very polished, and his athleticism is no worse than average in any regard. He can start and stop very effectively in a straight line, which both earns him cushions from cornerbacks and gives him the ability to exploit said cushions on short routes. Woods should be an effective starter for the Bills right away, but his fantasy upside will be held hostage by the Buffalo quarterback situation, which is less than promising no matter who starts in the trio of Kevin Kolb, Tarvaris Jackson and E.J. Manuel. Woods' arrival could be bad news for the dynasty value of Steve Johnson.

• 04/26/13 - 4:09PM ETGeno Smith : Snagged By Jets

  The Jets selected Smith in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 39th overall.

  It's quite a tumble for Smith, who most considered the top quarterback in the draft. It's a nice selection for the Jets, though, because aside from occasionally slow reads, Smith shows everything necessary to start at quarterback in the NFL. Smith's accuracy is generally good, and a 4.59-second 40-yard dash at the Combine revealed better speed than expected. It's difficult to see Smith starting less than eight games in 2013.

• 04/26/13 - 4:04PM ETManti Te'o : Picked By SD In 2nd Round

  The Chargers selected Te'o in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 38th overall.

  Donald Butler has one inside linebacker spot locked down in San Diego, but at the other spot, Jonas Mouton has been a big bust as a former second-round pick. Te'o is likely to start over Mouton in the middle of San Diego's 3-4 defense, and he'll be in the LB3 conversation if he can earn nickel snaps with the Chargers. We suspect the Chargers will wish they had Arthur Brown at this pick in the near future, however.

• 04/26/13 - 3:59PM ETGio Bernard : Bengals Pick First RB

  The Bengals selected Bernard in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 37th overall.

  Bernard lacks burning speed, but his great vision and smooth short-area movement make him an explosive runner. He also has standout ball skills, making him a strong screen pass and punt return option. While he's unlikely to displace BenJarvus Green-Ellis as Cincinnati's starting and goal-line runner, Bernard is skilled enough to approach flex relevance in 12-team PPR leagues.

• 04/26/13 - 3:49PM ETZach Ertz : Picked By Philadelphia

  The Eagles selected Ertz in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 35th overall.

  Ertz is not a good blocker and is a tier below Tyler Eifert at tight end, but he's a good athlete who will double as a motion blocker and a receiving threat down the seam for a Philadelphia offense that wants to strain and confuse opposing safeties with an equal threat to run or pass each play. Brent Celek's potentially superior skill set might block Ertz's ability to make a fantasy impact, however.

• 04/26/13 - 3:44PM ETJustin Hunter : Titans Keep WR In Tennessee

  The Titans selected Hunter in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 34th overall.

  The Titans traded with San Francisco to keep Hunter in the state of Tennessee. It's a bad sign for the team's long-term assessment of Kenny Britt, because Hunter is also a big, field-stretching wideout. While Tennessee snagged a major talent by bringing in Hunter, it's not likely that the former Volunteer will be a fantasy asset unless Jake Locker shows drastic improvement.

• 04/26/13 - 2:03PM ETAaron Rodgers : Signs Contract Extension

  Rodgers and the Packers agreed to a five-year, $110 million contract extension Friday, according to the Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

  The deal will make Rodgers the highest paid player in NFL history. Fantasy owners should expect a big 2013 from Rodgers, who has led the league in passer rating each of the last two years.

Thursday, April 25

• 04/25/13 - 8:32PM ETCordarrelle Patterson : Vikes Nab In Trade

  The Vikings selected Patterson in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 29th overall.

  The Vikings traded their second, third, fourth and seventh-round picks to New England for the rights to Patterson. The third of Minnesota's first-round picks was widely expected to be one of Minnesota's initial first-round picks, so this is a welcome addition despite the high price paid. Patterson won't match Percy Harvin's incredible blend of explosiveness and power, but Patterson is still a very rare talent when it comes to open-field running. His ability to make plays on short passes is a nice addition for a Minnesota offense subjected to Christian Ponder's lack of vertical passing. Patterson might struggle to make a fantasy impact, however, because Greg Jennings should be the top target in what figures to be a modest passing attack.

• 04/25/13 - 8:09PM ETDeAndre Hopkins : Picked By Houston

  The Texans selected Hopkins in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 27th overall.

  Hopkins will likely start in Week 1 for Houston and should be on the WR4 radar in most leagues. Hopkins probably is as good of a prospect as Justin Blackmon was a year ago, even if he didn't have the media hype to spread that idea. Hopkins' lack of deep speed is made entirely irrelevant by his rare combination of foot quickness and hand-eye coordination. Hopkins plucks the ball from the air as soon as possible and has the short-area explosiveness to create separation both before and after the catch. He's a strong dynasty league target.

• 04/25/13 - 7:46PM ETSharrif Floyd : Finally Lands In Minnesota

  The Vikings selected Floyd in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 23rd overall.

  Floyd was almost universally expected to go in the top 15, with many thinking the top 10, so this is a big steal for Minnesota. Don't mistake his fall for an initial overestimation of his talents. Floyd fell because his arm length -- barely less than 32 inches -- limits his schematic versatility to the point that he doesn't project well for any team that doesn't run a gap-shooting 4-3. Minnesota is the perfect fit for Floyd, and with Jared Allen, Kevin Williams and Everson Griffen drawing a great deal of attention, immediate productivity is a reasonable expectation for Floyd. He's a Week 1 starter and a DL4 gamble in most IDP leagues.

• 04/25/13 - 7:36PM ETTyler Eifert : Joins Gresham In Cincinnati

  The Bengals selected Eifert in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 21st overall.

  Unfortunately for fantasy footballers, this pick likely damages Jermaine Gresham's fantasy utility more than it creates any on Eifert's behalf. But let's not rule anything out, because Eifert is a very good tight end talent, and the Bengals might find a way to run a two-tight end offense that has room for both players. Eifert's appeal is especially obvious in the red zone for Cincinnati, as the former Notre Dame star has rare ball skills and can box out defensive backs for high passes.

• 04/25/13 - 7:13PM ETJarvis Jones : PIT Selects At 17

  Pittsburgh selected Jones in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 17th overall.

  Jones' poor workouts and lack of size didn't scare off the Steelers, who made gold out of fellow undersized 3-4 outside linebackers like James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley. Jones' exceptional college production won out for the Steelers, who will look for Jones to start sooner rather than later. We can't see Jason Worilds holding off Jones for more than a week or two into the regular season. Like most 3-4 outside linebackers, Jones' IDP upside might be limited by the position he plays, because it rarely affords itself to many tackle opportunities.

• 04/25/13 - 7:05PM ETE.J. Manuel : Drafted By Bills Over Nassib

  The Bills selected Manuel in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 16th overall.

  The Bills successfully duped media into believing Ryan Nassib was the team's top draft target at any position, not to mention quarterback, yet it was Manuel who the Bills had in mind all along. The Florida State star tests well in interviews and has a rare combination of size and athleticism, so he provides versatility between traditional offenses and zone-read approaches. Manuel had rather consistent anticipation and accuracy issues at Florida State, but some of that may have been due to predictable playcalling and questionable coaching. Buffalo certainly hopes that's the case, anyway. Manuel might not start in Week 1 for Buffalo, but Kevin Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson can't hold him off for long.

• 04/25/13 - 6:09PM ETTavon Austin : Picked Eighth By Rams

  The Rams have selected Austin in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, eighth overall.

  The Rams traded with Buffalo to secure the eighth pick, and in the process they've secured the draft's most explosive talent on offense. While his lack of size at 5-foot-8, 174 pounds is a concern, Austin is incomparable as a prospect, possessing open-field running skills that just can't be found at the receiver position. But Austin isn't merely a receiver. His skills almost demand the recognition of a new position, because he's almost as comfortable playing out of the backfield as he is split out wide, and his casual dominance in both roles at West Virginia indicate that he is indeed very comfortable at both spots. Austin should also provide immediate All-Pro returner potential if the Rams should use him there. Austin should inherit the slot role previously held by Danny Amendola, and as a result he should get a sizable target count as a rookie. If he can decisively earn the slot snaps in St. Louis, Austin should be on the WR3 radar in many leagues.

• 04/25/13 - 5:51PM ETEzekiel Ansah : Picked Fifth By DET

  The Lions have selected Ansah in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, fifth overall.

  Ansah only has one year of extensive playing experience at BYU after arriving from Ghana in 2008, but his athletic talent is something to behold. Ansah stands at 6-foot-5, 271 pounds with 35 1/8-inch arms and 4.63 speed. Like Aldon Smith at Missouri, Ansah spent a lot of his time playing inside defensive line positions at BYU, and he should have advanced development of his hand placement skills as a result. Ansah is on the DL3 radar as a rookie in most IDP formats, as he has the talent to be a factor against both the run and the pass.

• 04/25/13 - 5:38PM ETDion Jordan : Surprise Pick At 3 By Miami

  The Dolphins have selected Jordan in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, third overall.

  The Dolphins traded with Oakland (NFL Network's Albert Breer reports the 12th and 42nd picks were given to Oakland in exchange for the third pick) to make the surprise selection. Jordan is an immense talent, but the Dolphins are believed to be a 4-3 team, and Jordan's talents are perhaps best utilized further on the edge as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Miami does have three big-body linemen in Jared Odrick, Paul Soliai and Randy Starks, though, so perhaps Miami will utilize 3-4 looks in 2013. Jordan's early-training camp availability is in question due to a shoulder labrum surgery from the spring, but he's likely a Week 1 starter. Whether he's an IDP factor depends on whether the Dolphins run the 4-3 or 3-4, with the former being better for Jordan's tackle numbers.

• 04/25/13 - 5:16PM ETEric Fisher : Taken First By KC

  The Chiefs have selected Fisher in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, first overall.

  Fisher's film probably isn't as good as Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel, but Fisher does beat Joeckel when it comes to size, strength and athleticism, and he therefore could have the most upside of the two. Whether Fisher starts at left tackle as a rookie might depend on whether the Chiefs can trade current left tackle Branden Albert to the Dolphins. Fisher's arrival is good news for Jamaal Charles and Alex Smith. Fisher is the first non-AQ player drafted first overall since Smith was in 2005.