Faust

2013 Rookie 1.01

2013 Rookie 1.02
2013 Rookie 1.03
2013 Rookie 1.04
2013 Rookie 1.05
2013 Rookie 1.06
2013 Rookie 1.07
2013 Rookie 1.08
2013 Rookie 1.09

Standard Scoring

1.01 RB Eddie Lacy, Packers (42%)
1.02 RB Giovani Bernard, Bengals (36%)
1.03 RB Le'Veon Bell, Steelers (36%)
1.04 WR Tavon Austin, Rams (35%)
1.05 RB Montee Ball, Broncos (47%)
1.06 WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings (45%)
1.07 WR DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (54%)
1.08 TE Tyler Eifert, Bengals (24%)

1.09 RB Marcus Lattimore, 49ers (31%)



PPR Scoring

1.01 WR Tavon Austin, Rams (45%)
1.02 RB Giovani Bernard, Bengals (48%)
1.03 WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings (38%)
1.04 RB Le'Veon Bell, Steelers (39%)
1.05 WR DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (37%)
1.06 RB Eddie Lacy, Packers (45%)
1.07 RB Montee Ball, Broncos (56%)
1.08 TE Tyler Eifert, Bengals (34%)
1.09 WR Justin Hunter, Titans (28%)
 
Start 2 QB Scoring

1.01 RB Eddie Lacy, Packers (19%)
1.02 QB E.J. Manuel, Bills (28%)
1.03 RB Giovani Bernard, Bengals (23%)
1.04 WR Tavon Austin, Rams (18%)
1.05 RB Le'Veon Bell, Steelers (26%)
1.06 QB Geno Smith, Jets (26%)
1.07 WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings (22%)
1.08 WR DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (25%)

1.09 RB Montee Ball, Broncos (31%)

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League Editor

 

The NFL's effort to change its offseason calendar is starting to make some progress.

 

NFL.com's Albert Breer reported Monday that the NFL and NFL Players Association are working toward a deal to move the 2014 NFL Draft to May. It likely would start as a one-year trial before deciding if the May move makes sense. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that the likely target start date for the 2014 draft is May 15.

 

Pushing the draft back to May is something Breer reported weeks ago. But it's probably happening in 2014 because of a scheduling snafu. The Radio City Rockettes show "The Spring Spectacular" is scheduled to be held at Radio City Music Hall in late April, when the draft usually is held.

 

"We're actually getting bumped by the Easter Bunny. They're going to have an Easter show. We'll be prepared for that," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell previously said on "The Rich Eisen Podcast."

Rapoport reported that everything else on the NFL calendar probably would stay the same in 2014 at this stage. No other league calendar changes are yet agreed upon or imminent.

 

"None of that has been decided," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Around The League in an email Monday.

 

The league also has considered moving the date of the NFL Scouting Combine and the start of the league year.

 

Breer reported that Goodell and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith still have not met to have serious discussions on moving the draft. Breer pointed out, though, that NFL can move events like the draft without union approval, but it cannot change the start of the league year.

 

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.

2013 Rookie 1.01

2013 Rookie 1.02

2013 Rookie 1.03

2013 Rookie 1.04

2013 Rookie 1.05

2013 Rookie 1.06

2013 Rookie 1.07

2013 Rookie 1.08

Standard Scoring

1.01 RB Eddie Lacy, Packers (42%)

1.02 RB Giovani Bernard, Bengals (36%)

1.03 RB Le'Veon Bell, Steelers (36%)

1.04 WR Tavon Austin, Rams (35%)

1.05 RB Montee Ball, Broncos (47%)

1.06 WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings (45%)

1.07 WR DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (54%)

1.08 TE Tyler Eifert, Bengals (24%)

PPR Scoring

1.01 WR Tavon Austin, Rams (45%)

1.02 RB Giovani Bernard, Bengals (48%)

1.03 WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings (38%)

1.04 RB Le'Veon Bell, Steelers (39%)

1.05 WR DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (37%)

1.06 RB Eddie Lacy, Packers (45%)

1.07 RB Montee Ball, Broncos (56%)

1.08 TE Tyler Eifert, Bengals (34%)

Start 2 QB Scoring

1.01 RB Eddie Lacy, Packers (19%)

1.02 QB E.J. Manuel, Bills (28%)

1.03 RB Giovani Bernard, Bengals (23%)

1.04 WR Tavon Austin, Rams (18%)

1.05 RB Le'Veon Bell, Steelers (26%)

1.06 QB Geno Smith, Jets (26%)

1.07 WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings (22%)

1.08 WR DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (25%)

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League Editor

 

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline said Monday morning on "NFL AM" that he was part of the best wide receiver group in the AFC East.

 

This sounds outlandish until the moment you realize it is undeniably true. The other three teams in the division all have poor wide receiver groups. Which got me thinking: What are the worst position groups in the NFL?

 

Since it's a Monday in May, and my family doesn't really enjoy my company, I had time to break it down. Offense up first.

 

Worst tight end group: New York Jets

 

Two-tight-end attacks are growing in popularity. The Jets might break out the no tight end attack. Jeff Cumberland is the starter; he's a serviceable role player who would be No. 3 on a lot of depth charts. Behind Cumberland is a former Rugby player (Hayden Smith), Konrad Reuland and someone actually named Mike Shanahan.

 

Honorable mention: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders: The Browns are counting on Rob Chudzinski to work his tight end voodoo on Jordan Cameron and Kellen Davis. ... Luke Stocker and "the other" Zach Miller highlight the Buccaneers' depth chart. ... The top four players on the Raiders' depth chart were sixth- or seven-round picks; Richard Gordon and David Ausberry are the incumbents.

 

 

Worst running back group: Miami Dolphins

 

Lamar Miller is a great fantasy football sleeper. The Dolphins expect him to make a big leap this season. But he's a second-year pro who was drafted in the fourth round and only carried the ball 51 times last year. He's also the easy choice as the best back on the Dolphins' roster because we've seen what Daniel Thomas can do. 2013 fifth-rounder Mike Gillislee also should find carries.

Good news for Dolphins fans. This is the best position in which to not look great on paper. Speaking of ...

 

Honorable mention: Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers: The Colts made the playoffs with Vick Ballard and Donald Brown leading the way last year. Ballard is a workmanlike back with a limited ceiling, like a more explosive BenJarvus Green-Ellis. ... New pickup Chris Ivory is the best of a lackluster bunch in New York. ... The Rams don't have any big names, but they weren't listed because I like their young talent. ... Chris Johnson is too boom or bust as a runner. Adding Shonn Greene makes the Titan's attack more like boom or bust or bust.

 

 

Worst wide receiver group: Oakland Raiders

 

Denarius Moore can be a special player, but he's so rarely 100 percent when he's on the field. He shouldn't be a No. 1 receiver at this stage of his career. The Raiders will let second-year pros Rod Streater and Juron Criner battle behind Moore, with the hope the Jacoby Ford still has something to give. This group actually is better than it was a few years ago in Oakland. There is some promise, but very little production.

 

Honorable mention: San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams: It was a close call between Oakland and San Diego. The Chargers' top guy is Malcom Floyd, then five more players who should be No. 3 receivers. ... The Patriots really are counting on two rookies to produce right away. ... Buffalo addressed the wideout position in the draft, but it's all a question mark after Stevie Johnson.

 

 

Worst Quarterback group: Jacksonville Jaguars

 

This is a painful choice. I was the last remaining member of the Chad Henne bandwagon, and still think he's a quality backup. He's also the best quarterback on the team, but the Jaguars are very likely to start Blaine Gabbert instead.

 

The Jaguars still are hoping Gabbert can turn his career around, but what's his ceiling? In a best-case scenario, it's hard to imagine Gabbert better than a league average starter. Don't tell me about the numbers or the age. There is such a thing as an eye test, and guys who look like Gabbert for two years only turn it around so much. And that's the best case scenario. There really isn't another long-term hope candidate unless you count undrafted free agent Matt Scott.

 

Honorable mention: Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets: There's an inherent advantage in this exercise, especially at quarterback, to teams that have promising rookies. EJ Manuel and Geno Smith provide hope for the Bills and Jets, respectively. I'd even rather see what's behind door No. 2 with Matt Flynn and Tyler Wilson in Oakland than go with known mediocrities. The Browns' combination of Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell were considered, but Weeden already has shown more potential than Gabbert.

 

Jaguars fans can't be thrilled with their 2013 prospects, but they should be happy their front office is willing to be patient. Reaching for the wrong QB is what put them in this mess.

 

 

Worst offensive line: San Diego Chargers

 

The Chargers have a center and a right tackle, so that's a start. But it's fair to question if rookie right tackle D.J. Fluker will be a huge asset in pass protection.

 

Honorable mention: Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys: Detroit's offensive tackle combination of Reilly Reiff and Corey Hilliard is a big concern for Matthew Stafford. ... Chicago added talent and more importantly added a better offensive coaching staff. ... The Dolphins might have downgraded this offseason from a so-so 2012 group.

 

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.

By Bill Bradley, contributing editor

 

Human growth hormone testing has been a hot topic in the NFL for nearly two years, even before the latest collective bargaining agreement was signed 20 months ago. While both the league and the NFL Players’ Association agreed to start HGH testing, negotiations have dragged over the procedure with lots of fingers being pointed.

 

Since then, many players have gone on record that HGH testing needs to start now and two congressmen have asked the NFL and the NFLPA to testify on Capitol Hill as to why testing has yet to begin.

 

In an exclusive report for NFL Evolution, NFL Network’s Jeff Darlington looked at the reasons why the NFL and the players union have yet to come to an agreement on implementation of the testing.

 

First, human growth hormone is a banned substance in the NFL. Dr. Alan Rogol, the vice president of the Endocrine Society, said players could come back better and quicker from an injury with HGH use. However, many doctors believe it can also lead to diabetes, joint problems and cardiovascular issues.

 

Adolpho Birch, the NFL’s senior vice president for law and labor policy, has been negotiating the issue for years. He said he doesn’t know how many players are using HGH.

 

“The important thing is to implement testing so we can reduce whatever use there is,” he said.

 

George Atallah, the NFLPA assistant executive director of external affairs, said HGH testing is important and the players want it. He said the union wants a general population study to help determine the baseline HGH levels in NFL players.

 

“We have to make sure they apply to the player population,” Atallah said. “Then and only then can we become comfortable with how to proceed.” Rogol said such a study is unnecessary because the levels between football players and the average person are minute.

 

Also, Atallah said the current form of HGH testing is not foolproof and the NFLPA wants arbitration for all forms of drug testing. However, Birch said the NFL has been offering third-party arbitration for drug-test results.

 

“We’ve offered the appeals process and rights that afford to players under the Major League Baseball policy, which is what our union asked for,” Birch said. He added the stalling by the union increases the perception that HGH testing is not a big deal.

 

“And to us it is a very big deal,” Birch said.”