While there were plenty of compelling story lines in Round 1 of the 2014 NFL draft, it wasn't until the second day of the proceedings (held on Friday) that things finally heated up on the running back front.
While the likes of QB Johnny Manziel, along with wideouts Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Brandin Cooks and Kelvin Benjamin could all make fantasy noise as first-round rookies, a few Day Two running backs could actually provide greater fantasy value, at least out of the gate.
Here's our take on the fantasy prospects of the skill players selected in Rounds 2 and 3.
Derek Carr – QB, Raiders (36th overall)
Matt Schaub is on track to begin the coming season as the Raiders' starting QB, which limits Carr's initial fantasy prospects, but in the long run the strong-armed signal-caller out of Fresno State has a chance to provide the team with some needed stability/upside at the position.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins – TE, Buccaneers (38th overall)
Along with big wideouts Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans, the 6-5, 262-pound tight end provides the Bucs with another intriguing red zone option. Seferian-Jenkins' upside as a pass catcher could give him some fantasy utility in deeper formats, though he still has Tim Wright and Brandon Myers to contend with for TE looks.
Marqise Lee – WR, Jaguars (39th overall)
Once viewed as a potential top-10 pick, Jacksonville is a good landing spot for Lee, with the team needing immediate wideout help due to Justin
While there were plenty of compelling story lines in Round 1 of the 2014 NFL draft, it wasn't until the second day of the proceedings (held on Friday) that things finally heated up on the running back front.
While the likes of QB Johnny Manziel, along with wideouts Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Brandin Cooks and Kelvin Benjamin could all make fantasy noise as first-round rookies, a few Day Two running backs could actually provide greater fantasy value, at least out of the gate.
Here's our take on the fantasy prospects of the skill players selected in Rounds 2 and 3.
Derek Carr – QB, Raiders (36th overall)
Matt Schaub is on track to begin the coming season as the Raiders' starting QB, which limits Carr's initial fantasy prospects, but in the long run the strong-armed signal-caller out of Fresno State has a chance to provide the team with some needed stability/upside at the position.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins – TE, Buccaneers (38th overall)
Along with big wideouts Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans, the 6-5, 262-pound tight end provides the Bucs with another intriguing red zone option. Seferian-Jenkins' upside as a pass catcher could give him some fantasy utility in deeper formats, though he still has Tim Wright and Brandon Myers to contend with for TE looks.
Marqise Lee – WR, Jaguars (39th overall)
Once viewed as a potential top-10 pick, Jacksonville is a good landing spot for Lee, with the team needing immediate wideout help due to Justin Blackmon's cloudy future. Lee, who fell to 39th overall largely due to injury woes this past season, has fellow second-rounder Allen Robinson to compete with, but he has a shot to emerge as the Jags' No. 2 wideout behind Cecil Shorts.
Jordan Matthews – WR, Eagles (42nd overall)
While Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin are ahead of him on the Eagles' wideout depth chart, the 6-3, 212 pound Matthews could do some damage out of the slot in Chip Kelly's offense as a rookie.
Paul Richardson – WR, Seahawks (45th overall)
The 6-0, 175-pounder's best shot at making an impact in the Seattle offense lies in his ability to stretch the field, but initially the speedster probably slots in as a depth wideout, albeit one with some big play potential.
Jace Amaro – TE, Jets (49th overall)
Entering the draft, the Jets needed to continue to bolster their passing offense and Amaro brings good receiving skills to the mix. As a rookie, he could help out fantasy owners, as he has a good chance to emerge as the Jets' No. 1 tight end and a possible red-zone weapon for the team, at 6-5, 265.
Troy Niklas – TE, Cardinals (52nd overall)
Niklas, who moved from outside linebacker to tight end two years ago, presents upside as a blocker and has skills as a pass catcher, but the 6-6 270-pounder's fantasy utility out of the gate is hampered by the presence of fellow TEs Rob Housler and John Carlson.
Davante Adams – WR, Packers (53rd overall)
With the Packers already rostering Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Jarrett Boykin, Adams needs a break or two to hit the fantasy radar in 2014, but the 6-1, 212-pounder brings good size and ball skills to the table and offers some long-term potential in a Green Bay offense helmed by QB Aaron Rodgers.
Bishop Sankey – RB, Titans (54th overall)
The first running back off the board this year at pick No. 54, Sankey has a chance to make an immediate impact in both real and fantasy terms in a Tennessee offense that bid adieu to Chris Johnson this offseason. Though Shonn Greene is also on the Titans' roster, we like the chances of Sankey, who draws Giovani Bernard comparisons, seizing control of the team's top RB job as a rookie.
Jeremy Hill – RB, Bengals (55th overall)
While Giovani Bernard remains a large factor in the Bengals' backfield thanks to his big-play ability, the 6-1, 233-pound Hill eventually has a chance to supplant veteran BenJarvus Green-Ellis as the team's power back, an assignment that carries some value in TD-heavy formats.
Cody Latimer – WR, Broncos (56th overall
As dynamic as the Denver passing game is with Peyton Manning at quarterback, fellow wideouts Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Emmanuel Sanders are also on the team's roster, which hurts Latimer's chances of making a big impact as a rookie. Ultimately, he represents a viable long-term replacement for Eric Decker, who left the Broncos in free agency.
Carlos Hyde – RB, 49ers (57th overall)
Under the right circumstances, Hyde would likely be this season's top rookie fantasy pick, given his nice blend of power and speed. With the 49ers, the 6-0 230-pounder slots in as Frank Gore's long-term replacement, but in the short-term his fantasy value is hindered by the team's current depth at running back. The team also rosters Kendall Hunter, Marcus Lattimore and LaMichael James at the position.
Allen Robinson, WR, Jaguars (61st overall)
With Cecil Shorts and fellow second-rounder Marqise Lee also in the Jags' receiving mix, Robinson may not make an immediate fantasy impact, but he's a big-bodied wideout who could develop into a red zone weapon for future franchise QB, Blake Bortles.
Jimmy Garoppolo – QB, Patriots (62nd overall)
Ryan Mallett is on the last year of his rookie deal, so Garoppolo gives the Patriots a young QB to groom as Tom Brady's next backup and a potential long-term replacement.
Jarvis Landry – WR, Dolphins (63rd overall)
With Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline ahead of him on the Dolphins' depth chart, the sure-handed Landry may not be a big fantasy factor in 2014, but he does have a chance to compete for the team's No. 3 wideout slot.
C.J. Fiedorowicz – TE, Texans (65th overall)
Fiedorowicz boosts a Houston TE corps that cut ties with Owen Daniels. He's viewed as good blocker, but Fiedorowicz will have to compete with Garrett Graham and Ryan Griffin for looks in the team's passing game.
Charles Sims – RB, Buccaneers (69th overall)
Though the Buccaneers already have Doug Martin, Mike James and Bobby Rainey on their roster, injuries hit the team's backfield hard in 2013, so the selection of Sims isn't all that surprising. If he emerges as Martin's top backup – a plausible scenario – there's some value here with Sims, who has strong pass-catching skills.
Tre Mason – RB, Rams (75th overall)
Mason is a talented all-around back, but with Zac Stacy coming off an impressive first season, he'll have to fight for carries as a rookie. Still, the upside is there for Mason to be worth a fantasy dart in order to see if he is able to parlay his skills into some form of a time-share with Stacy.
Josh Huff – WR, Eagles (86th overall)
Huff, who worked with coach Chip Kelly while the two were at Oregon, adds further depth to the Eagles' wideout corps, but at this stage, he slots in behind veteran options Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper, as well as fellow rookie Jordan Matthews.
Donte Moncrief – WR, Colts (90th overall)
The 6-2, 220-pound Moncrief possesses good size and speed, but his short-term fantasy value is hampered by the presence of fellow wideouts Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton, Hakeem Nicks, LaVon Brazill and Da'Rick Rogers on the current Indy roster.
John Brown – WR, Cardinals (91st overall)
The 5-10, 179-pounder has 4.34 speed and playmaking potential, but initially he figures to slot in as the Cards' No. 4 wideout behind Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and Ted Ginn.
Terrance West – RB, Browns (94th overall)
The Towson product is a power back who could turn into a fantasy sleeper down the road if he can emerge as new starter Ben Tate's top backup in Cleveland.
Jerick McKinnon – RB, Vikings (96th overall)
McKinnon has a chance to develop into a change-of-pace/backup behind Adrian Peterson, thus making him a reasonable fantasy insurance candidate.
Dri Archer – RB, Steelers (97th overall)
Archer has blazing speed and playmaking potential, but with Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount also in the Pittsburgh backfield, Archer's biggest impact as a rookie may come as a returner.
Richard Rodgers, TE, Packers (98th overall)
A converted receiver, Rodgers still has some developing to do, but he gives the Packers useful depth at tight end, with Jermichael Finley bouncing back from injury and not under contract.
Crockett Gillmore, TE, Ravens (99th overall)
Gilmore bolsters the Ravens' depth at tight end, but with Dennis Pitta and Owen Daniels also on the team's roster, he's unlikely to emerge as a fantasy factor as a rookie.
