Player News
Review the latest player news for a specified group of players.
News: Coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed that Crabtree indeed suffered a torn right Achilles tendon and underwent surgery Wednesday to repair it, the San Jose Mercury News reports. (May 22)
Impact: The report adds that Crabtree suffered a complete tear of his Achilles, while noting that Harbaugh indicated that the wideout is not expected to miss the entire 2013 season. That said, Harbaugh declined to give a timetable for Crabtree's return, with a late-season return probably representing a best-case scenario here. (Source: RotoWire / Time: 6:48p ET)
Overall Rank: 1000
Position Rank: 353
% Started: 0.0
% Owned: 0.0
News: Gronkowski underwent an MRI on his back and may require surgery to correct a disc issue. (May 17)
Impact: Gronkowski is already dealing with complications from arm surgery, and he is undergoing a fourth surgery on his arm next week. Gronkowski is scheduled to meet with a spine specialist following the procedure to determine whether or not surgery will be required on his back. In 2009, he underwent surgery to "shave down" a disc in his back, but the present issue is not believed to be related. (Source: RotoWire / Time: 3:38p ET)
Overall Rank: 39
Position Rank: 4
% Started: 0.0
% Owned: 0.0
News: Blackmon has been suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, John Oehser of Jaguars.com reports. (Apr 30)
Impact: Blackmon will be allowed to take part in training camp and preseason action, but he will not play in Weeks 1-4 due to his suspension. The Jaguars are rather thin at the receiver position, and Blackmon's suspension means Jordan Shipley or Mohamed Massaquoi will likely open the season as the starter opposite Cecil Shorts. Blackmon will be eligible to return to the team Sep. 30, and unless the Jaguars decide to penalize him further, he will make his debut Week 5 against the Rams. (Source: RotoWire / Time: 4:40p ET)
Overall Rank: 126
Position Rank: 50
% Started: 0.0
% Owned: 0.0
News: The Packers selected Lacy in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 61st overall. (Apr 26)
Impact: 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. (Source: RotoWire / Time: 8:33p ET)
Overall Rank: 197
Position Rank: 59
% Started: 0.0
% Owned: 0.0
News: The Steelers selected Bell in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 48th overall. (Apr 26)
Impact: 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. (Source: RotoWire / Time: 7:44p ET)
Overall Rank: 187
Position Rank: 56
% Started: 0.0
% Owned: 0.0
News: The Jets selected Smith in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 39th overall. (Apr 26)
Impact: 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. (Source: RotoWire / Time: 7:09p ET)
Overall Rank: 182
Position Rank: 31
% Started: 0.0
% Owned: 0.0
News: The Bengals selected Bernard in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 37th overall. (Apr 26)
Impact: 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. (Source: RotoWire / Time: 6:59p ET)
Overall Rank: 213
Position Rank: 63
% Started: 0.0
% Owned: 0.0
News: Rodgers and the Packers agreed to a five-year, $110 million contract extension Friday, according to the Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. (Apr 26)
Impact: 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. (Source: RotoWire / Time: 5:03p ET)
Overall Rank: 2
Position Rank: 1
% Started: 0.0
% Owned: 0.0
News: The Bills selected Manuel in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 16th overall. (Apr 25)
Impact: 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. (Source: RotoWire / Time: 10:05p ET)
Overall Rank: 186
Position Rank: 32
% Started: 0.0
% Owned: 0.0
News: The Rams have selected Austin in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, eighth overall. (Apr 25)
Impact: 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. (Source: RotoWire / Time: 9:09p ET)
Overall Rank: 199
Position Rank: 74
% Started: 0.0
% Owned: 0.0