Rob Gronkowski
NFL training camps are in full swing now and even though the games that count are still more than a month away, that doesn’t mean what’s happening on the practice field doesn’t impact fantasy football. For example, injuries have already made their mark, both in a good and bad way, which has resulted in some shuffling on Athlon Sports’ Fantasy Football Big Board (Top 280).
From the “good” standpoint, there has been no more welcome sight in Foxboro, Mass., than a healthy Rob Gronkowski on the field. It’s still early, but Gronk appears to be progressing in his recovery from the torn ACL and MCL he suffered last December. There’s still plenty of risk when it comes to Gronk’s fantasy value, but the potential reward is enough to move him up in our rankings.
Unfortunately, the news has not been as optimistic in other camps. Running backs Vick Ballard (Achilles) and Kendall Hunter (ACL) already have seen their 2014 seasons come to an abrupt end due to season-ending injuries, while several others are dealing with other ailments of varying degrees. Regardless of the severity, these injuries and other happening on or off of the field (such as suspensions or retirements) have a twofold effect as it relates to fantasy. Not only do they potentially change the outlook for teammates on their respective teams, but they also necessitate numerous adjustments to our Big Board. And keep in mind that preseason action has yet to begin. More changes are sure to come.
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Early 2014 Fantasy Football Big Board (Top 280)
(Last updated on 7/29/14)
Rank | Player | Team | Pos | Comment |
1 | LeSean McCoy | PHI | RB |
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2 | Jamaal Charles | KC | RB | Shortest training camp holdout ever? |
3 | Adrian Peterson | MIN | RB | Says Vikes' O no longer "predictable." |
4 | Matt Forté | CHI | RB |
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5 | Calvin Johnson | DET | WR |
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6 | Marshawn Lynch | SEA | RB | How long will Beast Mode hold out? |
7 | Jimmy Graham | NO | TE | TE and contract status no longer in doubt. |
8 | Demaryius Thomas | DEN | WR |
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9 | Peyton Manning | DEN | QB |
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10 | A.J. Green | CIN | WR |
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11 | Julio Jones | ATL | WR | Being brought along slowly. |
12 | Eddie Lacy | GB | RB |
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13 | Brandon Marshall | CHI | WR |
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14 | Dez Bryant | DAL | WR |
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15 | Arian Foster | HOU | RB | If healthy, he should see plenty of work. |
16 | Doug Martin | TB | RB |
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17 | DeMarco Murray | DAL | RB |
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18 | Zac Stacy | STL | RB |
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19 | Le'Veon Bell | PIT | RB | Could be big beneficiary of improved O-line. |
20 | Montee Ball | DEN | RB |
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21 | Antonio Brown | PIT | WR |
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22 | Jordy Nelson | GB | WR | Short-term future secure with 4-year extension. |
23 | Alshon Jeffery | CHI | WR |
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24 | Andre Johnson | HOU | WR | Appears to be on board w/ team's direction. |
25 | Vincent Jackson | TB | WR |
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26 | Randall Cobb | GB | WR | Ready to prove he's worthy of new deal. |
27 | Alfred Morris | WAS | RB |
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28 | Giovani Bernard | CIN | RB |
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29 | Reggie Bush | DET | RB |
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30 | Ryan Mathews | SD | RB |
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31 | Drew Brees | NO | QB | Wants to play 10 more years. |
32 | Aaron Rodgers | GB | QB |
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33 | Larry Fitzgerald | ARI | WR |
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34 | Victor Cruz | NYG | WR |
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35 | Pierre Garcon | WAS | WR |
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36 | Keenan Allen | SD | WR |
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37 | Roddy White | ATL | WR |
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38 | Wes Welker | DEN | WR |
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39 | Percy Harvin | SEA | WR |
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40 | Matthew Stafford | DET | QB |
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41 | Julius Thomas | DEN | TE |
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42 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | TE | So far, so good. |
43 | DeSean Jackson | WAS | WR |
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44 | Michael Crabtree | SF | WR |
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45 | T.Y. Hilton | IND | WR |
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46 | Torrey Smith | BAL | WR |
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47 | Frank Gore | SF | RB | Team already down one back (Hunter, ACL). |
48 | C.J. Spiller | BUF | RB | Says his ankle is 100 percent. |
49 | Ben Tate | CLE | RB |
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50 | Julian Edelman | NE | WR |
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51 | Vernon Davis | SF | TE | Wants new contract, but he's in camp. |
52 | Jordan Cameron | CLE | TE |
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53 | Michael Floyd | ARI | WR |
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54 | Cordarrelle Patterson | MIN | WR | Expanded role in Turner's O coming? |
55 | Jeremy Maclin | PHI | WR |
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56 | Andre Ellington | ARI | RB | Added weight in the offseason. |
57 | Trent Richardson | IND | RB | Played hurt last season. Bounce back coming? |
58 | Chris Johnson | NYJ | RB | Reportedly looking "explosive" in camp. |
59 | Ray Rice | BAL | RB | Don't forget he will miss the first 2 games. |
60 | Toby Gerhart | JAC | RB | Don't discount him as an every-down back. |
61 | Steven Jackson | ATL | RB |
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62 | Rashad Jennings | NYG | RB |
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63 | Reggie Wayne | IND | WR | Looking good in his return from ACL tear. |
64 | Marques Colston | NO | WR |
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65 | Sammy Watkins | BUF | WR | Has yet to play a game and already on "Hot Seat." |
66 | Shane Vereen | NE | RB |
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67 | Stevan Ridley | NE | RB |
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68 | Joique Bell | DET | RB |
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69 | Andrew Luck | IND | QB |
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70 | Russell Wilson | SEA | QB |
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71 | Bishop Sankey | TEN | RB |
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72 | Pierre Thomas | NO | RB |
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73 | Cam Newton | CAR | QB |
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74 | Robert Griffin III | WAS | QB | RG3 likes what he's seen from Gruden, new O so far. |
75 | Jason Witten | DAL | TE |
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76 | Greg Olsen | CAR | TE |
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77 | Dennis Pitta | BAL | TE | Healthy Pitta could be difference-maker for Ravens. |
78 | Jordan Reed | WAS | TE |
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79 | Knowshon Moreno | MIA | RB | Starting job may not be his to lose in first place. |
80 | Maurice Jones-Drew | OAK | RB |
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81 | Darren Sproles | PHI | RB |
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82 | Fred Jackson | BUF | RB |
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83 | Nick Foles | PHI | QB |
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84 | Colin Kaepernick | SF | QB | New contract leaves plenty of room for growth still. |
85 | Matt Ryan | ATL | QB |
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86 | Kendall Wright | TEN | WR |
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87 | Mike Wallace | MIA | WR | Knows he needs to better this season. |
88 | Golden Tate | DET | WR |
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89 | Eric Decker | NYJ | WR |
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90 | Tom Brady | NE | QB | Healthy Gronk could mean return to vintage Brady. |
91 | DeAngelo Williams | CAR | RB |
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92 | Danny Woodhead | SD | RB |
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93 | Lamar Miller | MIA | RB | Reportedly already ahead of Moreno. |
94 | Emmanuel Sanders | DEN | WR |
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95 | Cecil Shorts | JAC | WR | Expected to miss 2 weeks b/c of hamstring injury. |
96 | Riley Cooper | PHI | WR |
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97 | Anquan Boldin | SF | WR |
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98 | Kyle Rudolph | MIN | TE | Pending FA no longer after signing 5-year extension. |
99 | Tony Romo | DAL | QB |
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100 | Philip Rivers | SD | QB |
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101 | Jay Cutler | CHI | QB |
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102 | Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | QB | OL and WRs both could be better this season. |
103 | Charles Clay | MIA | TE |
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104 | Martellus Bennett | CHI | TE |
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105 | Delanie Walker | TEN | TE |
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106 | Zach Ertz | PHI | TE |
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107 | Heath Miller | PIT | TE |
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108 | Bernard Pierce | BAL | RB | Will have 2 games to make strong impression. |
109 | Khiry Robinson | NO | RB |
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110 | David Wilson | NYG | RB | Got medical clearance (neck) to return to field. |
111 | Chris Ivory | NYJ | RB | Injured hamstring keeping him out of camp. |
112 | Terrance Williams | DAL | WR |
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113 | DeAndre Hopkins | HOU | WR |
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114 | Antonio Gates | SD | TE |
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115 | Ladarius Green | SD | TE |
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116 | Seahawks | SEA | DST |
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117 | Shonn Greene | TEN | RB | Won't give up starting job w/o a fight. |
118 | Tre Mason | STL | RB |
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119 | Darren McFadden | OAK | RB |
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120 | Danny Amendola | NE | WR |
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121 | Dwayne Bowe | KC | WR | Reported to camp in great shape. |
122 | Hakeem Nicks | IND | WR |
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123 | Greg Jennings | MIN | WR |
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124 | Steve Smith | BAL | WR |
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125 | James Jones | OAK | WR |
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131 | 49ers | SF | DST |
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132 | Andy Dalton | CIN | QB |
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133 | Eli Manning | NYG | QB |
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126 | Carson Palmer | ARI | QB |
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127 | Tavon Austin | STL | WR |
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128 | Marvin Jones | CIN | WR |
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129 | Rueben Randle | NYG | WR |
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130 | Justin Hunter | TEN | WR |
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134 | Christine Michael | SEA | RB | Lynch's holdout increases appeal. |
135 | Mark Ingram | NO | RB |
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136 | Jeremy Hill | CIN | RB | Rookie off to good start in camp. |
137 | Andre Brown | HOU | RB |
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138 | Donald Brown | SD | RB |
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139 | Coby Fleener | IND | TE |
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140 | Bengals | CIN | DST |
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141 | Cardinals | ARI | DST |
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142 | Panthers | CAR | DST |
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143 | Broncos | DEN | DST |
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144 | Jarrett Boykin | GB | WR |
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145 | Brandin Cooks | NO | WR | Lots to like, but still a rookie. |
146 | Eric Ebron | DET | TE |
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147 | Dwayne Allen | IND | TE |
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148 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis | CIN | RB |
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149 | LeGarrette Blount | PIT | RB |
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150 | James Starks | GB | RB |
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151 | Roy Helu | WAS | RB |
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152 | Mike Evans | TB | WR |
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153 | Kelvin Benjamin | CAR | WR | Will miss some of camp due to a bone bruise. |
154 | Denarius Moore | OAK | WR |
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155 | Doug Baldwin | SEA | WR |
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156 | Markus Wheaton | PIT | WR |
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157 | Rams | STL | DST |
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158 | Chiefs | KC | DST |
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159 | Kenny Stills | NO | WR |
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160 | Aaron Dobson | NE | WR | Still recovering from foot surgery. |
161 | Andrew Hawkins | CLE | WR |
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162 | Rod Streater | OAK | WR |
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163 | Marqise Lee | JAC | WR | Ace Sanders taking leave of absence for personal reasons. |
164 | Josh McCown | TB | QB |
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165 | Joe Flacco | BAL | QB |
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166 | Ryan Tannehill | MIA | QB |
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167 | Johnny Manziel | CLE | QB | No rookie under more scrutiny than Johnny Football. |
168 | Patriots | NE | DST |
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169 | Bills | BUF | DST |
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170 | Buccaneers | TB | DST |
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171 | Browns | CLE | DST |
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172 | Alex Smith | KC | QB |
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173 | Sam Bradford | STL | QB | May not play in first preseason game as precaution. |
174 | Tyler Eifert | CIN | TE |
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175 | Odell Beckham Jr. | NYG | WR | Off to sluggish start due to hamstring injury. |
176 | Brian Hartline | MIA | WR |
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177 | Knile Davis | KC | RB |
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178 | Latavius Murray | OAK | RB |
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179 | C.J. Anderson | DEN | RB |
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180 | Jonathan Stewart | CAR | RB | Can't seem to shake injury bug. |
181 | Carlos Hyde | SF | RB | Hunter's (ACL) loss could be Hyde's gain. |
182 | Terrance West | CLE | RB |
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183 | Jonathan Dwyer | ARI | RB |
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184 | Ahmad Bradshaw | IND | RB | Vick Ballard (Achilles) out for season. |
185 | Miles Austin | CLE | WR |
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186 | Stevie Johnson | SF | WR |
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187 | Jerricho Cotchery | CAR | WR |
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188 | Owen Daniels | BAL | TE |
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189 | Jared Cook | STL | TE |
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190 | Matt Prater | DEN | K |
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191 | Stephen Gostkowski | NE | K |
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192 | EJ Manuel | BUF | QB |
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193 | Jake Locker | TEN | QB | Says his foot (Lisfranc injury) is completely healed. |
194 | Geno Smith | NYJ | QB | Thinks he'll be a top 5 QB in 2 years. |
195 | Matt Schaub | OAK | QB |
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196 | Jordan Todman | JAC | RB |
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197 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins | TB | TE |
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198 | Jace Amaro | NYJ | TE | Sustained minor knee injury early in camp. |
199 | Robert Woods | BUF | WR |
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200 | Marlon Brown | BAL | WR |
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201 | Jerome Simpson | MIN | WR |
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202 | Jermichael Finley | FA | TE | If he signs, he could shoot up rankings. |
203 | Ryan Griffin | HOU | TE |
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204 | Steven Hauschka | SEA | K |
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205 | Justin Tucker | BAL | K |
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206 | Phil Dawson | SF | K |
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207 | Mason Crosby | GB | K |
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208 | Dan Bailey | DAL | K |
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209 | Texans | HOU | DST |
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210 | Saints | NO | DST |
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211 | Ka'Deem Carey | CHI | RB |
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212 | Devonta Freeman | ATL | RB |
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213 | Jerick McKinnon | MIN | RB |
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214 | Chris Polk | PHI | RB |
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215 | Brandon LaFell | NE | WR |
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216 | Kenny Britt | STL | WR |
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217 | Nate Burleson | CLE | WR |
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218 | Harry Douglas | ATL | WR |
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219 | Mike Williams | BUF | WR |
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220 | Jermaine Kearse | SEA | WR | Sidney Rice's retirement creates opportunity. |
221 | Jordan Matthews | PHI | WR |
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222 | Andre Roberts | WAS | WR |
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223 | Dexter McCluster | TEN | WR |
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224 | Mohamed Sanu | CIN | WR |
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225 | Chris Givens | STL | WR |
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226 | Lance Moore | PIT | WR |
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227 | Steelers | PIT | DST |
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228 | Ravens | BAL | DST |
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229 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | HOU | QB |
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230 | Chad Henne | JAC | QB |
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231 | Brian Hoyer | CLE | QB | Has reportedly taken early lead over Manziel in camp. |
232 | Michael Vick | NYJ | QB |
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233 | Teddy Bridgewater | MIN | QB |
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234 | Matt Cassel | MIN | QB |
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235 | Garrett Graham | HOU | TE |
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236 | Andrew Quarless | GB | TE |
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237 | Scott Chandler | BUF | TE |
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238 | Marcedes Lewis | JAC | TE |
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239 | Bears | CHI | DST |
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240 | Packers | GB | DST |
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241 | Alex Henery | PHI | K |
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242 | Nick Novak | SD | K |
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243 | Adam Vinatieri | IND | K |
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244 | Jermaine Gresham | CIN | TE |
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245 | Levine Toilolo | ATL | TE |
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246 | Stepfan Taylor | ARI | RB |
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247 | Mike James | TB | RB |
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248 | Andre Williams | NYG | RB |
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249 | Jacquizz Rodgers | ATL | RB |
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250 | Robbie Gould | CHI | K |
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251 | Shayne Graham | NO | K |
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252 | Mike Glennon | TB | QB |
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253 | Shaun Hill | STL | QB |
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254 | Kirk Cousins | WAS | QB |
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255 | Blair Walsh | MIN | K |
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256 | Matt Bryant | ATL | K |
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257 | Marcel Reece | OAK | RB |
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258 | Robert Turbin | SEA | RB |
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259 | Bryce Brown | BUF | RB |
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260 | Mike Tolbert | CAR | RB |
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261 | DuJuan Harris | GB | RB |
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262 | Brandon Bolden | NE | RB |
|
263 | Charles Sims | TB | RB |
|
264 | Marcus Lattimore | SF | RB | 49ers taking their time w/ Lattimore. |
265 | Joseph Randle | DAL | RB |
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266 | Jason Avant | CAR | WR |
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267 | Paul Richardson | SEA | WR |
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268 | Davante Adams | GB | WR |
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269 | Allen Robinson | JAC | WR | Missed parts of OTAs b/c of hamstring injury. |
270 | Cody Latimer | DEN | WR |
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271 | Jarvis Landry | MIA | WR |
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272 | Kenbrell Thompkins | NE | WR |
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273 | Blake Bortles | JAC | QB |
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274 | Brandon Pettigrew | DET | TE |
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275 | Rob Housler | ARI | TE |
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276 | Travis Kece | KC | TE |
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277 | Mark Sanchez | PHI | QB |
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278 | Lance Dunbar | DAL | RB |
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279 | Bobby Rainey | TB | RB | He and Mike James could battle for roster spot. |
280 | Brandon Weeden | DAL | QB |
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