By now anybody who follow football, the NFL, college football or fantasy football understands that it doesn't matter where you are drafted. Impact players can be found everywhere in the NFL Draft. It all comes down to how these players fit into their new teams system and lockerroom.
We've already broken down the Johnny Manziel saga and gone over each of the first round selections. Let's take another step forward and analyze the skill position players drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Although we are just going to cover the skill positions here, do not underestimate the impact of offensive linemen and their ability to help the skill position players.
So here is my recap of each fantasy worthy player taken in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
, QB, Fresno St – 2nd Round (36th overall) – Oakland Raiders
David Carr is an all around solid QB who will have a long career in the league. While he doesn’t possess any elite skill, he plays the position very well and can make all of the throws. He is a very mature player compared to fellow draftees and this will help him immensely in Oakland. This is a very un-Raider like pick because of the wholesome makeup and approach Carr brings to the table. He will be ready to take the reigns as the Raiders starting QB full time in 2015 and will likely get a look in the second half of 2014 as well.
, TE, Washington – 2nd Round (38th overall) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This was a very odd pick for the Bucs in the second round. Not only is Seferian-Jenkins coming off of a stress fracture in his foot that was revealed at the scouting combine, but he also is very immature and has a DUI arrest on his record from just one year ago. He has the size and hands to play at a high level but with Tim Wright, Brandon Myers and Tom Crabtree already in the building, Austin Seferian-Jenkins may be hard pressed for playing time in 2014.
, WR, USC – 2nd Round (39th overall) – Jacksonville Jaguars
Once considered a potential top 10 pick, Lee dropped in the draft due to concerns about his size and durability. At first sight I didn't lke this pck by the Jaguars at all. But after they added some other talent to the WR position later on in round two, I can understand why they made this selection now. Lee is the prototype great college receiver who can run sloppy routes and is never asked to break a tackle after the catch. Without great size or speed, Lee’s best chance at NFL impact will come as a slot receiver in which he’ll be asked to catch the ball in traffic. This along with the Jaguars current QB situation leave Lee as nothing more than a late round flier in re-draft leagues this year.
, WR, Vanderbilt – 2nd Round (42nd overall) – Philadelphia Eagles
Matthews is a very polished WR who is going to fit in well with the Eagles high-octane offense. He is exactly what Chip Kelly and company needed in a big-bodied sure handed receiver. Which is to say he is the polar opposite of DeSean Jackson. The cousin of Jerry Rice is going to do very well in Philadelphia right from the start.
, WR, Colorado – 2nd Round (45th overall) – Seattle Seahawks
The replacement for Golden Tate is yet another pure speed player with no bulk to him whatsoever. Richardson weight just 175 lbsa and will not be a factor running after the catch. Although the Seahawks have gotten away with only having to throw the ball 20 times per game over the last two seasons, this luxury will almost certainly stop very soon. You cannot survive in today’s NFL with nothing but small speedy WR’s and the Seahawks will learn this the hard way. Richardson will make some big plays down the field for sure but will provide nothing in terms of consistency for fantasy owners.
, TE, Texas Tech – 2nd Round (49th overall) – New York Jets
Another Johnny Manziel weapon becomes a high pick in the NFL Draft. Amaro was a combine standout and is a versatile weapon in the passing game. The Jets have done a very good job at adding weapons to their offense this offseason and Amaro could be in line to see the lion’s share at the TE position in 2014.
, TE, Notre Dame – 2nd Round (52nd overall) – Arizona Cardinals
One of the better all around TE’s in the draft, Niklas will have every opportunity to start from day one. Even though Rob Housler projects as a better downfield pass catcher, health and inconsistency lead to the Cardinals selecting Niklas here in the second round. He can hold his own in the blocking game as well as stretch the middle of the field in the passing game. It’s a nice fit for the Cardinals and for Niklas and I am sure Bruce Arians will have some great routes for Niklas to become a weapon for the Cardinals right away.
, WR, Fresno St. – 2nd Round (53rd overall) – Green Bay Packers
Some may suggest that Adams is a replacement for James Jones but that would be inaccurate. Adams is most like insurance for Randall Cobb who has been injury prone and in the last year of his rookie contract. If he can catch on to the Green Bay offense quickly, Adams could make a big impact in fantasy football I 2014.
, RB, Washington – 2nd Round (54th overall) – Tennessee Titans
Sankey was the top RB on my board going into the draft and thus the Titans got an absolute steal here. He is one of the few full time RB’s in this draft as he has plenty of speed and break tackle ability to carry a full load. He most likely will begin the season as the “lightning” half of a “thunder & lightning” duo with Shonn Greene. I am expecting a 1000 yard season from him in his rookie campaign and thus he will be high on my sleeper list this fall.
, RB, LSU – 2nd Round (55th overall) – Cincinnati Bengals
As if you needed more reasons as to why Giovanni Bernard will never be a full time NFL RB, here you go. Hill is a between the tackles smasher who will get the short yardage carries in Cincinnati. This selection probably means the end of BenJarvus Green-Ellis in a Bengals uniform.
, WR, Indians – 2nd Round (56th overall) – Denver Broncos
The rich get richer here in Denver as Latimer will be yet another weapon at Peyton Manning’s disposal. The key to his success is getting into camp and working as much as possible with Manning in order to get the offense and the audibles down quickly. If he struggles with the playbook or shows a bad work ethic in Denver he could be a gameday inactive. He will be a very popular sleeper candidate in fantasy circles but it is important to understand how a Peyton Manning offense is run. Remember Montee Ball last year? Everyone assumed he would carry the load for the Broncos but when it came down to it Knowshon Moreno was better prepared and thus was on the field. Latimer is a boom or bust pick in fantasy football in 2014.
, RB, Ohio St. – 2nd Round (57th overall) – San Francisco 49ers
Hyde is a big strong RB who can move a pile and also has enough speed to get to the edge. He is a perfect fit for the 49ers system as he can also catch the ball well out of the backfield. There is little question now about Frank Gore’s future in San Francisco. It’s just a matter of whether Gore is cut before this season or next. Whatever that outcome is and despite the presence of LaMichael James & Marcus Lattimore, Carlos Hyde is the future RB for the 49ers.
, WR, Penn St. – 2nd Round (61st overall) – Jacksonville Jaguars
I love this pick for the Jags. Earlier in round two they took USC WR Marqise Lee who is more of a slot guy but Robinson is the guy who can possess the football for this Jags offense. Robinson is a chain mover with the proper size/speed/work ethic to be highly effective in the NFL. The Jaguars are starting to put together a legitimate WR corps despite admitting the end of the Justin Blackmon era in Jacksonville. Robinson may need a year to become a better route runner but in time he, Lee and Cecil Shorts will form a nice trio of options for Blake Bortles.
, QB, Eastern Illinois – 2nd Round (62nd overall) New England Patriots
There is a lot of Tony Romo in Jimmy Garoppolo and he will need time to develop before he is ready to lead an NFL franchise. Lucky for him he walks into a pretty great situation here in New England as the Patriots obviously are looking toward the future with this selection. I know that dynasty leagues are going to go nuts for him hoping that in two years they will have the next Tom Brady but I urge you to be cautious. It is far more likely that in three years you could have the next Matt Cassel and that just isn’t worth a roster spot in shallower dynasty leagues.
, WR, LSU – 2nd Round (63rd overall) – Miami Dolphins
Landry is no different than Odell Beckham and thus I just don’t like his fantasy future. It’s nice to give Ryan Tannehill weapons but they all seem to be diminutive speed receivers, which are far too inconsistent. As much as I don’t like this pick at least it wasn’t the 12th overall pick.