Rant Sports.com: Could Kris Johnson Stay in the Minnesota Twins' Starting Rotation?

My latest at Rant Sports, looking at Kris Johnson's chances to stay in the Minnesota Twins' starting rotation if he pitches well Thursday night.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/04/30/minnesota-twins-rumors-can-kris-johnson-make-a-case-to-stick-in-the-starting-rotation/

Rant Sports.com: 2014 NFL Draft-Five Sleepers Who Would Fit For the Washington Redskins

Check out my latest NFL Draft slideshow at Rant Sports, looking at five potential sleepers who would be a fit for the Washington Redskins.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/30/2014-nfl-draft-five-sleepers-who-fit-perfectly-for-the-washington-redskins/#slide2

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Football 2014-Can Julio Jones Become the No. 1 Wide Receiver?

Check out my latest post at Rant Sports, looking at the chances Julio Jones becomes the top-scoring fantasy wide receiver in 2014.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/29/fantasy-football-2014-could-julio-jones-finish-as-the-top-wide-receiver/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire-Washington Nationals OF Nate McLouth

My latest offering at Rant Sports, looking at Washington Nationals outfielder Nate McLouth as a fantasy baseball option with Bryce Harper (thumb) out.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/29/fantasy-baseball-waiver-wire-dark-horse-washington-nationals-of-nate-mclouth/

Rant Sports.com: 2014 Fantasy Football IDP Profile-Kansas City Chiefs S Eric Berry

Here's my latest fantasy football post at Rant Sports, looking at Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry's outlook as a top IDP option for 2014.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/28/fantasy-football-2014-idp-outlook-kansas-city-chiefs-s-eric-berry/

Rant Sports.com: 2014 NFL Draft-Five Sleepers the Arizona Cardinals Should Target

Check out my latest NFL Draft slideshow at Rant Sports, looking at five prospects the Arizona Cardinals should target late in May's draft.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/28/2014-nfl-draft-five-sleepers-who-fit-perfectly-for-the-arizona-cardinals/

Rant Sports.com: 2014 NFL Draft-Five Sleepers Who Would Fit With The Detroit Lions

My latest NFL Draft slideshow at Rant Sports, taking a look at five sleepers in this year's class that would be a fit for the Detroit Lions.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/27/2014-nfl-draft-five-sleepers-who-fit-perfectly-for-the-detroit-lions/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Baseball-Is Oscar Taveras Worth Adding Right Now?

Check out my latest post at Rant Sports, taking a look at top prospect Oscar Taveras' fantasy potential once he is inevitably called up by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/27/fantasy-baseball-waiver-wire-is-now-the-time-to-add-oscar-taveras/

Rant Sports.com: Ranking the Minnesota Twins' Top 5 Pitching Prospects

My latest slideshow at Rant Sports, ranking the Minnesota Twins' top five pitching prospects.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/04/26/ranking-the-minnesota-twins-top-five-pitching-prospects/

Rant Sports.com: Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft Rumors-Is Ohio State CB Bradley Roby Now An Option?

Check out my latest NFL Draft post at Rant Sports, looking at Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby as a potential option for the Minnesota Vikings.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/25/minnesota-vikings-nfl-draft-rumors-is-cb-bradley-roby-now-a-potential-option/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Football Handcuff: Dallas Cowboys RB Lance Dunbar

My latest post at Rant Sports...

Fantasy Football Handcuff: Dallas Cowboys RB Lance Dunbar

Rant Sports.com: 2014 NFL Schedule-The 5 Biggest Games For The Minnesota Vikings

Here's my latest slideshow at Rant Sports, looking at the five biggest games on the Minnesota Vikings' 2014 regular season schedule.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/24/nfl-schedule-release-the-minnesota-vikings-five-biggest-games-of-2014/

Rant Sports.com: Should Mike Pelfrey Be Taken Out of the Minnesota Twins' Starting Rotation?

Check out my latest contribution at Rant Sports, looking at Mike Pelfrey's outing against the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday night and what it means for his future in the Minnesota Twins' starting rotation.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/04/23/mike-pelfrey-may-not-be-long-for-the-minnesota-twins-starting-rotation/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Baseball-Is Trevor Bauer Worth Adding?

Check out my latest fantasy baseball post at Rant Sports, looking at Trevor Bauer's fantasy potential if he is soon called up by the Cleveland Indians.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/23/fantasy-baseball-waiver-wire-radar-trevor-bauer/

Rant Sports.com: Minnesota Twins' Top Five Prospects-Stock Up, Stock Down

My latest slideshow at Rant Sports, a "Stock Up, Stock Down" for the Minnesota Twins' top five prospects.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/04/23/stock-up-stock-down-for-the-minnesota-twins-top-five-prospects/

Rant Sports.com: 2014 Fantasy Football Outlook-Atlanta Falcons WR Harry Douglas

Check out my latest at Rant Sports, taking a closer look at Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas' fantasy potential for 2014.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/22/2014-fantasy-football-stock-report-is-atlanta-falcons-wr-harry-douglas-on-the-rise/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire-Texas Rangers SP Matt Harrison

My latest fantasy baseball post at Rant Sports, looking to Texas Rangers pitcher Matt Harrison as a potential waiver wire option.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/22/fantasy-baseball-waiver-wire-is-matt-harrison-worth-adding/

Rant Sports.com: Five Reasons The San Francisco 49ers Should Keep RB LaMichael James

My latest slideshow at Rant Sports, giving five reasons the San Francisco 49ers need to keep running back LaMichael James.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/21/five-reasons-the-san-francisco-49ers-should-keep-lamichael-james/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Football Keeper Profile-Atlanta Falcons TE Levine Toilolo

Check out my latest fantasy football post at Rant Sports, attempting to determine Atlanta Falcons tight end Levine Toilolo's impact in 2014.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/21/fantasy-football-keeper-profile-atlanta-falcons-te-levine-toilolo/

Baseball's Three True Outcomes and "Three True Outcome Percentage"

In baseball circles, the "three true outcomes" are a home run, walk and a strikeout. That definition is obviously angled to batters, and follows the logic that the three events are not impacted by fielders and are more "true" than other events on the field.

Recently I wondered-what if a batter had a sabermetric-style statistic centered around the three true outcomes? Maybe a percentage of total plate appearances that ended in those three things?

So with that I bring to you the formula for "Three True Outcome Percentage":

Strikeouts+Walks+Home Runs/Plate Appearances= Three True Outcome Percentage

Let's take the formula for a spin, with a current player who is the virtual definition of a three true outcome hitter,  Adam Dunn of the Chicago White Sox.

Let's start with Dunn's career, through Sunday's action.

2,239 strikeouts+1,259 walks+443 home runs/7884 plate appearances=.499

So Dunn's career Three True Outcome Percentage is essentially 50 percent.

Let's narrow down to his 2012 campaign:

222 strikeouts+105 walks+41 home runs/649 plate appearances= .567, or 56.7 percent.

Now I'd like to look at another, more famous hitter in Barry Bonds, who "evolved" during his career.

1990 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bonds' first MVP season.

83 strikeouts+93 walks+33 home runs/621 plate appearances=33.6 percent

Now here's 2001 with the San Francisco Giants, when Bonds broke the single-season home run record.

93 strikeouts+177 walks+73 home runs/664 plate appearances= 51.6 percent.

Bonds' emergence as a more prolific power hitter, for whatever reasons, led to pitchers being more careful with him. Couple that with his own increased selectivity, as the all-around skills he had as a younger player deteriorated with age, and you have more walks and four straight years (2001-2004) where his OPS was over 1.200.

Bonds's career Three True Outcome Percentage, for those interested, comes together as follows.

1,539 strikeouts+2558 walks+762 home runs/12,606 plate appearances= 38.5 percent

Note: Bonds obviously holds the career record for home runs, and his all-time best walk total is bolstered by 688 intentional walks.

I haven't done enough research at this point to know if Three True Outcome Percentage helps differentiate good hitters from bad or has any substantial predictive value on a wide scale. But hitters that have a high percentage of those three events will be more immune to being impacted by good or bad fortune, which would in turn make their performance easier to predict. Dunn is a shining example, as he hit exactly 40 home runs in four straight seasons (2005-2008) and then 38 in both 2009 and 2010. His RBI totals also followed suit, with between 100 and 106 RBI in five of those six seasons.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: PIttsburgh Pirates 1B Ike Davis

My latest post at Rant Sports.com, looking at Ike Davis as a viable fantasy option now that he's been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Link: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: PIttsburgh Pirates 1B Ike Davis

Rant Sports.com: Early Season Grades For the Minnesota Twins' Pitching Staff

Check out my latest slideshow at Rant Sports, where I grade the Minnesota Twins' pitching staff from each individual starter to the bullpen as a group.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/04/19/early-grades-for-the-minnesota-twins-starting-rotation-and-bullpen/

Rant Sports.com: Five Reasons Memphis Grizzlies C Marc Gasol Should Win Defensive Player of the Year

Check out my latest slideshow at Rant Sports, offering five reasons Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol deserves to win 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2014/04/18/five-reasons-why-marc-gasol-should-win-2014-nba-defensive-player-of-the-year/

Rant Sports.com: 2014 Fantasy Football-Does New York Jets RB Chris Ivory Still Have Value?

Check out my latest fantasy football post at Rant Sports, attempting to predict if the New York Jets' signing of Chris Johnson will eliminate Chris Ivory's value for 2014.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/18/2014-fantasy-football-does-chris-ivory-still-have-value/

Rant Sports.com: 2014 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Florida State RB Devonta Freeman

My latest post at Rant Sports, a look at Florida State running back Devonta Freeman as we get closer to May's NFL draft.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/17/2014-nfl-draft-scouting-report-devonta-freeman/

Rant Sports.com: NFL Rumors-Five Teams That May Have Interest In DT Kevin Williams

Here is one of my posts from Wednesday at Rant Sports, focusing on five teams that may show interest in free agent defensive tackle Kevin Williams as May's draft gets closer.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/16/nfl-rumors-top-five-possible-suitors-for-kevin-williams/

Rant Sports.com: Minnesota Timberwolves Rumors-Could Nikola Pekovic Be Traded This Offseason?

Check out my latest post at Rant Sports, looking at the possibility the Minnesota Timberwolves look to trade center Nikola Pekovic this offseason.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2014/04/17/minnesota-timberwolves-rumors-should-nikola-pekovic-be-traded/

Rant Sports.com: MLB Rumors-Five San Diego Padres On The Trade Block

Check out my latest MLB rumors slideshow at Rant Sports, looking at five San Diego Padres who could be traded at some point this year.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/04/16/mlb-trade-rumors-five-san-diego-padres-on-the-block-in-2014/#slide2

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire-Oakland Athletics SP Jesse Chavez

My latest post at Rant Sports, looking to Oakland Athletics pitcher Jesse Chavez as a potential waiver wire addition for fantasy baseball owners.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/15/fantasy-baseball-waiver-wire-oakland-athletics-sp-jesse-chavez/

Rant Sports.com: NHL-Five Minnesota Wild Players Who Won't Be Back Next Season

Check out my latest slideshow at Rant Sports, looking at five players who should not be back with the Minnesota Wild next season.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nhl/2014/04/15/nhl-five-minnesota-wild-players-who-wont-be-back-in-2014/#slide2

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Baseball: Is It Already Time to Sell High On Chase Utley?

Check out my latest fantasy baseball post at Rant Sports, taking a closer look at Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/14/fantasy-baseball-is-it-time-to-sell-high-on-chase-utley/

Rant Sports.com: NHL Playoffs Preview- Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche

My latest post at Rant Sports, previewing the first round NHL playoff series between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nhl/2014/04/14/2014-nhl-playoffs-preview-colorado-avalanche-vs-minnesota-wild/

Rant Sports.com: MLB Trade Rumors-Five Washington Nationals Who Could Be Dealt

My latest slideshow at Rant Sports, looking at five Washington Nationals who could be on the move this season.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/04/13/mlb-trade-rumors-five-washington-nationals-on-the-block-in-2014/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire-Washington Nationals 2B Danny Espinosa

My latest post at Rant Sports...is Washington Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa worth adding for fantasy owners?

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/13/fantasy-baseball-waiver-wire-danny-espinosa/

Rant Sports.com: MLB Rumors-Five Arizona Diamondbacks Who Could Be On The Trade Block

Check out my latest slideshow at Rant Sports, looking at five Arizona Diamondbacks who may be dealt at some point this season.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/04/11/mlb-trade-rumors-five-arizona-diamondbacks-on-the-block-in-2014/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Football Keeper Profile-New York Giants QB Ryan Nassib

My latest post at Rant Sports...Ryan Nassib's outlook for fantasy football owners going forward.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/11/2014-fantasy-football-keeper-profile-ryan-nassib/

Rant Sports.com: Five Minnesota Twins Who Could Be On The Trading Block

Check out my latest slideshow at Rant Sports, taking a look at five Minnesota Twins who should be on the trade block between now and July.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/04/11/mlb-trade-rumors-five-minnesota-twins-on-the-block-in-2014/

Rant Sports.com: 2014 NFL Draft Scouting Report- Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater

My latest post at Rant Sports, taking a closer look at Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater ahead of May's NFL draft.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/10/2014-nfl-draft-scouting-report-teddy-bridgewater/

Rant Sports.com: Minnesota Vikings Rumors-Is Adding Safety Help Still Possible Before the Draft?

My latest post at Rant Sports, taking a closer look at free agent safety Kurt Coleman with a report he is visiting the Minnesota Vikings.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/09/minnesota-vikings-rumors-are-they-looking-to-add-safety-help/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Football 2014-Don't Overlook Miami Dolphins WR Mike Wallace

My latest post at Rant Sports, looking at the chances Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace rebounds in 2014.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/09/fantasy-football-2014-dont-overlook-mike-wallace/

Rant Sports.com: Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft Rumors-Should Zach Mettenberger Be Their Top Quarterback?

Check out my latest NFL Draft piece at Rant Sports, looking at LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger as a fit for the Minnesota Vikings.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/09/minnesota-vikings-rumors-should-zach-mettenberger-be-their-qb-of-choice/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Golf: Adam Scott Is A Top Option For the 2014 Masters

Check out my latest post at Rant Sports...why defending champion Adam Scott is a top fantasy golf option for the 2014 Masters.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/08/fantasy-golf-cant-go-wrong-with-adam-scott-during-the-2014-masters/

Rant Sports.com: The Minnesota Twins Acuire IF Eduardo Nunez

My latest post at Rant Sports, looking at the Minnesota Twins' acquisition of infielder Eduardo Nunez from the New York Yankees on Monday the move's potential implications.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/04/07/the-minnesota-twins-finally-make-a-move-to-replace-pedro-florimon/

Rant Sports: 2014 NFL Draft-Five Day 3 Prospects the Minnesota Vikings Must Target

Check out my latest slideshow at Rant Sports, looking at five prospects the Minnesota Vikings need to have on their radar during day three (Rounds 4-7) of this year's NFL Draft.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/07/2014-nfl-draft-five-day-3-prospects-the-minnesota-vikings-must-target/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire-Oakland A's P Ryan Cook

Check out my latest fantasy baseball post at Rant Sports, looking at Oakland Athletics reliever Ryan Cook as a potential fantasy asset now that he is healthy.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/07/fantasy-baseball-waiver-wire-ryan-cook/

Rant Sports.com: 2014 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Washington RB Bishop Sankey

My latest 2014 NFL Draft scouting report at Rant Sports, taking a closer look at Washington running back Bishop Sankey.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/06/2014-nfl-draft-scouting-report-washington-rb-bishop-sankey-2/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire-Los Angeles Angels P Tyler Skaggs

My latest post at Rant Sports, looking at Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skagg's fantasy baseball prospects on the heels of his season debut Saturday night.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/06/fantasy-baseball-waiver-wire-tyler-skaggs/

National Football Post Intro to Scouting: Scouting Reports

As part of the "Intro to Scouting" class I took, hosted by National Football Post, we had to write scouting reports as we covered positions each week.

Without any more build-up, here the reports I wrote, for those who may be interested. 

Note: Teacher comments came from Greg Gabriel, a former scout and director of college scouting in the NFL, most notably for the New York Giants and Chicago Bears.

Quarterback

Derek Carr, QB. Fresno State

Strengths

Has a quick, compact throwing motion; maintains a high release point and gets the ball out of his hands quickly to allow receivers to make plays after the catch. Is very accurate on short and intermediate throws; exhibits excellent ball placement and velocity. Shows excellent recognition pre and post-snap; knows where to go with the ball and gets through progressions quickly. Shows solid functional mobility when necessary and keeps his eyes downfield. Rarely makes bad decisions; takes care of the ball very well.

Weaknesses

Played primarily in a shotgun-based offense that featured a lot of horizontal throws (screens, etc.). Will need to prove he can take snaps from under center and read defenses while dropping back. Struggles to maintain timing and accuracy when under duress in the pocket. Struggles with consistent accuracy on vertical throws; tends to put too much air under the ball (see vs. Utah State-2013). Struggled against better competition (see bowl games vs. SMU and USC). Production is inflated by pass-happy offense and low level of competition in the Mountain West Conference.

Overall Impression

Has NFL bloodlines; brother David was the #1 overall pick in 2002. Has clear-cut strengths and weaknesses on a physical level, and the gap between the two will need to lessen for him to consistently succeed at the next level. Would benefit most by landing on a team that would not need him to start immediately as a rookie, since he needs time to develop a more complete overall skill set. Has a chance to be a first-round pick due to the scarcity of high-level quarterbacks in this year's class, but his long-term NFL future may be as a high-level backup/spot starter.

Grade: 6.5 D

Teacher comment

Not bad.... I wouldn't worry about not having played under center other than mentioning it. That's the case with most college QB's now. Just saying he plays in a spread style offense with few snaps from under center says it all

Offensive and Defensive Lineman

Cyril Richardson, OG, Baylor

Strengths- Plays with good balance, uses hands effectively, is an aggressive blocker and seems to play with an bit of an edge, has experience playing tackle

Weaknesses-Plays too upright at times, does not look like a natural "knee bender", needs to improve pass protection technique

Summary

Could be one of the first guards drafted and start immediately. Experience in an up-tempo offense should eliminate any conditioning concerns that may come with his size. None of his flaws should prevent him from having a good NFL career, as all can be fixed with coaching. Appears to play with real aggression as a run blocker that can't be taught, but needs to bring the same attitude to pass protection along with better technique.

Grade: 6.8 T

Morgan Breslin, OLB/DE, USC

Strengths-Shows good burst off the ball, has a high motor, has excellent athleticism, was used across the defensive line in a three-point stance and standing up, chases down plays from the backside well

Weaknesses- Is occasionally over-aggressive and puts himself out of position, plays with poor balance at times, does not have a wide array of pass rush moves, lacks ideal height (6'1")

Summary

Had season-ending hip surgery last November and battled injuries before that as a senior last season, so health is a concern. Was a Combine snub, so college pro day and team visits will provide an opportunity to further evaluate him. Is a tweener, without all the necessary attributes of a complete 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive end. Looks like a situational pass rusher at the next level, with limited upside beyond that if durability issues linger.

Grade: 5.9 X Z

Teacher comment

Don't totally agree on Richardson. He is too heavy and his lack of knee bend will hurt him in NFL. While I agree he has talent, his wgt and stiffness worry me. Good job with Breslin

Running Back

Ka'Deem Carey, RB, Arizona

Strengths

Shows top-notch initial quickness, burst and lateral agility. Is able to make defenders miss at the second level, using excellent vision and ability to make sudden cuts at full speed. Runs with solid forward lean; keeps legs churning to finish runs strongly. Is a willing and capable blocker; does not shy away from contact. Has soft hands as a pass receiver and shows good burst after the catch. Showed excellent durability as a workhorse back over the last two seasons.

Weaknesses

Lacks excellent straight-line speed (4.70 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine). Is not powerfully built (5'10", 207 lbs.) and does not run with terrific power. Will leave feet in short yardage situations (see vs. UCLA 2013), which exposes the ball to defenders. Past character concerns require further investigation. Is not a very polished pass catcher; lets the ball into his body too often and struggles with balance and body control in pass routes at times.

Overall Impression

Plays faster than his timed speed. Has all the attributes to be a three-down back in the NFL. May not step into in an immediate role as he learns a pro offensive scheme, but being drafted by a team that employs the spread would lessen that learning curve.

Grade: 6.9 J D

Teacher comment

Brad - not bad, but tell me more of a story in the Summation. Under weak points you wrote lacks excellent straight line speed. All you need is "lacks speed" or "timed speed". The reader knows it is a weakness so be brief.

Wide Receiver

Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State

Strengths- Highly productive (174 receptions in 2012 and 2013 combined), shows dynamic ability after the catch (see Ohio State 2013), has good size (6'2"), is able to find soft spots in zone coverage, is a fluid athlete and changes direction well, has a wide catch radius

Weaknesses-Is a body catcher at times, slim build, lacks great deep speed, is not an overly willing blocker for a receiver his size, needs to improve overall focus and awareness (ex: knowing where the first down marker is and running routes slightly beyond)

Overall Impression

Has the talent to move into an immediate role as a rookie, even with refinement and improvement needed in some key areas. May have benefited from another year in college, but will follow coach Bill O'Brien to the NFL. Would seem to work best in a timing-based West Coast Offense, where his skills after the catch can be displayed and used most effectively. Has the potential to become a very productive starter at the next level in the right situation, and may be widely overlooked in such a deep class of wide receivers this year.

Grade: 6.5 B J

Teacher comment

Good report. as I have said to others, most college receivers are poor blockers. I look for willingness...techniques can be taught

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Football Impact-The Buffalo Bills Acquire WR Mike Williams

My latest post at Rant Sports, looking at Mike Williams' potential to re-establish himself as a solid fantasy option after being traded to the Buffalo Bills.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/04/fantasy-football-impact-the-buffalo-bills-acquire-mike-williams/

Rant Sports.com: Five Free Agents the Minnesota Wild Should Target This Offseason

Check out my slideshow from Thursday at Rant Sports, honing in on five free agents the Minnesota Wild should target this offseason.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nhl/2014/04/03/five-free-agents-the-minnesota-wild-should-target-this-offseason/

Rant Sports.com: Five Breakout Candidates for the Minnesota Vikings in 2014

Check out my latest slideshow at Rant Sports, taking a look at five players who are ready to breakout for the Minnesota Vikings in 2014.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/04/the-minnesota-vikings-five-biggest-breakout-candidates-for-2014/#slide2

Rant Sports.com: Minnesota Twins Trade Review-Wilson Ramos for Matt Capps

My latest post at Rant Sports...looking back at the Minnesota Twins trade of catcher Wilson Ramos to the Washington Nationals in 2010.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2014/04/03/should-the-minnesota-twins-still-regret-trading-wilson-ramos-for-matt-capps/

Rant Sports.com: 2014 NFL Draft Scouting Report-UCLA LB Anthony Barr

Check out my latest 2014 NFL Draft scouting report at Rant Sports, profiling UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/04/02/2014-nfl-draft-scouting-report-ucla-lb-anthony-barr/

Rant Sports.com: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies-Kevin Love Leads The Way

My latest post at Rant Sports, looking at Wednesday night's game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2014/04/02/timberwolves-vs-grizzlies-minnesota-moves-toward-the-only-goal-left-this-season/

Rant Sports.com: 2014 Fantasy Football Rebound Radar-Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III

My latest post at Rant Sports, looking at the chances Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III becomes a top-tier fantasy quarterback again in 2014.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/02/2014-fantasy-football-rebound-radar-robert-griffin-iii/

Rant Sports.com: Five Golfers Who Will Benefit From Tiger Woods Missing The 2014 Masters

My latest slideshow at Rant Sports...looking at five golfers who will benefit from Tiger Woods missing the 2014 Masters.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/golf/2014/04/01/five-golfers-who-will-benefit-from-tiger-woods-missing-the-2014-masters/

Rant Sports.com: Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire-Milwaukee Brewers RP Francisco Rodriguez

My latest post at Rant Sports, looking at the Milwaukee Brewers' closer situation from a fantasy perspective and Francisco Rodriguez as a viable waiver wire option.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/fantasy/2014/04/01/fantasy-baseball-waiver-wire-francisco-rodriguez-2/

Rant Sports.com: The Minnesota Wild Sign College Free Agent D Christian Folin

My latest post at Rant Sports, looking at Monday night's news that the Minnesota Wild have signed college free agent defenseman Christian Folin.

Link: http://www.rantsports.com/nhl/2014/04/01/nhl-news-the-minnesota-wild-sign-college-free-agent-christian-folin-to-bolster-their-blue-line/