NFL Player News

Murphy (6’5/268) arrived at Clemson alongside fellow premium five-star prospect Bryan Bresee and immediately became a fixture in the Tigers’ starting lineup. The consensus Freshman All-American earned an elite 92.5 run defense grade in his first season while forcing three fumbles and not missing a single tackle attempt all season. He went on to become a three-year All-ACC performer and the only player in the country to record 10 TFLs and a forced fumble each year from 2020-22. A tenacious edge setter, Murphy has active hands and possesses the latent strength to control, then discard blockers regardless of their size. He gets right into contact and does not disguise his desire to overpower opponents rather than tactfully outmaneuver them. Run defense is second nature to Murphy, and while he has made strides with his rush package, there is still plenty of room for improvement. He ran an eye-popping 4.53s 40-yard dash that was a 99th percentile time, as his 9.71 RAS shows the special combination of speed/power Murphy possesses. He has the potential to be a building block defender in the mold of Rashaun Gary.

Parkinson’s fantasy value has dwindled in the weeks since Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have both been on the field healthy. The Rams utilize their wideouts first and foremost, and on a low passing-volume day, that led to one target for Parkinson. With Tyler Higbee’s return on the horizon, Parkinson has shifted off fantasy radars.

Jackson juiced the numbers with 31 yards and a touchdown through the air plus a 39-yard carry on the final drive. Philly was up 12 with less than a minute left on the clock and didn’t seem overly concerned with stopping Jackson. It was an otherwise quiet night from the MVP favorite as Philly bottled up the passing game for the better part of four quarters. The Ravens did, however, lose seven points to a pair of missed field goals and a missed PAT from Justin Tucker. Jackson’s pace through the air has slowed over his past three games with 237 yards and two touchdowns both going down as high-water marks over that stretch. Still, his rushing output papers over the occasional lackluster passing game, keeping him in contention for the QB1 overall title. He should hold onto that rank when the Ravens come out of their Week 14 bye to face the Giants.

Otton’s seven targets tied for the second-most on the team but his is limited to TE2 status with Mike Evans back in the fold. Otton deserves credit for a hard-fought first-down pickup where he dragged a would-be tackler well past the first-down marker. Otton is a TE2 against the Raiders in Week 14.

Robinson played Week 13 after there was some question on a potential team suspension after he was arrested for DUI last Monday. Instead, the Rams opted to let league processes play out and he was the team’s No. 3 wide receiver against the Saints. Matthew Stafford connected with Robinson on a 46-yard score in the second half to jump-start the Rams’ passing game en route to victory. He played ahead of Tutu Atwell, who caught both of his targets for 39 yards on the day. Both Atwell and Robinson are touchdown-dependent WR5s for Week 14 against the Bills.

Dissly drew precisely one target, an incomplete second quarter dump-off. He also popped up in the play-by-play with a false start. Disappointing considering Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston’s continued lack of production behind No. 1 receiver Ladd McConkey, but not exactly surprising. Dissly should nevertheless bounce back to a low-end TE2 level of work in Week 14 against the Chiefs.

Evans and the Panthers’ No. 1 CB Jaycee Horn were in each other’s face from the first quarter-on, with both players regularly pushing the limits of legal downfield contact. Evans was ultimately the victor, fighting Horn off with his left hand while initially cradling his end zone pass with his extended right hand. The 31-year-old WR remains a weekly WR1 and can be started as such against the banged-up Raiders secondary in Week 14.

Tired of Palmer and Quentin Johnston’s “prayer yards,” Justin Herbert decided to target No. 1 receiver Ladd McConkey on 12 of his 23 attempts. That won’t be a sustainable approach going forward, but Palmer has no shot at WR4 relevance in the near future. The only thing that might change that is McConkey’s (shoulder, knee) health.

Kupp was mostly unheard from through the Rams’ Week 13 game agains the Saints. He managed a few short receptions, but Puka Nacua was the clear No. 1 target for designed touches and downfield targets. Kupp will still get opportunities the rest of the season, but it has become more evident that Nacua is becoming the preferred top target in the Rams offense. Working out of the slot, Kupp will rank in the low-end WR2 range for Week 14 against the Bills.

Coming off one of the worst games by any receiver all season, Johnston was the most distant of No. 2 wideouts as Justin Herbert targeted Ladd McConkey on 12 of his 23 pass attempts. Even with six teams on bye for Week 14, Johnston has lost his shot at WR4 relevance.

Mayfield was occasionally bothered by the Panthers’ pass rush, which sacked him four times and eventually left him mildly lame with an ankle sprain. The veteran signal caller was able to return but was visibly limping and gasping on a late-game scramble which he successfully converted for a first down. He is a high-end QB2 against the Raiders in Week 14.