NFL Player News

Originally categorized as an outside linebacker during his recruitment, Pappoe (6’0/225) immediately moved off-ball where he started every game and received freshman All-American accolades from the FWAA in 2019. The two-time team captain tallied 256 tackles, 15.0 TFL, 8.0 sacks, and seven PBU as a fixture on the Auburn defense for the last four years. Pappoe closes on the ball in a flash and can stay with either running backs or tight ends in space, as is evidenced by his 77.7 PFF coverage grade. His 6.9 percent missed tackle rate last year is a superb mark and is indicative of Pappoe’s ability to finish despite being on the smaller side for the position. A plus athlete, he lit up the combine’s radar gun with a 99.9th percentile 4.39s 40-yard dash while also banging out 29 bench reps (96th%) for a very respectable 9.31 RAS. Pappoe isn’t going to stack linemen in the run game or bring consistent pressure up the middle, but he can cover a lot of ground and chase down ball carriers in a way most linebackers cannot thanks to his elite speed.

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.

For Barkley’s lofty standards, 117 yards and a lone touchdown are not that special. What’s more meaningful is who he did it against. Lamar Jackson entered the week as the MVP favorite amidst an electric season, but Barkley, who is on pace for a truly special season of his own, was hot on his heels after a 302-yard, two-touchdown outing in Week 12. With a win over the Ravens, Barkley’s MVP candidacy will remain alive despite playing a position that hasn’t won the award since 2012, when Adrian Peterson took it home. Barkley turned a quiet day around in the fourth quarter with a 25-yard sprint to the end zone that gave Philly an insurmountable lead. He gets a phenomenal matchup with the Panthers next week and will remain the RB1 overall without much consideration for another name.

With the Rams offense getting off to a slow start, Nacua did most of his damage in the second half. He drew a pass interference to get the team into the red zone and later scored the go-ahead touchdown on a seven-yard screen pass. He also had one carry for seven yards in addition to his receiving output. It wasn’t quite the elite game we are accustomed to from Nacua, but he worked ahead of Cooper Kupp and is the team’s No. 1 wide receiver. He will be a low-end WR1 for Week 14 against the Bills.