The NFL draft got pretty interesting fantasy-wise in the second round, with running backs Giovani Bernard, Montee Ball, LeVeon Bell and Eddie Lacy all coming off the board. Lacy going fourth among them was the surprise, with injuries the reason why.
"It was a close call," said Broncos decision-maker John Elway. "It came down to the medical report." Lacy has a laundry list of injuries in the past year or so: toe, knee, hamstring. It was enough to drop the consensus top running back (talent-wise) in the draft almost out of the second round.
Considering the Packers traded down from 55 to 61 before selecting Lacy, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel thinks the Packers "almost reluctantly" selected Lacy. The Packers conceded they had Lacy and Ball in about the same range, but said of Lacy, "He's played through whatever (injuries) he's had, so I don't think it's going to be a big concern."
LeVeon Bell should be an immediate starter in Pittsburgh, while Giovani Bernard figures to start out as BenJarvus Green-Ellis' backup -- but might be too talented to stay behind him for long.
All four -- and a couple of backs still on the board -- are going to be intriguing selections, both in dynasty drafts and in redraft leagues this summer. None of them were first-rounders? So what. That's just about the premium or lack thereof the NFL is placing on running backs these days, not their relative talent, or ability to be fantasy starters, and difference-makers. In 2013, and beyond.
My rookie draft is next weekend. I'll mock it later this week, then recap it afterward. It's going to be interesting to see where each of these rookies go.
--Andy Richardson