There has been less news from the teams’ OTAs this year than there was last year. 

I wonder which first round picks really want to make an impact as a rookie?  Watch for holdouts because any rookie that misses training camp will be hard-pressed to make an impact in their first year.  The only recent exception to this rule is for running backs.

Every year there are players drafted late that make an impact both on their teams and on fantasy squads.  This year I like the following players:

Fifth Round

Arizona WR Steve Breaston – Breaston was a Michigan receiver known for making big plays both on offense and as a return man.  With Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin in the starting lineup, little will be expected of Breaston which will relieve the pressure.  It will also mean that when he takes the field he will be matched up against safeties and nickel or dime backs.

San Diego WR Legedu Naanee – Naanee was a quarterback until two years ago.  In that short time he has become a very good route runner and has stride and strength most receivers can’t match.  He is raw but will be going to a team that is not exactly set at his position.

Sixth Round

Green Bay PK Mason Crosby – Crosby has one of the strongest legs in the collegiate ranks and may be better than most current NFL kickers.  He already has a 60-yard field goal (without a tee) to his credit and just missed on a 65-yard attempt.  Of his 200 collegiate kickoffs, 137 went for touchbacks with over half of them going out of the end zone.

Seventh Round

St. Louis WR Derek Stanley – Stanley is a little-known receiver/returner that has speed to burn.  Stanley is the first UW-Whitewater player to ever be drafted by an NFL team and was a Division 3 All-American as both a receiver and a returner.  He holds career marks for TDs (35), receiving yards (2,621) and single season records for yards (1,328 in 2005) and TDs (17 in 2006).  He should fill a Az Zahir-Hakim type role in St. Louis (slot receiver/returner).

San Diego ILB Brandon Siler – Siler is a dependable inside LB that has the speed (4.52) to play sideline-to-sideline.  I believe he is more talented and consistent than Anthony Waters, a player the Chargers selected in the third round.  And he is not coming off an ACL injury like Waters is.

NY Jets WR Chanci Stuckey – Stuckey suffered a foot injury that dropped his draft status but has excellent speed (4.34 on campus) and good strength.  He battles for the ball and would have been a much higher draftee if he hadn’t broken his foot in a non-contact drill early last year.