Kelvin Benjamin

New York Giants
Wide Receiver #13
New York Giants
Wide Receiver #13

Kelvin Benjamin News

Retires after leaving Giants

Benjamin announced his intention to retire from the NFL after being released by the Giants on July 28, Jordan Raanan of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Benjamin spent his brief stint with the Giants attempting to revive his NFL career by converting to tight end, but it appears that those aspirations are over. The 2014 first-round pick last saw game-action in 2018, when he appeared in 15 games between the Chiefs and Bills.

Aug 6, 2021 11:20 AM EST


Set to be released

Benjamin (undisclosed) will be released by the Giants on Wednesday, Zack Rosenblatt of NJ Advance Media reports.

Analysis: Benjamin's attempt to return to the NFL as a tight end wasn't a successful one, as he lasted just over two months with the Giants. The former wide receiver will hope to get a shot from another team, but Benjamin may not have enough left in the tank to get back into the league at this point.

Jul 28, 2021 9:43 AM EST



Leaves practice early

Benjamin left the practice field prematurely with a trainer, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Benjamin signed with the Giants in mid-May and is hoping to land a 53-man roster spot with the club as a tight end rather than his former spot of wide receiver. Unfortunately, his early departure Tuesday doesn't get him off to a good start, though he should have plenty of time to make his mark if the issue isn't deemed serious.

Jun 8, 2021 10:41 AM EST


Joining Giants as tight end

Benjamin has signed with the Giants as a tight end, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Selected in the first round of the 2014 draft as a wide receiver, the big-bodied Benjamin will switch positions in his return to the league. Benjamin scored 16 touchdowns in his first two years with the Panthers but struggled to keep his weight down and has been out of the league since 2018. If fellow offseason addition Kyle Rudolph (foot) isn't ready for Week 1, Benjamin could see increased opportunities for playing time behind enigmatic starter Evan Engram.

May 16, 2021 7:05 AM EST


Resurfaces as Giants tryout

Benjamin will work out for the Giants this weekend, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Benjamin was last seen working out for the Giants as a free agent back in 2019, and he'll once again try his luck with the team. General manager Dave Gettleman drafted Benjamin during his time in Carolina, where the former Florida State standout logged a 1,008-yard rookie season. The 30-year-old will have his work cut out for him to resurface in New York's crowded receiving corps, and at this point his upside may only be as a big-bodied role player in designed packages.

May 13, 2021 5:29 PM EST



Working out for Giants

Benjamin will be among the free-agent wide receivers that work out for the Giants on Saturday, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.

Analysis: The Giants' receiving corps has been hammered by injuries in the opening stanzas of training camp. On Wednesday, rookie fifth-rounder Darius Slayton was held out due to a minor hamstring issue. And Thursday's session included Sterling Shepard picking up a dislocated thumb and Corey Coleman tearing an ACL. While the 28-year-old Benjamin likely has something left in the tank, his yardage has waned each (healthy) year of his five-year career.

Jul 26, 2019 11:11 AM EST


Sidelined again Sunday

Benjamin (coach's decision) is listed as inactive Sunday versus the Patriots, BJ Kissel of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Analysis: With the receiving corps otherwise intact, Benjamin will be in street clothes for a second consecutive contest. Behind Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins, expect Chris Conley to step into three-wide sets, while Demarcus Robinson and Gehrig Dieter pick up any lingering snaps.

Jan 20, 2019 2:25 PM EST


Healthy scratch Saturday

Benjamin (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday's divisional-round game versus the Colts, BJ Kissel of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Analysis: With Sammy Watkins (foot) back in the lineup, Benjamin is the odd man out in an otherwise healthy receiving corps. Aside from Tyreek Hill and Watkins, Chris Conley and Demarcus Robinson should scoop up the remaining reps at wide receiver in the snowy conditions at Arrowhead Stadium.

Jan 12, 2019 12:22 PM EST


Little production with KC

Benjamin collected just two passes for 26 yards on five targets in the final three weeks of the 2018 season.

Analysis: Benjamin was released by the Bills in early December after his role with the club continued to diminish. After sitting a week to get acclimated, Benjamin got his chance to contribute with Sammy Watkins (foot) unavailable. He logged a maximum of 12 offensive snaps in his three weeks with the club and heads into the offseason as a free agent. Benjamin should find some suitors, but he's unlikely to secure a long-term deal wafter a disastrous 2018.

Jan 4, 2019 2:30 PM EST


Comes up small in Seattle

Benjamin was targeted twice but did not record a catch during Sunday's 38-31 loss to the Seahawks.

Analysis: Benjamin's performance was undoubtedly a frustrating experience for fantasy owners who placed faith in the recently acquired receiver considering Benjamin had an easy touchdown bounce off his chest on one of his targets but then somehow was able to bring in a much more difficult pass on the other, only for Benjamin to be ruled out of bounds. If Sammy Watkins (foot) remains out Week 17, Benjamin should have a decent opportunity for a rebound performance against a Raiders secondary that has allowed the most touchdowns to wideouts in 2018 (2.3 per game).

Dec 26, 2018 3:02 PM EST


Breaks ice in team debut

Benjamin brought in one of two targets for 17 yards in the Chiefs' 29-28 loss to the Chargers on Thursday.

Analysis: The star-crossed 2014 first-round pick made his Chiefs debut and was able to get on the stat sheet, hauling in a sideline pass from Patrick Mahomes down to the Chargers' four-yard line early in the third quarter. The big-bodied Benjamin could well fill an important complementary role over the final two games of the regular season if Sammy Watkins (foot) remains sidelined, and his presence may prove even more important in the postseason if the latter is placed on injured reserve. Benjamin will look to make further strides in the offense against the Seahawks in a Week 16 Sunday night battle.

Dec 13, 2018 9:31 PM EST


In uniform Thursday

Benjamin is active for Thursday's game against the Chargers, BJ Kissel of the Chiefs' official site reports.

Analysis: Benjamin disappointed with the Bills this season before being released earlier this month. He'll now look to get things going with the Chiefs and may carve out a solid role with the team down the stretch if Sammy Watkins' foot injury lingers. That said, we'd like to see Benjamin get a full and productive game in before recommending him as a fantasy lineup option.

Dec 13, 2018 4:19 PM EST


Anticipates playing Thursday

Benjamin expects to suit up for Thursday's game against the Chargers, Omar Ruiz of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Benjamin was inactive for Week 14 against the Ravens as he continued to learn the playbook, but with Sammy Watkins (foot) and Tyreek Hill (heel/wrist) both banged up, the Chiefs need all the help they can get at wide receiver. The big-bodied wideout was released by the Bills in early December after posting just 23 catches for 354 yards and a touchdown over 12 games. He secured a deal with the Chiefs last Thursday and appears set to make his debut just a week later. Still, his snap count may be limited by how much of the playbook he knows.

Dec 11, 2018 11:04 AM EST


Inactive for Week 14

Benjamin (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Benjamin will be street clothes for his first game with the Chiefs after his late-week addition to the roster left him with little time to get up to speed with the new playbook. Given that the Chiefs play on Thursday night against the Chargers in Week 15, Benjamin may have a tough time getting prepared for that game as well, so it may not be until late-December that he makes his team debut. Whenever he's ready to go, Benjamin could challenge for a role in three-receiver formations with Sammy Watkins (foot) sidelined for Week 14 and at risk of missing the rest of the regular season.

Dec 9, 2018 8:59 AM EST


Unlikely to play Week 14

Coach Andy Reid admitted Friday that it's unlikely Benjamin will be active for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Brooke Pryor of The Kansas City Star. Reid said the newly signed wideout will have a more realistic shot at playing in the Chiefs' Thursday night matchup with the Chargers in Week 15.

Analysis: After being cut loose by Buffalo earlier in the week and going unclaimed off waivers, Benjamin worked out of the Chiefs on Thursday and was signed to the roster a day later. Kansas City was motivated to add extra depth at receiver after Sammy Watkins re-injured a lingering foot injury that is expected to sideline him for Sunday's game and possibly the remainder of the regular season, but Benjamin likely won't be pressed into action in Watkins' stead right away after having limited time to get up to speed with the Chiefs' playbook. Once Benjamin gets comfortable with Kansas City's offensive scheme, he could challenge for a regular role in three-wideout formations alongside Tyreek Hill and Chris Conley. Benjamin's involvement in the passing game would likely trail off to some extent once Watkins is back to full health.

Dec 7, 2018 12:15 PM EST


Signing with Chiefs

Benjamin will sign with the Chiefs, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Benjamin was released by the Bills earlier this week after gathering only 23 of his 62 targets for 362 yards and one touchdown in 12 games this season. That being said, being a part of Andy Reid's high-powered offense should benefit Benjamin greatly in contrast with his situation in Buffalo, as he heads from a bottom-five passing team to a top-five unit that ranks first in passing touchdowns so far this season. With Sammy Watkins (foot) still on the shelf, Benjamin could have a chance to contribute right away as the Chiefs take on the Ravens in Week 14.

Dec 6, 2018 5:15 PM EST


Kansas City visit on tap

Benjamin is slated to visit the Chiefs on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports,

Analysis: Benjamin's stint with the Bills was disappointing and led to his release, but in the right team context, he has the size and experience to be an asset. Kansas could be a good fit, especially if wideout Sammy Watkins' foot issue persists.

Dec 6, 2018 9:31 AM EST


Released by Bills

The Bills have released Benjamin.

Analysis: The team also released Andre Holmes on Tuesday, which leaves Zay Jones, Robert Foster and Isaiah McKenzie as the team's top options at wideout. Benjamin, who logged 23 catches for 354 yards and a TD in 12 games for the Bills, could catch on elsewhere in short order, but he he has much to prove before re-surfacing on the fantasy radar after being cut by a team that is desperate for pass-catching talent.

Dec 4, 2018 1:14 PM EST


Fantasy wasteland

Benjamin caught two of four targets for 20 yards during Sunday's loss to Miami.

Analysis: Has someone looked under the helmet to make sure this is the same player that caught 18 touchdowns over two and a half seasons with the Panthers. Benjamin hasn't seen the end zone for the Bills since Week 2, and has bettered 50 receiving yards just once all season. Zay Jones has easily passed by him as an offensive contributor, and others have been much more involved as well. Benjamin needs to end up in a different city this offseason to even be in the discussion again.

Dec 3, 2018 10:15 PM EST


May lose work to younger wideouts

Coach Sean McDermott acknowledged Friday that Benjamin has seen his snap counts trail off the last two games due to the organization's desire to give some of their younger receivers more opportunities, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW.com reports.

Analysis: At 27 years old, Benjamin isn't exactly over the hill, but his production since his 73-catch, 1,008-yard rookie campaign with Carolina would argue otherwise. Since tearing his ACL in August 2015, Benjamin -- never regarded as a burner -- has noticeably lost some explosiveness, and his struggles with gaining separation from defensive backs have become even more apparent during parts of two seasons in Buffalo, where he's been saddled with shaky quarterback play. Over 17 career games with the Bills, Benjamin has managed only 37 receptions for 551 yards (6.5 per target) and two touchdowns, production that has likely motivated the team to explore other options. Since Benjamin is set to become a free agent this offseason and probably won't be re-signed, it's unlikely his snap counts will pick up over the final five contests, paving the way for the likes of Zay Jones, Robert Foster, Isaiah McKenzie and perhaps even sixth-round rookie Ray-Ray McCloud to earn more looks down the stretch.

Nov 30, 2018 9:22 AM EST


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