Actually, they're not rumors; I believe it was an open story that Abrams did talk to Affleck about a Star Trek project, though no mention was made of the role. But when you charge what Affleck does, on this kind of project, it's not so hard to guess.
As a non-Trekkie who only liked the original show, I think they should either let that franchise die, or, if they must continue, do hire someone like Abrams, but go FORWARD, not backward. Ah but don't get me started on the horrors of ST from the first bad movie on...I'm putting my ideas for that kind of thing in a novel I'm writing. :)
Unless you have something beyond the Cinescape story, it's not only rumor, but not very believable either. Abrams planning to visit a set suddenly means Affleck is Kirk? None of it is even sourced. Some effects guy says "some others have heard" that "Ben is talking to Paramount." Please. Besides the tenuousness of the article, if they really are doing a "Kirk at the Academy" movie--which Abrams has failed to confirm--why would they pick a guy who is just about the same age Shatner was when he first played Kirk back in '66?
I read this week Hollywood is now starting to lower salaries -- bad box office makes no one worth 25 million.