RADIO
The running back position is one of the most important positions on a fantasy football team. Since most teams are going with a two back set of recent years, it is more difficult to find running back gems later on in the draft.
There are only a handful of three-down running backs in the beginning of the draft, so drafting smart in the middle and at the end are extremely important. Kareem Hunt from the Kansas City Chiefs could be of the most important draft picks you make.
Let's see what makes him a desirable late-round pick in re-draft leagues for 2017.
Featured Promo: Get any full-season NFL Premium Pass for 50% off and win big in 2022. Exclusive access to our Premium articles, 15 lineup tools, new Team Sync platform, Lineup Optimizer, Premium DFS tools and cheat sheets, and much more! Sign Up Now!
The Hunt Is On
Hunt is a rookie running back drafted out of Toledo in the third round of the 2017 draft. He is sized up at a very appropriate 5'10'' and 220 lbs. A lot of buzz has been coming out of the Kansas City camp ever since he has stepped in there. There was talk about the Chiefs wanting to see Kareem take first team reps because of the flash he has been showing. In his latest preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Hunt rushed for a respectable 8 carries for 40 yards which equates to an even five yards-per-carry. Additionally he proved that he can also catch the ball out of the backfield by hauling in three receptions for 23 yards.
On top of the solid statistics, Hunt has proven that he can pass block which is probably the most important skill to have. Most rookie running backs lack playing time based on poor pass protection skills. If he can run, catch, and block his future of being a three down back might be closer to happening this season then you might think.
Now we come to the pink elephant in the room, Spencer Ware. Ware is currently Kansas City's starting running back and stands in the way of a Kareem Hunt and his potential break-out campaign. It is worth noting Ware's stats from last year. In 14 games Ware failed to post a 1,000 yard rushing season (921 yards), only scored five total touchdowns (three rushing, two receiving), and averaged just above 65 yards per game. His numbers are about average at best, so if Hunt continues to impress we could be seeing a changing of the guard sooner rather than later. Additionally, Ware missed two games last season. If he were to go down for a few games again, Hunt could step in and steal the starting job.
Realizing that Hunt remains bottled up behind Ware, you should draft him as your fourth running back. He will most likely be available in rounds 9 or 10. With this draft pick, you must be extremely patient. Hold onto him for a little while. Example given: in David Johnson's rookie season he didn’t flourish until he got the chance more than halfway through the season. Taking a "draft and stash" approach with him could certainly pay off big dividends if/when Ware gets hurt, and if he continues to light it up.
