With The First Pick
Fansided

2019 Fantasy football: Six Rookie sleepers to target

By Nicholas McGee

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 08: Jakobi Meyers #16 of the New England Patriots celebrates his second quarter touchdown with Brandon Bolden #38 while playing the Detroit Lions in a preseason game at Ford Field on August 08, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 08: Jakobi Meyers #16 of the New England Patriots celebrates his second quarter touchdown with Brandon Bolden #38 while playing the Detroit Lions in a preseason game at Ford Field on August 08, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – AUGUST 10: Darwin Thompson #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes in for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium on August 10, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – AUGUST 10: Darwin Thompson #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes in for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium on August 10, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

Darwin Thompson – Kansas City Chiefs

With Damien Williams poised to be the RB1 in Kansas City, Carlos Hyde is regarded as the Chiefs handcuff to own.

But the smarter play would be to invest in the fast-rising sixth-round pick Thompson.

The former Utah State Aggie had 22 yards on five carries and caught a 29-yard touchdown pass in the Chiefs’ preseason opener with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Thompson has since been given goalline work with the first-team offense while running backs coach Deland McCullough praised his work in pass protection, per The Chiefs Wire.

Players who can help keep Patrick Mahomes upright have a much better chance of earning opportunities. Thompson has displayed promise in that area, and demonstrated upside in the receiving game, something Hyde has struggled to do in his career.

Hyde, who has averaged under four yards a carry in his last two seasons, has failed to score a receiving touchdown in all but one of his six seasons.

Thompson has the fresher legs and seemingly a superior all-around skill set. Betting on him to leapfrog Hyde and become an impact player who can make valuable contributions in real football and the fantasy world is a smart wager to make.

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