Fantasy Football: 14 Under-the-Radar Rookies to Target in 2017
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
After ranking inside the top five in Adjusted Rushing NEP per play for three straight seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs rushing attack took a huge dip in efficiency last year.
| Year | Adjusted Rushing NEP per play | League Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0.05 | -0.03 | 4th |
| 2014 | 0.06 | -0.03 | 2nd |
| 2015 | 0.09 | -0.04 | 2nd |
| 2016 | -0.02 | -0.02 | 21st |
Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West combined to account for 91% of the Chiefs running back’s carries, and neither performed well compared to the 67 other running backs with 50 or more carries last season.
| Player | Carries | Rushing NEP/P (League Avg: -0.02) | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Ware | 214 | -0.07 | 50th |
| Charcandrick West | 88 | -0.08 | 52nd |
Kansas City acknowledged their running game issues with their third-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft by selecting Kareem Hunt, who ranked second among all FBS running backs last season with 98 missed tackles forced.
After catching 41 passes in his senior season at Toledo, he proved that he has the ability to contribute as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, which can help him earn playing time right away. And he's already seeing increased reps with the first team, which suggests he has a chance to win the starting running back job outright. —Barry Cohen
