Fantasy Football: One Breakout Candidate From Every NFL Team
Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
As much as every being in my fiber wants to talk about Chris Conley here (because this and this), it'd be a stretch. It's much more likely Kareem Hunt sees enough volume to burst onto the scene as a big-time fantasy asset.
Hunt had a nice college career at Toledo, and he posted quality market share numbers in his final season there. Hunt accounted for 58.19% of the Rockets' rushing yards and 51.17% of their rushing attempts. He was also responsible for 14.09% of the team's receptions.
Hunt put together his best showing last year against Toledo's toughest opposition, Western Michigan, amassing 273 total yards (200 rushing and 73 receiving) in the game.
Kareem Hunt racked up 270 total yards vs a very good Western Michigan team. Hands on display here, first guy rarely brings Hunt down #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/RuutdGQE63
— JohnnyLFootball (@JohnnyLFootball) April 30, 2017
While his combine numbers were ugly, the college production is something we can get behind.
So is the situation.
With Spencer Ware atop the depth chart, Hunt doesn't have a crystal clear path to volume, but Ware struggled in 2016, per our numbers. Among the 42 backs with at least 100 carries, Ware ranked 32nd in Rushing NEP per attempt with a -0.07 clip (league average for running backs was -0.02).
Hunt has been getting plenty of positive press this offseason, and if he can secure the lead role -- via performance or injury -- he could blow up. Kansas City has ranked in the top half of the league in rushing attempts, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in each of the past two seasons, and that's with Jamaal Charles playing only eight games in that span.