Fantasy Football: 4 Players You Can Drop After Week 1

Rex Burkhead, RB, New England Patriots

ESPN Ownership: 55%
Yahoo Ownership: 29%

Rex Burkhead's role in the New England Patriots' offense isn't nonexistent. After all, he did start and get three carries and three targets against the Kansas City Chiefs in his debut with the Pats. But with a workload that consisted of only 10 snaps, it's hard to imagine that he will continue getting touches or targets on 60% of the plays he's on the field for.

Figuring out who the Patriots' backfield will lean on from game to game is never easy. One strategy fantasy footballers have employed for a while is targeting solid run defenses with the Patriots' pass-catching back. Unfortunately for Burkhead, he stands behind James White in the pass-catching pecking order.

White was on the field for 53% of the Patriots' snaps, compared to 12% for Burkhead, and his 15 combined targets and touches dwarfed Burkhead's 6. We all know that the Patriots' offense has the potential to create many useful fantasy contributors. Unfortunately, for as long as he keeps his place as the second primary pass-catching back, trusting Burkhead will be nearly impossible.

It's hard to voluntarily waive a player in what guarantees to be a robust offense, especially when the roles are likely still evolving as New England adjusts to life without Julian Edelman and possibly Danny Amendola (concussion). But dropping Burkhead for a player with a more defined role should provide you with a more trustworthy option the rest of the way.