Fantasy Football: 4 Unexpectedly Great Week 2 Performances
Chris Thompson, RB, Washington
NFL.com Start Percentage: 1.5%
Week 2 Fantasy Points: 22.6
How good was Chris Thompson's performance in Week 2? He finished less than a point behind Kareem Hunt, Ty Montgomery, and Todd Gurley. That's how good it was.
Jacob Adler warned you last year not to overlook Thompson, and he came through as the RB37 in NFL.com scoring. Heading into 2017, Thompson's competition had been reduced to Rob Kelley and rookie Samaje Perine, neither of whom have impressive profiles nor track records as pass catchers.
That's important, because catching passes is a big part of Thompson's game. He's tallied 12 targets so far this season, which is good for 18 percent of Washington's pass attempts. While not doing much on the ground caps his upside a bit, it makes his role very clear: Kelley and Perine have combined for just two targets through the first two weeks of the year.
What can we expect going forward? Thompson obviously holds the most value in PPR leagues, but it's important to note that he has a solid and predictable role -- he's received at least three targets in 13 of his past 18 games played. With Kelley injured and Perine not impressing, that could potentially open up more opportunity for Thompson.
However, Thompson has averaged just six points per game during his career. It's not yet clear as to whether he can sustain double-digit point per game production. If you need a flex spot fill in or an injury sub, he brings the upside to warrant consideration.
