11 Players Adding Fantasy Football Value at Training Camp
Rex Burkhead - New England Patriots
Uncharacteristically, the New England Patriots selected Sony Michel in the first round of this year's NFL Draft. That sent Rex Burkhead's stock plummeting. However, it looks like there could be value in the Patriots' backfield in Burkhead as well as possibly (look away) Mike Gillislee.
#Patriots RBs taking snaps in 11-on-11 in order: Mike Gillislee, Rex Burkhead, James White and Sony Michel.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) July 28, 2018
Michel coughed up a fumble early in Pats camp, which sent the Twitter-verse reeling. Would this have been reported and scrutinized if it had happened at any other NFL team's practice? Probably not. But it is notable because Michel did have ball-security issues in college, and we know Bill Belichick is notorious for punishing turnovers.
Burkhead seems to be carving out a defined role in the Patriots' offense, and he figures to be the swiss army knife of the unit. A skilled pass catcher and a powerful runner, Burkhead may be the Patriots' goal-line back, too.
Goal line 11 vs 11: Brady to Burkhead pic.twitter.com/miR3H3lNjK
— Tom Murphy (@TurboTom8) July 30, 2018
As a reminder, you want short-yardage backs from teams who consistently find their way into the red zone. If Burkhead can lay claim to that role, as it has been suggested, he is a supreme value in drafts.
