Before last season, Rex Burkhead was a largely unknown running back, slumming it at the bottom of the Cincinnati Bengals’ depth chart since being a sixth-round draft pick in 2013. However, injuries to Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard forced the Bengals to start Burkhead toward the end of 2016. He was impressive, finishing the year with 91 touches for 489 total yards and averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Chiefs vs. Patriots TNF: Rex Burkhead
The Patriots’ backfield is nearly impossible to figure out before Week 1. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Burkhead has since signed with the New England Patriots and should play a role in the offense, but it’s not clear just what that role will be. The Patriots are loaded with capable running backs in Mike Gillislee, James White, and Dion Lewis, in addition to Burkhead.
Fantasy impact: Nobody is quite sure what this backfield will look like when the Patriots take the field against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday. Burkhead has talent, but fantasy owners should take caution in the early part of the year. He has PPR appeal as a pass-catching back, but so do White and Lewis.
If the Patriots grab an early lead, they’ll likely use the running game to control the clock, and we should have a much better idea of the committee by then. For now, consider Burkhead a high-risk, high-reward flex player.
Recommendation: Start if you’re desperate
