RADIO
Kansas City Chiefs running back (RB) Carlos Hyde is a fantasy football sleeper and ADP value for the 2019 season. Dominick Petrillo breaks down Hyde's value in fantasy drafts.
BALLER MOVE: Target Around ~120 Overall
Current ADP: ~130
What are we to expect from Damien Williams in his first full season taking over from Kareem Hunt? Who Knows.
Many people like his talent and his fit in an Andy Reid offense known for only using one running back all the way back to his Eagles days. That said Williams could not beat out Kenyon Drake in Miami. Granted Adam Gase was his coach so who really knows. But even last year during the early struggles of Hunt, Williams was unable to find time on the field until Hunt was dismissed from the team.
The Chiefs have said this is Williams job and signed him to a two-year extension, but as we know, in the NFL contracts are ripped up quicker than a traffic ticket given to a politician.
Carlos Hyde was supposed to be the man in Cleveland for the Browns last season. A stint which lasted only half of a season before he was traded to the Jaguars for a fifth-round draft pick. After a less then memorable stay in Jacksonville, Hyde is going to be happy to compete for the starting job with Damien Williams. A battle that is much easier to win than fighting for the job with Leonard Fournette.
Not known as an incredible pass catcher, he has come a long way in this department after only catching 11 passes in 2015, he finished the following two seasons in San Francisco with 27 and 59 catches respectively showing his ability when given the opportunity. This could be key to him getting on the field as Reid does like a pass catcher at the running back position, as shown by Duce Staley, LeSean McCoy, Jamal Charles, and Kareem Hunt. With this being a factor, there is the chance Hyde does beat out Williams for the starter back role and this would be great for fantasy teams who draft him at his current position at the end of the ninth round, the RB43.
As is true with all of the players on this list, running backs get injured at a higher frequency than the wide receiver or tight end positions. Unlike the TE position, you also use multiple running backs in a given week. Both of these mean you should load up your roster with high upside running backs to fill in for the inevitable injury which is coming to your roster. Carlos Hyde is one of these high-risk and high-upside plays which should be filling out your roster in late rounds. Of all the perceived backup running backs going into training camp, Carlos Hyde is the most likely to end up a starter. So, take a shot. I dare you.
More Fantasy Football Analysis
Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!
