Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Things were looking so promising for New England Patriots receiver Kenbrell Thomkins at the start of the season.
The rookie out of Cincinnati was the darling of preseason fantasy football sleeper lists, and for good reason. The door was wide open for someone to take over the lead receiver duties and become quarterback Tom Brady’s top option. Rob Gronkowski was out for an indeterminate time with various injuries, fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez was in the clink facing murder charges and former top target Wes Welker had taken his talents to the Denver Broncos.
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But much like everything else with this Patriots offense, thing didn’t really go as planned. Thompkins has only one 100-yard game this season and has only found the end zone once the entire month of October. Even worse, he’s averaging only two catches and four targets a game over the past four, culminating in Sunday’s game where he was on the field for less than a quarter of the Pats’ offensive plays, and Brady didn’t even target him once.
For a second straight week, Aaron Dobson was Brady’s favorite target. Until that changes, Thompkins offers very limited value. He’s still owned in almost two-thirds of ESPN leagues, which is way too high. Looking ahead to the Patriots’ schedule, they have a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense followed by a bye week. So that’s two straight weeks you’re not starting him.
Look even further to Weeks 15 and 16 (playoff time) and the Pats get road games with the Baltimore Ravens and these same Miami Dolphins that shut Thompkins out last week. That’s not a good combination for him to get in the box score or into your starting lineup.
Feel safe in dropping Thompkins in all formats, and instead target Dobson, Kenny Stills or Marvin Jones if you need WR help.
