Kansas City's Kareem Hunt had a big rookie season, and he's hoping for even bigger things in year two. Most notably, he's working more as a receiver. He caught 53 passes for 455 yards and 3 TDs a year ago, but those are numbers he thinks he can improve on in 2018.
Hunt with more production as a receiver would be a fantasy monster. As it was, he already had the top yardage output by a third-round pick this century.
THIRD-ROUND RUNNING BACKS, 2000-PRESENT | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Pick | Player | Run | Rec | Total | TD |
2017 | 86 | Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 1327 | 455 | 1782 | 11 |
2008 | 89 | Steve Slaton, Hou. | 1282 | 377 | 1659 | 10 |
2017 | 67 | Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 728 | 826 | 1554 | 14 |
2008 | 64 | Kevin Smith, Det. | 976 | 286 | 1262 | 8 |
2011 | 71 | DeMarco Murray, Dall. | 897 | 183 | 1080 | 2 |
2015 | 86 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 581 | 457 | 1038 | 13 |
2015 | 77 | Duke Johnson, Clev. | 379 | 534 | 913 | 2 |
2014 | 75 | Tre Mason, St.L. | 765 | 148 | 913 | 5 |
2015 | 95 | Matt Jones, Wash. | 490 | 304 | 794 | 4 |
2001 | 80 | Kevan Barlow, S.F. | 512 | 247 | 759 | 5 |
2005 | 65 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 608 | 131 | 739 | 3 |
2014 | 94 | Terrance West, Clev. | 673 | 64 | 737 | 5 |
2006 | 79 | Jerious Norwood, Atl. | 633 | 102 | 735 | 2 |
2000 | 63 | Travis Prentice, Clev. | 512 | 191 | 703 | 8 |
2014 | 96 | Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 538 | 135 | 673 | 0 |
2008 | 73 | Jamaal Charles, K.C. | 357 | 272 | 629 | 1 |
2001 | 65 | James Jackson, Clev. | 554 | 56 | 610 | 2 |
2012 | 84 | Bernard Pierce, Balt. | 532 | 47 | 579 | 1 |
2001 | 85 | Travis Minor, Mia. | 281 | 263 | 544 | 4 |
2009 | 65 | Shonn Greene, NYJ | 540 | 0 | 540 | 2 |
2000 | 76 | J.R. Redmond, N.E. | 406 | 126 | 532 | 3 |
2002 | 84 | Lamar Gordon, St.L. | 228 | 278 | 506 | 3 |
2011 | 73 | Stevan Ridley, N.E. | 441 | 13 | 454 | 1 |
2017 | 89 | D'Onta Foreman, Hou. | 327 | 83 | 410 | 2 |
2015 | 73 | Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 392 | 14 | 406 | 1 |
2012 | 67 | Ronnie Hillman, Den. | 330 | 62 | 392 | 1 |
2016 | 90 | C.J. Prosise, Sea. | 172 | 208 | 380 | 1 |
2014 | 69 | Charles Sims, T.B. | 185 | 190 | 375 | 1 |
2013 | 96 | Knile Davis, K.C. | 242 | 75 | 317 | 5 |
2009 | 74 | Glen Coffee, S.F. | 226 | 76 | 302 | 1 |
2005 | 77 | Ryan Moats, Phil. | 278 | 7 | 285 | 3 |
2003 | 93 | Chris Brown, Tenn. | 221 | 61 | 282 | 0 |
2002 | 91 | Brian Westbrook, Phil. | 193 | 86 | 279 | 0 |
2005 | 73 | Vernand Morency, Hou. | 184 | 87 | 271 | 2 |
2016 | 73 | Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 179 | 46 | 225 | 2 |
2003 | 96 | Justin Fargas, Oak. | 203 | 2 | 205 | 0 |
2007 | 93 | Garrett Wolfe, Chi. | 85 | 117 | 202 | 0 |
2008 | 69 | Jacob Hester, S.D. | 95 | 91 | 186 | 2 |
2015 | 94 | Ty Montgomery, G.B. | 14 | 136 | 150 | 2 |
2017 | 105 | James Conner, Pitt. | 144 | 0 | 144 | 0 |
2007 | 71 | Lorenzo Booker, Mia. | 125 | 0 | 125 | 0 |
2014 | 97 | Dri Archer, Pitt. | 40 | 23 | 63 | 0 |
2006 | 74 | Brian Calhoun, Det. | 19 | 20 | 39 | 0 |
2003 | 77 | Musa Smith, Balt. | 31 | 0 | 31 | 2 |
2011 | 96 | Alex Green, G.B. | 11 | 6 | 17 | 0 |
2007 | 90 | Tony Hunt, Phil. | 16 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
2001 | 82 | Heath Evans, Sea. | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
2003 | 85 | B.J. Askew, NYJ | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
2005 | 101 | Maurice Clarett, Den. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2000 | 88 | Doug Chapman, Minn. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2000 | 81 | Rueben Droughns, Det. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Table sorted by total yards as rookies. Two of the three most productive third-rounders this century, in fact, came from last year's draft (Hunt and Alvin Kamara). Both should be first-round picks in every fantasy draft this season. Their receiving production will be a large part of the reason why.
--Andy Richardson