Fantasy Football: Redrafting the First Round After 4 Weeks

1. Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

No player in fantasy football has been as dominant through four weeks as Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Kareem Hunt. He was the presumed backup to Spencer Ware until a preseason knee injury to the incumbent sent Hunt’s fantasy stock soaring into the early rounds.

For many, that was too rich for an unproven rookie who was just a third-round pick in the NFL draft. Through the first quarter of the season, though, that looks entirely too low.

In terms of Net Expected Points (NEP), his Rushing NEP per play of 0.33 is just absurd when considering his workload, and the next-closest back with more than 45 carries is Devonta Freeman, who checks in at 0.11 on 70 rushes. For context, the highest mark in this category since 2000 for a back with more than 150 carries is Marshall Faulk, who posted a 0.20 in 2000 for the Greatest Show on Turf.

Only Todd Gurley is in the same stratosphere at the running back position with regard to fantasy scoring -- Hunt's 99 fantasy points in standard scoring is nearly 35 points higher than the third-place scorer in Freeman, and 37 points higher than the highest scoring fantasy receiver in Stefon Diggs.

Both Gurley and Hunt are lapping the field right now in terms of output, but Hunt gets the edge due to efficiency based on our metrics as well as the fact that it’s easier to trust the success of the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs over the Jared Goff-led Los Angeles Rams.