10 RB sleepers to target for fantasy football week 1

5. Chris Thompson

I’ve been extremely impressed with what I’ve seen from Chris Thompson over the last couple of years as he’s grown into a strong pass-catching role with Washington. While Rob Kelley and Samaje Perine are both ground-and-pound, straight-ahead bruisers, Thompson does a great job in a relief role and has made a bunch of big plays in the screen game. This could work to fantasy owners’ advantages this weekend.

In the preseason, Thompson had two separate catch-and-runs for 27 and 29 yards, and showed what he can do in the open field. He’s awesome out in space, and Washington will aim to get the ball in his hands against Philadelphia. The Eagles defense, run by Jim Schwartz, is predicated on pressure – he likes to bring the house.

This means the defensive line gets straight up the field, linebackers often blitz, and there is plenty of one-on-one man coverage. Teams have had huge success against Philly by either getting the ball out quick on slants, crossers and curls or by having QBs draw in the defenders and exploiting their aggression with screens. I expect at least one of these big plays to go to Thompson in Week 1.

Like most of the sleepers on this list, he’s not a solid season-long fantasy asset, but if you’re desperate, give Thompson a chance.