Fansided

10 NFL rookies who improved their stock in Week 1 of preseason

By Ian Wharton

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 09: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to the start of an NFL preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 09: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to the start of an NFL preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – AUGUST 11: Minnesota Vikings running back Roc Thomas (32) celebrates during the Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings preseason game on August 11, 2018 at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver, CO. (Photo by Kyle Emery/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 11: Minnesota Vikings running back Roc Thomas (32) celebrates during the Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings preseason game on August 11, 2018 at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver, CO. (Photo by Kyle Emery/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

7. Roc Thomas, RB, Minnesota Vikings

One of the trade-offs of the Minnesota Vikings inking high-priced free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins was the margin for error for finding depth pieces shrunk dramatically. Their cap situation is tight for the next few years as they finance a terrific team. But that left the team with a trio of undrafted backs behind Dalvin Cook, who is coming off a torn ACL, and Latavius Murray.

The third-string job isn’t the most important position yet on this team, but that can change quickly if one of those two get hurt. Former Jacksonville State star Roc Thomas certainly made his case as Jerick McKinnon’s replacement. He quickly accumulated 11 touches for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Thomas isn’t quite the physical freak that McKinnon is, but he’s a more natural runner in structure than his predecessor. He has to fight off Michael Boone and Mack Brown as competition, but this battle may have been won with his breakout performance. Neither Boone nor Brown possess the resume or traits that Thomas has shown in recent years, or in Week 1.