Kenbrell Thompkins

Take note. perfect situation for a breakout.

According to the Boston Globe, Patriots UDFA Kenbrell Thompkins has been "catching everything thrown his way" early in camp while earning "repetitions with the starting unit."

The Globe includes Thompkins as one of its early risers through three days of Patriots camp. Second-round pick Aaron Dobson has also received first-team reps, with Michael Jenkins falling behind Thompkins, Dobson, Josh Boyce, and Kamar Aiken in the wideout rotation. The Globe's report indicates Thompkins is outplaying Dobson. While Dobson is surely owned already, we'd recommend all dynasty fantasy leaguers adding Thompkins where he's available

Since sitting out the first day of training camp, Thompkins has been impressive, according to the Boston Globe.

Spin:

The report notes that Thompkins has seen some reps with the Patriots' first unit and while it's a little early to determine the team's wideout pecking order, it's clear that Thompkins is making a case to not only to crack the Patriots' roster, but also to potentially carve out a more than peripheral role in the team's offense to start the season.

This year's Lestar Jean

Care to elaborate?

By my recollection there are many darlings of the pre-season process. A lot of times this is without pads. A lot of times it is just a team getting excited about a cheap find. Just like us in fantasy, nothing is more satisfying than being right for cheap. It's a lot like the stock market.

Also by my recollection Jean was never really hyped by people that are as respected as Matt Waldman. More just an "Oh we like this guy that we found" type mumbo-jumbo from organizational "insiders".

Two huge factors to also consider are:

1. Jean always had at least 3 more established WR in his way and was on a very run-heavy team.

2. Thompkins has NO established WR ahead of him at wideout (since Amendola is a slot receiver) and is on such a pass heavy team that he could see decent targets even as a 4th receiving option.

Other than that I thank you for your extremely well thought out and pristinely articulated argument. Value immeasurable and a boon to the serious members of the site, to be sure.

=D>

I'm starting to really like this kids potential this year. Getting some love by the coaching staff in NE as well.

I'm liking Thompkins as well and I agree with Robby that Jean is a bad comparison. I think a good comparison is Denarius Moore, who had similar training camp hype, and turned out to be the real deal. Moore, like Thompkins, did not have much in the way of established competition to pass and move into a starting role.

I have missed out on Thompkins in several leagues simply because I was full or had better options, but I am liking what I am hearing out of camp on him. Like what I am hearing on Dobson too...I still think he is the guy to own.

I am reading great thing on Dobson too. Brady's weapons may not be all that bad

So where would you rank this guy amongst other WRs in ppr?

robbyrobdu said:

Care to elaborate?

By my recollection there are many darlings of the pre-season process. A lot of times this is without pads. A lot of times it is just a team getting excited about a cheap find. Just like us in fantasy, nothing is more satisfying than being right for cheap. It's a lot like the stock market.

Also by my recollection Jean was never really hyped by people that are as respected as Matt Waldman. More just an "Oh we like this guy that we found" type mumbo-jumbo from organizational "insiders".

Two huge factors to also consider are:

1. Jean always had at least 3 more established WR in his way and was on a very run-heavy team.

2. Thompkins has NO established WR ahead of him at wideout (since Amendola is a slot receiver) and is on such a pass heavy team that he could see decent targets even as a 4th receiving option.

Other than that I thank you for your extremely well thought out and pristinely articulated argument. Value immeasurable and a boon to the serious members of the site, to be sure.

=D>

Well said

=D>

Care to elaborate?

By my recollection there are many darlings of the pre-season process. A lot of times this is without pads. A lot of times it is just a team getting excited about a cheap find. Just like us in fantasy, nothing is more satisfying than being right for cheap. It's a lot like the stock market.

Also by my recollection Jean was never really hyped by people that are as respected as Matt Waldman. More just an "Oh we like this guy that we found" type mumbo-jumbo from organizational "insiders".

Two huge factors to also consider are:

1. Jean always had at least 3 more established WR in his way and was on a very run-heavy team.

2. Thompkins has NO established WR ahead of him at wideout (since Amendola is a slot receiver) and is on such a pass heavy team that he could see decent targets even as a 4th receiving option.

Other than that I thank you for your extremely well thought out and pristinely articulated argument. Value immeasurable and a boon to the serious members of the site, to be sure.

=D>

Jean was supposed to be huge; Andre was sidelined a lot and got injured a lot also. He was looked on to be AJ's replacement; Martin and Posey were never really huge threats. Here are some blurbs from Rotoworld, which is the exact same site you got your info.

Lestar Jean has earned the nickname "Big Play" for his OTA performances, and WRs coach Larry Kirksey says Jean has already grasped all three receiver positions.

Jean's knowledge of all three spots suggests he could be a threat to Kevin Walter, and isn't just behind Andre Johnson on the depth chart. "He has engulfed himself in the offense," Kirksey said. "His attention to detail is excellent." Kirksey went so far as to compare Johnson and Jean to a couple of Hall of Famers: "I remember Terrell Owens watching and following Jerry Rice. After a while, I couldn’t tell the difference between the two guys on the field. That’s a special situation, but hopefully this will be something like the same scenario."

With Andre Johnson (knee scope) resting, Lestar Jean saw first-team action at Texans OTA practice on Monday.

Coach Gary Kubiak confirmed that Jean has an "excellent opportunity" to earn a spot in Houston's three-wide offense. A 2011 camp and preseason star, Jean is getting the first crack to replace Jacoby Jones, ahead of rookies Keshawn Martin and DeVier Posey.

Same thing happened with Juron Criner.

The Raiders are hoping to see improved production this season by their drafted sophomore receiver.

In minicamps last year, rookie round five pick Juron Criner took the team by storm. He instantly looked like a steal in the fifth round, catching everything in sight and dominating over defensive backs.

Sadly this happens every year. I still think Boyce and Dobson will win out.

ESPNBoston.com gives Thompkins a 25 percent chance to make the final roster.

There are at least three players who are virtual locks at wide receiver: Dobson, Boyce and free-agent pickup Danny Amendola. Beyond that, Julian Edelman brings the experience and versatility to secure a roster spot, leaving Thompkins to battle with a trio of veterans -- Michael Jenkins, Donald Jones, and Lavelle Hawkins -- for a role in the offense. That's a tough task for an undrafted rookie who played just two seasons of Division I football.

Didn't Jones get released?

yes he did get cut.

Ah, than that 25 percent number probably should get boosted by quite a bit.

pemo said:

Didn't Jones get released?

yup

zeeshan2 said:

ESPNBoston.com gives Thompkins a 25 percent chance to make the final roster.

There are at least three players who are virtual locks at wide receiver: Dobson, Boyce and free-agent pickup Danny Amendola. Beyond that, Julian Edelman brings the experience and versatility to secure a roster spot, leaving Thompkins to battle with a trio of veterans -- Michael Jenkins, Donald Jones, and Lavelle Hawkins -- for a role in the offense. That's a tough task for an undrafted rookie who played just two seasons of Division I football.

Edelman, Thompkins and Jenkins will make the final roster.

When Edelman, Dobson, and Boyce are all missing practice time, the fact that somebody else is getting first team reps becomes a lot less significant. He's not beating out the competition so much as he's getting opportunities by default because all of the top contenders are injured.

Those guys are missing time?

Jenkins and Hawkins are what they are average players with no upside...it would surprise me if they made the roster and Thompkins didn't.

I think everyone is sleeping on Dobson some. Not Smitty though I see.

bd850308 said:

I think everyone is sleeping on Dobson some. Not Smitty though I see.

I don't think we are sleeping on Dobson....he has been discussed a lot the past few months and he is a well known DC favorite. The focus in this thread is on a deep sleeper, Thompkins. I doubt anyone here is taking him over Dobson.

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