Andrew Weber – USA TODAY sports
In just three preseason games, Kenbrell Thompkins has solidified himself as the favorite to be the New England Patriots‘ starting “X” wide receiver when the 2013 regular season begins. Short on offensive weapons, the Pats gave Thompkins a shot this exhibition season and he has hardly looked like an undrafted rookie.
Thompkins appeared to hit his pinnacle on Monday night when he caught a game-high eight passes and finished the contest with 116 yards receiving. Tom Brady has shown a fixation with this rookie and it’s not really a surprise considering the lack of offensive talent in Foxborough. I understand that Thompkins has been stellar, but let’s not paint this kid out to be some kind of fantasy football juggernaut — he’s worth picking up off of the waiver wire, but that’s about it.
Related: Fantasy Mailbag 2013; Preseason Edition
Many are forgetting that Danny Amedola hasn’t played in a preseason game with the Patriots, so a guy like Thompkins is bound to catch a few passes in Amendola’s absence. Also, No. 85 has not exactly been Brandon Lloyd — the Patriots’ owner of the number last year — when it comes to not dropping passes as Thompkins let one slip through his fingers on Monday once again.
Even still, the Pats are going to ask Thompkins to play the aforementioned X spot, which means that he won’t be able to go in motion very often and his press-breaking skills will definitely be tested by the tougher NFL cornerbacks. Call me crazy, but I don’t see how an undrafted rookie, who has been knocked for not being manhandled at the line of scrimmage, is going to be Brady’s next big-time weapon out of the X spot.
Devin O’Barr is the Content Commentator for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DevinOBarrRS, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
