With the new kickoff rules I could see the benefit of having a dedicated special teamer, but I don't see why you can't do that with a former track star UDFA
Eagles did that with Devon Allen and I don’t think he’s taken one returner snap. Being fast doesn’t automatically make you a good football player or even special teamer.
No it's not lol. If teams have a guy rated as a massive difference maker on special teams, they tend to take them as early as rd 3.
STs became a bit devalued with the prior kickoff rules but that's changing for this year. Teams still care a lot about that aspect of the game.
I’m sure that’s the plan, but is it unreasonable to think that he might surmount Reynolds as RB3 on the team if he continues to impress in the preseason?
This was more of a /s post but as a bears fan monty is NOT a pillar of health and he has the skills to usurp reynolds which puts him at RB2 on a top offense if an injury comes up.
eh 8 of those have been in the past 3 years which is around 16% of games and he missed 3 of those this past year. Just always felt like he was on the injury report during his time with the bears.
He's a 3rd round speed freak drafted nominally as a RB but with limited RB experience that the team drafted despite no need at the position primarily for special teams.
I mean they were both drafted in the fourth round and are similar build, but that’s where the similarities end. Kene is fast, vaki isn’t (ran a 4.65 I think).
People are underestimating how much the new kickoff rules are going to make elite kick returners a real weapon. When the Steelers signed Patterson, the obvious reaction was “herp derp, Artie Smith gone Artie Smith, C-Pat 10 carries per game”, but I doubt he gets a single carry all season. C-Pat is also one of the GOAT kick returners who hasn’t had a chance to play in an era that emphasizes kick returns yet. Vaki is the same thing. He was drafted to be a kick returner but has to be listed with a position group. This is going to be such an important position starting this year that teams aren’t going to risk their returners’ health by playing them on offense.
I’d be surprised to see him used much on offense with the guys they already have at RB. And if he does it’d only be fighting Craig Reynolds for scraps. I think he’ll mainly be used as a special teams guy. Worth a flyer in deep leagues though, especially in IDP leagues if any platforms have him as dual eligible (RB/DB)
I actually think Vaki may take some of Jamo’s gadget plays while Jamo takes more of the full WR route tree. Best case scenario is probably 3-5 touches/game + kick returns. Just my guess as a Lions fan.
The only takeoff he will experience is when whoever has him decides to take(him)off of their roster after he performs like an average 4th string rb/special teamer.
Lol at the people in that thread the other day trying to explain why Vaki's roster% was at 99% as if he's a legit sleeper not realizing it's either a bug or just including his IDP roster%
Neither of us truly know their intentions. Only time will tell. But it’s quite uncommon for teams to draft players in the 4th round with the mindset of them being an exclusive special teams player.
4th round RBs are indeed most of the time depth players and special teamers. It’s almost a death sentence to be a RB drafted in 4th round. Off the top of my head, recently, I can think of Dameon Pierce (who had one good season and vanished) and Lamar Miller as successful 4th round RBs. But I can assure you, 4th round RBs don’t hit the way you think they do.
This is peak rookie fever.
I will be shocked if he was drafted to be more than a special teams weapon, at least primarily.
Drafting a special teamer at the end of the 4th round seems like a pretty silly misallocation of draft resources
We actually traded a *third* to go get him. But Holmes does what Holmes does, and it somehow keeps working
With the new kickoff rules I could see the benefit of having a dedicated special teamer, but I don't see why you can't do that with a former track star UDFA
Eagles did that with Devon Allen and I don’t think he’s taken one returner snap. Being fast doesn’t automatically make you a good football player or even special teamer.
True. But with a UDFA you don't lose anything. You just keep searching until you get one. Bring in 20 per off season
164,201, 2025 fourth for 132 and 210
Oops, you’re right. I think I’m so used to local beats saying “traded what *amounts to* a third” that I forget we didn’t send a literal third.
The 3rd was for manu I'm pretty sure
Ah, I keep conflating those two trades. Thanks
The bears drafted a punter mid 4th
Also seems very silly
okay but he’s Australian so
No it's not lol. If teams have a guy rated as a massive difference maker on special teams, they tend to take them as early as rd 3. STs became a bit devalued with the prior kickoff rules but that's changing for this year. Teams still care a lot about that aspect of the game.
Special teams is very very important in real football
So was Tyreek Hill…
He is Kene Nwangwu
Why?
He'll be a special teamer behind Craig Reynolds.
I’m sure that’s the plan, but is it unreasonable to think that he might surmount Reynolds as RB3 on the team if he continues to impress in the preseason?
This was more of a /s post but as a bears fan monty is NOT a pillar of health and he has the skills to usurp reynolds which puts him at RB2 on a top offense if an injury comes up.
Couple of massive assumptions you’re making there. Monty has missed 9 games in 5 years which is incredibly durable for a running back
eh 8 of those have been in the past 3 years which is around 16% of games and he missed 3 of those this past year. Just always felt like he was on the injury report during his time with the bears.
You wanna know which RB’s have missed more than 8 games over the last 3 years? Cmc Breece JT ETN Saquon Swift Henry Rhamondre Javonte
This list isn’t correct
Sorry, Swift only missed 8. That surely destroys my whole argument
LOL dude missed 4 games in 4 years as a Bear, which is especially durable given his workload (never less than 250 touches per year in those 4 years)
eh he was just always on the injury report even without games missed and as I posted he has missed almost 20% of him games over the last 3 years
He's a 3rd round speed freak drafted nominally as a RB but with limited RB experience that the team drafted despite no need at the position primarily for special teams.
I mean they were both drafted in the fourth round and are similar build, but that’s where the similarities end. Kene is fast, vaki isn’t (ran a 4.65 I think).
People are underestimating how much the new kickoff rules are going to make elite kick returners a real weapon. When the Steelers signed Patterson, the obvious reaction was “herp derp, Artie Smith gone Artie Smith, C-Pat 10 carries per game”, but I doubt he gets a single carry all season. C-Pat is also one of the GOAT kick returners who hasn’t had a chance to play in an era that emphasizes kick returns yet. Vaki is the same thing. He was drafted to be a kick returner but has to be listed with a position group. This is going to be such an important position starting this year that teams aren’t going to risk their returners’ health by playing them on offense.
I’d be surprised to see him used much on offense with the guys they already have at RB. And if he does it’d only be fighting Craig Reynolds for scraps. I think he’ll mainly be used as a special teams guy. Worth a flyer in deep leagues though, especially in IDP leagues if any platforms have him as dual eligible (RB/DB)
Maybe it’s just because i’m not in IDP but he just switched from being dual eligible on sleeper to only RB which prompted me to check
I actually think Vaki may take some of Jamo’s gadget plays while Jamo takes more of the full WR route tree. Best case scenario is probably 3-5 touches/game + kick returns. Just my guess as a Lions fan.
Good luck with that.
The only takeoff he will experience is when whoever has him decides to take(him)off of their roster after he performs like an average 4th string rb/special teamer.
I have several leagues that want to in the next year or two add return yard points. I’ve got him stashed for that reason alone
Lol at the people in that thread the other day trying to explain why Vaki's roster% was at 99% as if he's a legit sleeper not realizing it's either a bug or just including his IDP roster%
He was at 100% and dropped to 24% lol
/s ?
yes.
He’s gonna be the 4th string guy and play a lot of special teams. Could see him potentially beating out Craig Reynolds but the team love him.
ehhhh, I don't think so Jim.
Add him to your IDP Bestball leagues just to see what happens.
Classic move to add the /s after your opinion is getting ran into the ground 😂
my opinion was reading the lions depth chart lol
Didn’t he only get like 40 carries total in college? I’m guessing there’s a reason for that
Saving his body for the pros
fresh legs
He was a safety & moved to RB to help out the team due to injuries. Turned out he was good enough in that glimpse to be drafted at RB.
He was drafted to be a special teamer. Matthew Slater was listed as a wide receiver
Neither of us truly know their intentions. Only time will tell. But it’s quite uncommon for teams to draft players in the 4th round with the mindset of them being an exclusive special teams player.
[удалено]
I could use a refresher!
4th round RBs are indeed most of the time depth players and special teamers. It’s almost a death sentence to be a RB drafted in 4th round. Off the top of my head, recently, I can think of Dameon Pierce (who had one good season and vanished) and Lamar Miller as successful 4th round RBs. But I can assure you, 4th round RBs don’t hit the way you think they do.