New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson missed the past three games, but the veteran should return to the field in Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals. After spending most of the season as the starter ahead of second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson, the rookie exploded during Stevenson’s extended absence. Now that the veteran is back on the field, which running back will lead New England’s offense for the remainder of the season?
What The Rhamondre Stevenson Return Means For TreVeyon Henderson
Rhamondre Stevenson was the Patriots starter earlier in the season, but he wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire. Starting and appearing in eight games, the Oklahoma product recorded just 279 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 83 attempts (3.4 yards per attempt) while adding 16 receptions for 169 yards on 19 targets. The poor production was one thing, but he also struggled to hold on to the ball, having lost three fumbles on the season.
The only reason Rhamondre Stevenson kept seeing the field is because TreVeyon Henderson was somehow worse. While he was marginally more effective on a per-touch basis, he hardly broke tackles, struggled to pick up the playbook, and looked like a liability in pass protection. In short, New England had the worst running back room in the league.
TreVeyon Henderson earned a larger role with Stevenson sidelined, and he stepped up to the task. Over the past three games, the rookie has run for 264 yards and four touchdowns on 47 attempts (5.6 yards per carry) while adding another 10 receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown through the air. While he’s still a little all-or-nothing as a runner, he brings a big-play element to this offense that Stevenson simply does not provide.
Put simply, he’s been too good to bench, especially since Stevenson wasn’t doing too much while on the field. Head coach Mike Vrabel prefers to play veterans over rookies, but Henderson did more than enough to prove he’s ready to handle starting work. However, this doesn’t mean the Ohio State product will see 100% of the work.
The Matchup
While TreVeyon Henderson should be the lead back for Sunday’s contest, there’s no way to know with 100% certainty. Fortunately, from a fantasy football standpoint, it probably won’t matter for Week 12. The Patriots face off against a historically bad Cincinnati Bengals defense, which means the Patriots should go on long, extended drives with multiple scoring opportunities.
The Patriots can move the ball on most defenses, but Drake Maye and company could put up historic numbers against this atrocious unit. Additionally, it appears as though quarterback Joe Burrow could make his long-awaited return, which means this could turn into a shootout. TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson should both be startable assets on Sunday, and you can use the snap counts from that game to project both players moving forward. However, if you can only play one running back, Henderson has the higher floor and better ceiling.
Main Photo: Brian Fluharty – Imagn Images
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