The New England Patriots were firing on all cylinders in their 48-18 preseason win over the Washington Commanders, but running back TreVeyon Henderson may have been the biggest star of the day. A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Ohio State product had the play of the game when he took the opening kickoff to the house for a 100-yard touchdown return. Granted, it’s only the preseason, but this encouraging debut gave Patriots fans and fantasy owners alike reason to be thrilled for the future. However, veteran Rhamondre Stevenson is still in the building, so how will New England use Henderson once the games start counting?
TreVeyon Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson Outlook After Preseason Opener
While the touchdown was Henderson’s biggest play of the night, it wasn’t his only opportunity to make a play. New England played their starters for the first few series, and Henderson saw a few reps with the first-team offense. He recorded one carry for 18 yards while adding three receptions for 12 yards. These numbers aren’t anything to write home about, but he showed great burst and acceleration on his lone rushing attempt of the night and demonstrated he can break tackles with an impressive nine-yard reception.
TreVeyon Henderson slipping out of the strong safety’s tackle, then lowering his shoulder vs the free safety pic.twitter.com/2Vun5E8v1e
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) August 9, 2025
As with all preseason statistics, these numbers come with a disclaimer. The Commanders rested their starters throughout the contest, so TreVeyon Henderson and the Patriots did all this against the future car washers of Washington. However, even with that disclaimer out of the way, the rookie did everything you’d hope to see, and he seems to have a bright future in this league. However, while the results are nice, snap counts are generally more indicative of future success. While Henderson saw some time with the starting offense, veteran Rhamondre Stevenson was the primary back early in this game.
Projected Usage
Often overlooked in this backfield, Rhamondre Stevenson had an impressive first performance under head coach Mike Vrabel. Again, it’s the preseason, but the $36 million man started the game for New England while running seven times for 36 yards. While he didn’t have Hendrickson’s burst, the running back played well, followed his blocks, and broke a tackle or two in his limited action. Hendrickson may be the future of this backfield, but Stevenson’s usage heavily suggests he will be the starting running back, at least to start the season.
However, Stevenson didn’t record a single target during his time on the field. Some of this is due to New England’s clear desire to work on the run game, as quarterback Drake Maye only threw five passes on the night. However, seeing as Hendrickson saw all the targets, it’s safe to assume he’ll slide into the James White role in this offense. Chances are, the Patriots will use Rhamondre Stevenson as their early-down bruiser and TreVeyon Henderson as their receiving back. This could be annoying for fantasy football owners early in the year, but Hendrickson should earn a larger role in the rushing attack as the season progresses and he earns the trust of head coach Mike Vrabel.
Main Photo: Eric Canha – Imagn Images
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