Earlier I posted the background on Stevan Ridley's history in the games following a fumble. The Cliffs Notes: It ain't great, and the impact of Shane Vereen's big game could make it worse.
Well, chuck all that out the window following the FOX Sports report that Vereen will miss some time after breaking a bone in his hand at Buffalo in Week 1. The hot new running back for New England isn't going to play for at least a few weeks.
That seemingly puts Ridley right back in the thick of the offense, though he'll never be an every-down back. Problem is that the only other kind of "passing downs" back the Patriots have is 31-year-old Leon Washington. His receiving track record (146 career catches) is way better than Ridley's (nine career catches), LeGarrette Blount (21 career catches) and Brandon Bolden (two career catches).
Of course, the Patriots basically invented replacing a handoff with a short-area catch when they turned Wes Welker loose on the NFL. They certainly have the receivers to do that with in Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman, both of whom played a ton on Sunday. If they decide to skip having a pure "passing downs" back they could rotate their bigger backs as pass protectors and check-down candidates. The Patriots won't reveal what they're doing until their Week 2 game unfolds on Thursday night against the Jets. That's a problem.
Washington is a reserve running back. The deeper the PPR league, the more attractive he is. I wouldn't chase him down in a standard league unless it's as a band-aid for Vereen owners. Blount and Bolden, for now, shouldn't be owned. Vereen obviously should stick on the bench.
And as for Ridley owners, expect your guy to get another chance to lead the running back group right away.