This take on both LeGarrette Blount and Jonas Gray comes with an important caveat: Both running backs play for the Patriots, who are coached by Bill Belichick, who has proven time and time again that he'll do whatever he wants, regardless of conventional wisdom or media pressure. So if he decides Gray has learned his lesson for showing up late to practice Friday and turns back to him as the team's primary ball carrier Week 13 at Green Bay, it would come as a surprise to no one.
But I'm certainly not counting on it.
Facing the league's No. 1 run defense, Blount was really good Week 12 against Detroit, rushing 12 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns only three days after signing with the Patriots. Granted, he was with them last year and knows the offense, but still, bonus points for the quick turnaround.
Belichick loved giving him the ball at the goal line last year and clearly doesn't owe Gray anything. Gray was clearly a right-place-at-the-right-time guy, getting a starter's workload in an offense where he could do no wrong only because Stevan Ridley suffered a season-ending injury. And he blew it.
Let's hold on to him one more week just to be sure, but you wouldn't want to start Gray in Week 13. And if Blount is available in your league, pick him up.