Stevenson appears poised to serve as the Patriots' clear lead back on early downs and passing downs with Damien Harris (thigh) ruled out for Thursday's game against Buffalo.
Stevenson has been the lead back even when Harris is healthy, but the second-year pro has seen even more work when his teammate is out, averaging 15.4 carries and 6.4 targets in the five games Harris has missed or left early with an injury. The Bills present a tough matchup, but Stevenson's workload projection is among the best of all running backs for Week 13, and his involvement as a pass catcher keeps him somewhat protected against the game-script concerns that often plague bigger backs.