Patriots coach Bill Belichick has a longstanding tradition of zigging when Fantasy owners expect him to stay in a nice, predictable zag, and he did it again in Week 13 with his running backs.
Shane Vereen still played the majority of the team's snaps Sunday against the Packers, but was largely a nonfactor in the loss. He had just three carries and one reception, and was only targeted twice in the passing game overall.
LeGarrette Blount led the team in rushing for the second week in a row since signing as a free agent, however this time he didn't get the goal-line work. Blount, who scored twice the previous week, ceded a goal-line carry to little-used reserve Brandon Bolden, who scored his first touchdown of the season, while finishing with three carries for 17 yards overall.
Jonas Gray , the star of the team's Week 11 win, was back on the field after failing to touch the ball in Week 12, but had just one carry for 4 yards.
Belichick knows he can wring value out of any back he chooses, which is what makes this situation so perpetually frustrating for Fantasy owners. Any back could get work in any situation any week, but it still looks like Blount and Vereen are going to be the team's top options moving forward. Relying on anyone here on a weekly basis is frustrating, but Blount and Vereen are the only ones that are must-own players down the stretch.