Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Active versus Bengals
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Stevenson (toe) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Stevenson, who last appeared in a game in Week 8, was limited at practice Wednesday and Thursday, but the running back's full participation in Friday's session foreshadowed his active status Sunday. Stevenson is thus slated to rejoin a backfield that also includes rookie second-rounder TreVeyon Henderson, who combined for five total TDs over New England's last two contests. Prior to missing three straight weeks of action, Stevenson logged 83 carries for 279 yards and three TDs, while adding 16 catches (on 19 targets) for 169 yards in eight games. In his return to action versus Cincinnati, Stevenson should reclaim his key role in the Patriots' ground game, though in terms of volume it's possible that Henderson factors in more than he did the last time the two backs were both available.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Slated to return in Week 12
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Stevenson, who is officially questionable for Sunday's matchup against Cincinnati due to a toe injury, is expected to suit up, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The toe issue caused Stevenson to miss each of New England's past three games. During that time, rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson moved into the No. 1 role and scored five touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving) while averaging 88.0 rushing yards and 22.0 receiving yards per contest. With that in mind, Stevenson -- who logged offensive snap shares north of 70 percent in each of the three games prior to his absence -- may be part of a more even timeshare out of the backfield if he's cleared to play ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Questionable after full practice
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Stevenson (toe) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals after practicing fully Friday.
Stevenson logged limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, but his full participation in Friday's session has the running back trending toward a return to action after having missed three straight games. Supporting that notion is that coach Mike Vrabel noted of Stevenson on Friday, "I would say there wasn't many restrictions and that he responded well to the practice. I would say that as long as there are not any setbacks here, he'd be in line to play" Sunday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. In that scenario, Stevenson would be in line to rejoin a backfield timeshare with TreVeyon Henderson, who combined for five total TDs over New England's last two contests. Prior to sustaining his toe injury, Stevenson carried 83 times for 279 yards and three TDs, while adding 16 catches (on 19 targets) for 169 yards over the course of eight games.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Another limited session
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Stevenson (toe) remained limited at practice Thursday.
Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald relays that Patriots running backs coach Tony Dews noted Thursday that Stevenson -- who also was limited Wednesday -- "was out there running around, and looked like himself running around. So, we'll see what it looks like tomorrow." In any case, Friday's final injury report is slated to reveal whether Stevenson approaches Week 12 action with an injury designation or fully cleared to play Sunday against the Bengals.
Stevenson (toe) is expected to return in Week 12 against Cincinnati from a three-game absence, and he should be considered a flex option in the majority of leagues. TreVeyon Henderson should be considered a must-start Fantasy running back, even with Stevenson back, but this matchup against the Bengals should allow both running backs to have success. Cincinnati is No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and four times this season, a pair of backfield mates scored at least 11.5 PPR points against the Bengals, including Jacksonville in Week 2, Denver in Week 4, Detroit in Week 5, and the Jets in Week 8. Henderson will hopefully remain the star, but Stevenson can also perform well in this matchup.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Limited practice Wednesday
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Stevenson (toe) was limited at practice Wednesday.
Stevenson last saw game action in Week 8, but the running back's limited participation Wednesday suggests that he could return to the lineup Sunday against the Bengals. He'll have two more opportunities to increase his participation level before the Patriots assign Week 12 injury designations, but if Stevenson is available this weekend, he'd be in line to rejoin a backfield time-share with TreVeyon Henderson, who combined for five total TDs over New England's last two contests.
Stevenson (toe) participated in practice Wednesday, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Stevenson's ability to practice was expected, though it remains to be seen if he was limited or will be deemed a full participant. The running back has missed three straight games, but his presence at Wednesday's session suggests that he could be available Sunday against the Bengals.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Contrarian DFS Play
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Everyone wants Henderson to keep this job. Everyone wants to pretend like Stevenson doesn't exist. But if this is a 50/50 share, both backs could be good against the worst run defense in the league. This is a true contrarian play, going against the wishes of everyone in the community. It could pay off big if it hits.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: In line to practice Wednesday
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Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said Monday that he expects Stevenson (toe) to practice Wednesday, Evan Lazar of the team's official site reports.
The running back has missed New England's last three games, though he returned to practice as a limited participant prior to being ruled out for last Thursday's win over the Jets. It sounds as though Stevenson could have a better chance to return in Week 12 versus the Bengals, though he seems highly unlikely to reclaim the lead role from rookie TreVeyon Henderson. During Stevenson's three-game absence, Henderson has compiled five total touchdowns while averaging over 100 scrimmage yards per contest.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Won't play Sunday
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Coach Mike Vrabel said Friday that Stevenson (toe) will be out for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
Stevenson, who was inactive for the Patriots' Week 9 win over the Falcons, thus will target a return to action next Thursday night against the Jets. In Stevenson's continued absence versus Tampa Bay, look for TreVeyon Henderson (who started and logged a 75 percent snap share en route to carrying 14 times and being targeted six times against Atlanta) to head the Patriots' Week 10 backfield, while Terrell Jennings (who was on the field for 25 percent of the team's snaps on offense last weekend, rushing 11 times and recording one target) also should handle his share of complementary touches Sunday.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Not practicing again
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Stevenson (toe) isn't participating in Thursday's practice, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Stevenson was present for the media-access portion of the session, but he was merely observing from the sideline while his healthy teammates took part in practice. With two straight absences to kick off Week 10 prep, Stevenson appears to be facing an uphill battle to suit up Sunday at Tampa Bay. If Stevenson ends up missing a second straight game, the Patriots would presumably once again lean on TreVeyon Henderson as their top back, while Terrell Jennings would handle a complementary role.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Won't play Sunday
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Coach Mike Vrabel said Friday that Stevenson (toe) will be out for Sunday's game against the Falcons.
With Stevenson unavailable this weekend and thus targeting a return to action Sunday, Nov. 9 against the Buccaneers, TreVeyon Henderson is poised to see added touches Sunday, which boosts his Week 9 fantasy lineup appeal. For now, Terrell Jennings is the only other healthy running back on the Patriots' active roster, but D'Ernest Johnson, Jonathan Ward and Rushawn Baker are candidates to be elevated from the team's practice squad.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Idle for another practice
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Stevenson (toe) didn't participate in Thursday's practice, Taylor Kyles of CLNSMedia.com reports.
With Stevenson kicking off Week 9 prep with two straight absences, the running back's availability for Sunday's game against the Falcons could be in peril while he manages a toe injury. Before potentially ruling him out for Sunday or giving him a designation for the game, the Patriots will wait and see what Stevenson is able to do at Friday's practice. If Stevenson ends up missing his first game of the season, rookie TreVeyon Henderson could be primed to take on a heightened role this weekend as New England's lead option out of the backfield.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Not practicing Wednesday
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Stevenson isn't participating in the media-access portion of Wednesday's practice, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Stevenson played into the fourth quarter of a 32-13 win over the Browns on Sunday, finishing with 15 touches for 49 yards on 72 percent snap share. He didn't get any work over the final seven minutes of the game, but that may have been due to the score rather than an injury. It remains to be seen if his Wednesday absence is injury-related.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: RBs to Sit
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Stevenson was great in Week 7 at Tennessee with 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown and two catches for no yards on two targets, and he has now scored at least 14.7 PPR points in two of his past three games. But Stevenson should struggle in Week 8 against the Browns, who are No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Cleveland has allowed just three touchdowns to running backs all season, and Stevenson only has three rushing touchdowns all year. He also has one game with more than 55 rushing yards, and Stevenson should be considered a flex option at best in most formats for Week 8.
Stevenson carried the ball 18 times for 88 yards and a TD in Sunday's 31-13 win over the Titans, while catching both of his passing targets in the contest for zero yards.
Stevenson's carry and rushing yard totals were both season highs, and for the second straight game the running back (who had recorded three lost fumbles over the first five weeks of the season) didn't put the ball on the carpet. As long as he continues to demonstrate improved ball security, Stevenson should provide fantasy utility while leading a New England backfield that also includes rookie TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings, who both were on the field for just nine snaps versus Tennessee while Stevenson logged 49 of 65 snaps on offense Sunday, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Next up for the 5-2 Patriots is a Week 8 home game against the 2-5 Browns, who have limited opponents to an average of 82.4 rushing yards per game to date.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Scores twice, but fumbles again
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Stevenson took seven carries for 14 yards, two touchdowns and a lost fumble while adding two receptions for 13 yards in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Bills.
Stevenson led New England's three-headed backfield with his seven carries Sunday, rewarding fantasy managers with a pair of trips to the end zone. The bad news for the veteran rusher was that his ball security woes continued with his third lost fumble in as many games. Stevenson's case of fumblitis didn't cost his team a shot at victory like it did in Week 3 against the Steelers. That said, it wouldn't be surprising if the Patriots lean more heavily on TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson going forward if Stevenson is unable to correct his turnover issues.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Tallies 41 total yards in win
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Stevenson rushed nine times for 38 yards and brought in his only target for three yards in the Patriots' 42-13 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
Stevenson outpaced TreVeyon Henderson (seven) and Antonio Gibson (six) in carries despite his Week 3 fumbling nightmare, as head coach Mike Vrabel held true to his word about not dinging Stevenson's workload. Sunday's game script also allowed New England to take a ground-centric approach due to its large lead. Stevenson appears to still be the top option -- albeit by a thin margin -- in a three-man committee heading into a Week 5 road showdown against the Bills next Sunday night.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Won't be disciplined for fumble issues
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Coach Mike Vrabel noted Friday that Stevenson is not being "disciplined" per se in the wake of the running back's fumbling issues last week, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Stevenson lost two fumbles in the team's Week 3 loss to the Steelers and ended up with four carries for 18 yards and three catches for 38 yards in the contest. While Vrabel indicated that he doesn't plan to bench Stevenson (who has started all three of New England's game to date) Sunday against the Panthers, it's still possible that ball security could factor into how the carries are divided between Stevenson, Antonio Gibson (seven carries, with a fumble versus Pittsburgh) and TreVeyon Henderson (11 carries, no fumbles Week 3). In that context, Stevenson profiles as a hit-or-miss fantasy option in Week 4 lineups.
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Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson: Can't hang onto ball in loss
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Stevenson carried the ball four times for 18 yards and caught all three of his targets for 38 yards in Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Steelers. He also committed two fumbles.
After a very impressive Week 2 performance, Stevenson was largely to blame for New England's Week 3 loss, losing the ball on the first possession to set up Pittsburgh's first TD of the day, and then fumbling again on the Steelers' one-yard line in the third quarter. The Patriots' running game struggled as a whole Sunday, with QB Drake Maye leading the team in rushing yards and Antonio Gibson also losing a fumble. Stevenson's struggles holding onto the ball could open the door for rookie TreVeyon Henderson to see a much bigger role in Week 4 against the Panthers.
