Who Should I Start? Ke'Shawn Vaughn or J.J. Taylor

Tuesday, December 19, 12:25 AM

The New England Patriots are expected to sign free-agent running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn to their practice squad. With Rachaad White accumulating 108.1 scrimmage yards per game with seven total touchdowns since Week 7, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived the expendable Vaughn on Friday. The Bucs spent a third-round pick on Vaughn in the 2020 NFL Draft, and the tailback never quite made much noise during his Tampa Bay career. The 26-year-old rushed 103 times for 384 yards (3.7 yards per carry) with 14 receptions for 81 yards and three lifetime scores in 43 games. Vaughn is set to serve as backfield depth for the Pats, who let go of Ty Montgomery last week and are currently missing lead back Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) to an ankle sprain. Ezekiel Elliott would still handle an every-down role if Stevenson remains out on Christmas Eve against the Denver Broncos.

Saturday, August 26, 8:28 AM

New England Patriots running back J.J. Taylor had one carry for three yards and one catch for 10 yards in Friday's 23-7 preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans. He briefly appeared in Friday's game while Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris handled most of the touches. The 25-year-old is competing with Harris, Strong, and Ty Montgomery for a spot on the Patriots running back depth chart behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott. He had 10 carries for nine yards and caught his only target for eight yards in his only game for the Patriots in 2022. Taylor is fighting for a spot on New England's 53-man roster but is far from being fantasy-relevant in 2023.