Who Should I Start? Rhamondre Stevenson or TreVeyon Henderson

Monday, September 15, 1:01 AM

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries during Sunday's Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins. He also caught all five of his targets for an additional 88 yards through the air. The Patriots' offense ran through Stevenson in this divisional contest as he ultimately led the team in carries, rushing yards, targets, receptions, and receiving yards. Although there has been plenty of chatter about Stevenson eventually relinquishing his role to Tre'Veyon Henderson, that simply won't happen if he continues to play at a high level. Sunday's showing should only earn him more playing time going forward, so we expect him to fetch another 15-plus touches against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. Pittsburgh's defense hasn't been playing nearly as well as expected through the first two weeks of the season, allowing 145 scrimmage yards to Breece Hall in Week 1, followed by 118 scrimmage yards and a touchdown to Kenneth Walker III in Week 2. The Steelers should be considered a favorable matchup for Stevenson, who is suddenly back in the mid-range RB2 conversation after a terrific performance on the road.

Friday, September 12, 4:09 PM

According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, the Patriots could look to modify their backfield roles in Week 2 when they face the Miami Dolphins. Reiss noted that the team's snap distribution could change following their loss in Week 1. In this contest, veteran Rhamondre Stevenson dominated the workload while second-round rookie TreVeyon Henderson was deployed as the clear No. 2. However, given that their rushing attack was unsuccessful in this contest, the coaching staff appears to be already looking for ways to improve. Head coach Mike Vrabel noted that, "We have to evaluate everything to make sure we're getting it right based on volume, who's playing, who's getting the ball." While Stevenson will likely remain the leader of the backfield, fantasy managers should expect Henderson to see more than just the five attempts he saw in the opener. As a result, Henderson carries flex appeal with upside, while Stevenson is best left as a volume play in deeper formats.