Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
Odds by

    Graff: Pats’ backfield ‘will be a 50-50 split’

    Link copied to clipboard!
    Link copied to clipboard!

    The Athletics Chad Graff believes the Patriots’ backfield “will be a 50-50 split” this season.

    TreVeyon Henderson’s involvement in the offense could hinge heavily on his pass-protection performance, but Graff believes that if Henderson can hold up in those situations, he and Rhamondre Stevenson are looking at a 50-50 split. In his article over at The Athletic, Graff says the Patriots “want to take advantage of Henderson’s big-play ability, but they believe in Stevenson a bit more to get what’s blocked.” Henderson and Stevenson should both see plenty of work to have standalone fantasy value, but they could prove frustrating to roster in start/sit leagues if their roles become difficult to predict on a week-to-week basis.
How will Willis' absence on IR affect Dolphins?
With Malik Willis on IR for the next four weeks with a groin injury, Kyle Dvorchak discusses how fantasy managers should approach use of Dolphins offensive players.

Related Player News

  • NE Running Back #38
    Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    Stevenson is expected to miss some time because of the knee issue. With their bye next week, it makes sense for the Pats to hold him out on Sunday and give him an extra week of rest. With TreVeyon Henderson already ruled out, Corey Kiner is the next man up in this backfield. As the only game in town for touches, he will push for an RB2 ranking this week.
  • NE Running Back #32
    Henderson is dealing with an unexpected medical emergency right now. We would imagine he did not travel to Germany with the team. It’s unclear when he will return. With Rhamondre Stevenson also expected to miss Week 10, Corey Kiner is in line to see the bulk of the team’s backfield touches this week.
  • NE Running Back #38
    Reporting Monday, Schefter relayed that Stevenson is dealing with a knee tendon issue that could “sideline him for a short period of time.” While the report is about as vague as possible, fantasy managers will want to begin exploring alternatives for a running back that has outperformed his preseason draft capital through the first half of the season. TreVeyon Henderson remains sidelined indefinitely with what is being called an illness, which could leave Corey Kiner atop the depth chart in the backfield in the immediate future. The Patriots next play the Lions in Week 10, where Kiner would be a viable FLEX play, should Stevenson and Henderson miss. Schefter adds that the tendon issue is not expected to require surgery.
  • NE Running Back #38
    Stevenson suffered his knee injury late in the third quarter, but was eventually able to make it to the field under his own power. After spending a few moments in the blue medical tent, Stevenson went to the locker room and was ruled out soon after by the team. The 28-year-old back managed just 32 scoreless yards on six carries, but hauled in a 30-yard reception from Drake Maye in the second quarter, finishing the day with a 3-46-1 line on four targets. With TreVeyon Henderson (illness) sidelined with neurological concerns, the Patriots could be looking at using Corey Kiner as their top back entering Week 10 against the Lions.
  • NE Running Back #38
    Stevenson was slow to get up after a play late in the third quarter and was seen going to the locker room shortly after leaving the field. He spent some time in the blue medical tent, but the team has not disclosed what he is dealing with. Stevenson has rushed six times for 32 yards so far and has caught another three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown.
  • NE Running Back #32
    It seemed pretty obvious that Henderson wasn’t going to play Sunday after it was announced the second-year runner was dealing with “neurological symptoms” but it’s now official. There are much bigger things than football going on in his life. While he gets better, Corey Kiner should be the backup running back behind Rhamondre Stevenson going forward.
  • NE Running Back #32
    This certainly sounds like a scary situation for Henderson, whose absence has been the subject of speculation for nearly two weeks. Henderson said that the results of “comprehensive medical testing have come back positive and reassuring, but he continues to work with specialists and physical therapists. Henderson said these issues have affected his “strength, coordination, and some of [his] physical functions,” while adding that he is working to return to full health. While we don’t want to speculate too much, it doesn’t sound like Henderson will be back anytime soon. Hopefully we will get more clarity on his situation soon, but our thoughts are with him and his continued recovery.
  • NE Running Back #32
    Reiss was asked about Henderson’s status during his weekly appearance on the local radio show, Toucher & Hardy. According to Reiss, Henderson has faced a lot of new challenges this season, including recurring ankle issues and limited playing time, and the adversity has been tough for Henderson to deal with. Some might remember that similar reports surfaced regarding Bucky Irving, beset by multiple injuries, last season. Henderson might need more time before he resumes playing. Stay tuned. He was officially listed as a non-participant on Thursday.
  • NE Running Back #32
    It’s rare for a player to miss even one game with an illness. It’s even more unheard of for them to miss the next practice. It’s possible Henderson is dealing with something more severe than the flu or a stomach bug. If he isn’t able to play in Week 9, Rhamondre Stevenson will handle the bulk of the backfield touches once again. He touched the ball 22 times on Sunday and would be in line for a similar workload against the Packers.
  • NE Running Back #38
    Stevenson was held out of the end zone against the Dolphins, but comfortably paced his team with 22 touches and was handed the ball on each of the Patriots’ first three plays. Stevenson ran hard on inside runs and played well as a receiver, as usual. A fake pitch from inside the Dolphins’ five-yard line had at least one Dolphins defender convinced that Stevenson was headed for the end zone, but Drake Maye kept the ball and ran it into the end zone himself. Stevenson remains firmly in play as an RB2 next week against the Packers.

Rotoworld

  • Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Deommodore Lenoir (foot) did not practice Wednesday.

    Lenoir and Renardo Green (back) were among the two 49ers cornerbacks not practicing on Wednesday. Fellow cornerback Upton Stout (shoulder/neck) was a limited participant. With the slew of secondary injuries, the Cowboys wideouts will have an easier chance at chunk gains against San Francisco for week 10.
  • SEA Defensive Tackle #99
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Leonard Williams (stinger) did not practice Wednesday.

    Williams missed last week due to a stinger and continues to be sidelined. He will need to practice in some fashion to have a chance at playing in Week 10 against the Raiders.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #22
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Rashid Shaheed (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.

    Shaheed has missed the last two weeks with a knee injury, but he was able to practice in full to open Week 10. A full practice participation is a good sign we’ll see Shaheed on the field for Week 10 against the Raiders. He has been splitting WR2 opportunities with Cooper Kupp this year and belongs on fantasy benches until further notice.
  • Link copied to clipboard!

    Charles Cross (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

    Cross remains sidelined with a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 7. He is yet to return to practice and therefore is trending towards missing Week 10 against the Raiders; a full practice participation would be needed to feel confident about his chances of playing this week.
  • JAC Defensive End #44
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Travon Walker (rib) did not practice Wednesday.

    Walker suffered a rib injury in practice last week but played through it in the Jaguars’ Week 9 win over the Ravens. He starts out the week not practicing, but this may just be maintenance instead of an aggravation. Walker will need to practice in some fashion later this week, but he is not in jeopardy of missing Week 10 against the Titans just yet.
  • JAC Running Back #24
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Chris Rodriguez (hand) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

    Rodriguez was limited last week and played through the hand injury in the Jaguars’ Week 9 win over the Ravens. He was limited again to open Week 10 but is still trending to play against the Titans. With Bhayshul Tuten still dealing with ankle and foot injuries, Rodriguez is a good bet to split touches this week and achieve FLEX value against a weak Titans defense.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #3
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Jakobi Meyers (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

    Meyers was listed with hamstring and ankle injuries last week, but played through them in the Jaguars’ Week 9 win over the Ravens. It is discouraging that he did not practice after a mini-bye, but the good news is that he only has the ankle designation now, no hamstring. Meyers is not yet in jeopardy of missing Week 10, but will need to practice in some fashion for fantasy managers to feel confident about his chances of playing against the Titans.
  • JAC Running Back #33
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Bhayshul Tuten (ankle/foot) did not practice Wednesday.

    Tuten was listed as DNP with the same ankle/foot injuries he played through last Thursday. He was clearly limited in the Jaguars’ Week 9 win over the Ravens and it is a bit discouraging that he starts out Week 10 not practicing after a mini-bye. It’s still early in the week, so this may just be injury maintenance for the 23-year-old. A practice later in the week will ease fantasy managers’ concerns, but a split in touches with Chris Rodriguez is certainly on the table again for Week 10 against the Titans.
  • ARI Offensive Lineman #72
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Hjalte Froholdt (concussion) did not practice Wednesday.

    Froholdt is the Cardinals’ starting center and is trending to miss Week 10 against the Rams as he deals with a concussion. Backup interior offensive lineman Jon Gaines (ankle) also missed practice, leaving the Cardinals’ offensive line depleted with a matchup against Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald coming up this week.
  • Link copied to clipboard!

    Dion Dawkins (rib) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

    Dawkins did not practice last week due to a rib injury, missing the Bills’ Week 9 win over the Vikings. he returns to practice in a limited fashion to open Week 10, giving him a chance to return against the Jets.