3 winners, 3 losers from Patriots’ preseason win over Titans

Damien Harris (WINNER)

Many draft analysts were surprised that the Patriots selected Damien Harris in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was an excellent value pick falling to them at No. 87 in the third round, but he didn’t necessarily fill a need – not with the team already loaded up with the likes of Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, and James White.

Now, after the second week of the preseason, a case can be made that New England has the strongest (and deepest) group of running backs in all the land.

Harris was absolutely lights-out in his first competitive action as an NFL player. After battling a hand/wrist injury during the early stages of camp, he got the start at running back for the Patriots against the Titans… and he certainly made the most of it.

On the ground, Harris turned 14 carries into 80 yards (5.7 yards per rush). He also chipped in as a receiver as well, catching all four of the passes thrown his way and turning them into an additional 23 yards. That production was good enough to make Harris finish as both the Pats’ leading rusher and their fourth-leading receiver for the contest.

It’s still a mystery just how exactly Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels plan to utilize Harris over the course of the regular season. While the three 2018 starters listed above each had clearly-defined roles last year – Michel as the grinder, White as the pass-catcher, and Burkhead as the blend – Harris represents a fourth option who could be one of many things.

Change-of-pace back? Sure.

Michel injury insurance back? Absolutely.

Workhorse starter by season’s end? Why not.

As anyone who plays fantasy football will tell you, there’s no knowing what Belichick and McDaniels ever have planned for Patriots running backs at any given time. Often what starts off as a trend or pattern one week completely ceases to exist the next, so it will be fascinating to see just what this season holds for Harris.