The New England Patriots have risen to the top of the NFL's AFC East and the Conference by virtue of their 11-2 record. Most of the credit for that goes to their MVP candidate, Drake Maye's passing. Yet, some go to the running game, as well. Unfortunately, one former stalwart who hasn't contributed very much is 2021 fourth-round draft pick and 2022's 1000-yard rusher, Rhamondre Stevenson.
He's been pointed out by Sports Illustrated as one of five Patriots to watch after the bye week. Yet, his performances to date in 2025 (and in 2024, for that matter) have been lacking. The reason he'll get attention is the thin Patriots backfield depth, due to the injuries to Antonio Gibson and, more recently, Terrell Jennings.
The Patriots' No. 1 back, by almost all measures, is now their 2025 second-round pick, TreVeyon Henderson. He's had breakout performances against both the Bucs and the Giants and seems to have firmly grasped the Patriots' No. 1 back role.
Patriots' analyst puts faith in running back Rhamondre Stevenson after the bye week
Rhamondre Stevenson has been a favorite since he was drafted in 2021. He was a fourth-round pick and proceeded to rack up an impressive 1,040-yard season in 2022. Unfortunately, his performances have dipped since, and he was suggested as a trade candidate in the last offseason.
Recently, Mike D'Abate of Sports Illustrated singled out five Patriots to watch after the bye week. The first is running back Stevenson.
"With the colder temperatures returning to the region, the importance of a strong and deep rushing attack will be vital for the continued success of Maye and the offense. Having Stevenson healthy and capable of shouldering an extensive workload may be exactly what the metaphorical doctor ordered...Having placed his early-season struggles with ball security behind him.
The Oklahoma product must build upon his 101 carries for 324 yards and three touchdowns to make New England’s running game a key component of their offensive game plan on offense."
Highest expectations should be placed on Patriots' rookie Treveyon Henderson
TreVeyon Henderson was kept under wraps for about seven games early in the season, to some extent due to his difficulty adapting to pass-blocking at the NFL level. He was touted as (and was) an outstanding pass blocker in college, and it was expected that he'd immediately do the same in the NFL.
When that didn't happen, he seemed relegated to a backup role to Antonio Gibson and Stevenson. With Gibson now out for the season and then an injury to Stevenson, Henderson's role increased, and his explosiveness and pass-catching ability have been a major boost to the Patriots' offense.
Since getting more carries, Henderson has upped his season totals. After 13 games, he has 625 yards and five rushing touchdowns to lead the team, and has also added 32 catches for 199 yards and a touchdown. Two rushing touchdowns came on runs of 55 and 69 yards against Tampa Bay. And to top things off, he's received the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Month Award for November.
While it's hoped that Stevenson will contribute in the final four regular-season games and playoffs, and realistically, he has to, TreVeyon Henderson is now the lead back for the New England Patriots. Hopefully, the explosiveness he exhibited against Tampa Bay will be a staple for the next four games and the playoffs. If so, the sky is the limit for both the player and the team.