The 2026 NFL season might seem far away, as it is only June, but it's a lot sooner than we realize, and that means the Patriots don't have a lot of time left to prepare. They're currently on their summer break, and when they return to Foxboro next month, they'll start training camp and begin taking a hard look at what they have on the roster.
There are a few positions that feel ready to go, even now, with running back being near the top of the list. Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to remain the starter, with TreVeyon Henderson right behind him.
But some early-season projections already suggest there might be a bit of a change to that dynamic much sooner than anyone anticipated, which is great news for the offense, and not so great news for Stevenson.
Although it's not super significant and won't necessarily warrant any big changes, it is something that could lead to moves in 2027.
TreVeyon Henderson takes off during his second season in new 2026 predictions
Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston used Strat-O-Matic to simulate the Patriots' upcoming season, which includes specific player stats, and among the most interesting are the predictions for the running back room.
The biggest takeaway is that both Henderson and Stevenson are well incorporated into the offensive game plan and finish the year with similar stats. However, Henderson is projected to see more carries and receptions, resulting in more yards and touchdowns than his veteran partner, and that could mean he takes over for Stevenson as soon as next season.
In this simulation, Leger has Henderson totaling 192 carries for 885 yards and 7 touchdowns, along with 37 receptions for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns. Although that's a dip from his rookie season, it's still productive enough to boost the offense in a way the Patriots need.
Stevenson ends the season with a similar stat line, recording 180 carries for 801 yards and 6 touchdowns. On top of that, he adds 34 carries for 276 yards and 3 more touchdowns.
While their production isn't predicted to be that much different than one another, it's hard to overlook Henderson getting more carries and recording more rushing yards, and how that might dictate the direction of the backfield next season.
It was already speculated that Henderson was drafted to eventually replace Stevenson, and that could become a reality much sooner than anticipated if he puts together another impressive season, as Leger predicts.
Maybe it's not going to make headlines this fall, but it will certainly be something to monitor during the season if we see that Henderson is getting the ball more.
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