The New England Patriots may not have a full-blown RB1 situation on their hands yet, and that might be exactly how they want it.
TreVeyon Henderson is the flashier option, the more explosive one, and the guy plenty of people are already waiting to see take over from Rhamondre Stevenson. That impatience comes from two places: fans who are tired of Stevenson’s ball-security problems and fantasy players who probably reached for Henderson a little early.
Sunday gave those people a little more fuel. Henderson was the better back in the game, finishing with 76 rushing yards on 16 carries and scoring the Patriots’ only offensive touchdown. Stevenson, meanwhile, put the ball on the ground on a reception early and spent much of the rest of the day in the doghouse.
Even so, New England has a reason for not handing Henderson the job outright. The Patriots’ backfield is working as a committee, and right now that setup makes sense.
The two backs bring different strengths to the table. Henderson has the speed, agility, explosiveness and home-run ability that can change a game in one touch, but he is not a good pass-blocker and does not have great field vision. Stevenson is not nearly as explosive and still has fumbling issues, but he offers power and agility and is better at turning nothing into something between the tackles.
That pairing showed up on Sunday too. Stevenson’s fumble did not erase the fact that he still put together a mostly solid outing, rushing for 43 yards on six carries, a 7.2-yard average. Each back can cover for some of the other’s weaknesses.
From the Patriots’ perspective, there is plenty to like about that arrangement, especially when the offense is fully healthy. They do not need to force a clean handoff to one lead runner if the current split is producing results. Henderson and Stevenson are both talented, just in different ways, and both can help New England win.
Long term, the Patriots probably want Henderson to grow into the lead role. They drafted him in the second round last year, and his ceiling is far higher than Stevenson’s, who turns 29 in February. For now, though, there is no real need to break up a backfield setup that is already doing its job.
In Other News...
Patriots Already Have A Tight End Concern After Steelers Win
The Patriots tight end room already looks worth monitoring after the win over Pittsburgh, with rookie Eli Raridon leaving the game because of a thigh injury and thinning a position group that had been carrying a lot of the week-to-week workload. In response, New England brought in four free agent tight ends for workouts at Gillette Stadium, a clear sign the team is at least preparing for added depth if the injury situation lingers.
Among the players the Patriots evaluated were Devin Culp, Tanner Conner, Lance Mason and Patrick Murtagh, each with a different path through the league and recent roster movement behind him. The group gives New England options to consider while the team waits to see how serious Raridons issue is, and it also underscores how quickly a position can shift from manageable to unsettled early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
DK Metcalf Is Making The Patriots Look Smarter By The Week
For years, the Patriots have been trying to solve the same problem at receiver, chasing top names and eventually making the bold move for A.J. Brown in 2025. DK Metcalf was part of that conversation, too, as a player New England could have targeted before he wound up with the Steelers instead. In hindsight, the decision tree looks a little different now.
Metcalfs first stretch in Pittsburgh has been bumpy, with the kind of uneven production that only adds to the sense that he may not have been the clean fit the Patriots once imagined. For a New England team still measuring every wideout decision against past misses, his struggles only sharpen the idea that passing on him might have been the smarter call all along, even if the larger receiver search is far from finished. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots May Have Found Their Only Real Answer Without A.J. Brown
A.J. Browns high-ankle sprain will keep him out for at least another month, leaving the Patriots to keep sorting through an offense that has to function without its most obvious top target. In Week 2 against the Steelers, New England leaned into a more distributed passing game, with nine different players catching passes in the win, a sign that the offense can survive by spreading the workload rather than funneling everything through one receiver.
Josh McDaniels has been in this position before, and that familiarity matters for a Patriots team trying to stay efficient while Brown recovers. His history of managing offenses without a clear No. 1 option gives New England a path to remain balanced and productive, even if the ceiling looks different until Brown is back in the mix. [Read more 🡒]