Now's the Time to Buy Low on Rhamondre Stevenson in Patriots' Backfield
By Peter Dewey
New England Patriots running back Damien Harris nearly ran for 1,000 yards last season, but he may not get the first crack at the starting job in 2022.
Second-year back Rhamondre Stevenson, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, reportedly has been running with the first team in training camp.
At the Patriots training camp, Rhamondre is running with the 1s and Damien Harris is playing with the 2s behind Hoyer. Lots of check downs to Stevenson. Looking good fast, and bulked. pic.twitter.com/BKF7yKz5bT
— FFSnoog (@FFSnoog) July 27, 2022
It’s also interesting that Stevenson has had a role as a receiver so far in camp, as Bill Belichick is known for having a primary pass-catching back on his roster.
Obviously, with Belichick, things can change with each day, but the Patriots certainly didn’t draft Stevenson last year for him to ride the bench. Harris is a solid runner, averaging 4.6 yards per carry last season, but he is limited as a pass catcher, reeling in just 23 passes over the last two seasons.
Stevenson had 14 catches in 12 games in 2021, and he averaged 4.6 yards per carry while rushing for over 600 yards and five scores.
Belichick is going to play everything close to the vest, like he did with the team’s quarterback competition last season. So, betting on Stevenson comes with a calculated risk.
However, for a Patriots team that is going to rely on its running game, there may be some value in some of Stevenson’s props.
Right now, he has odds for the most rushing yards, most rushing touchdowns and to win Offensive Player of the Year at a few sportsbooks.
I think his most rushing touchdowns prop at DraftKings (+10000) is the best value, especially since the Patriots love to run the ball inside the five-yard line.
Last year, Stevenson had five scores in just 12 games (two starts), and he touched the ball on 58.3 percent of his snaps. Per Rotowire, Stevenson converted four of his six carries inside the five-yard line into scores last season. He also received 25 red zone carries as a rookie. Harris received 46.
If this backfield flips, Stevenson has some value as a fantasy player and prop bet target entering the 2022 campaign.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.