New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson was one of the most productive selections in New England’s 2021 draft. A sixth-round selection from Oklahoma, the former Cotton Bowl MVP turned out to be a diamond in the rough for Bill Belichick.
Stevenson rushed the ball 133 times for 606 yards and five touchdowns. With Damien Harris battling injuries throughout the later part of the season, that allowed for Stevenson to really break out. He would have several memorable games over the course of the season, including two 100-yard performances. The first came against the Cleveland Browns when he carried the ball 20 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
He then was able to help New England take care of business against the Jacksonville Jaguars on January 2. In that contest, he rushed the ball 19 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns. By and large, he helped establish himself as a valuable member of the New England backfield. Now in his second year, could he play a larger role?
There were times over the course of last season that Stevenson was not the go-to second-tier back. New England wanted to ease the rookie into things slowly. Now as he heads into his second season, that may not be the case. Fully established as a No. 2 running back, Stevenson will look to be an even bigger part of the Patriots rushing attack. With his vision and physical running ability, he must continue to be that reliable, dependable running back.
It would be reasonable to expect that his role will stay the same. This is not a bad thing. New England uses multiple running backs in their offense. Stevenson did his job at a high level in 2021. He should be able to be that same type of player for 2022. If he can produce even better numbers than what he did in his rookie campaign, this running back room could be very scary for opposing defenses.
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