The New England Patriots travel to Cincinnati for their Week 12 matchup against the Bengals looking to extend their winning streak to nine games. Rhamondre Stevenson continues dealing with the toe injury that has kept him out of the past three games. Will fantasy football managers get the Patriots RB back this week?
Rhamondre Stevenson Injury Update
Stevenson got in three limited practices last week leading up to Thursday night’s game against the New York Jets, but was unable to go with the short turnaround. The fifth-year running back has been sidelined since suffering the toe injury during New England’s Week 8 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
The fact that Stevenson participated at all last week is very encouraging. It’s possible that if the game were on Sunday instead of Thursday, Stevenson might have been able to play.​
Head coach Mike Vrabel said that Stevenson will practice again this week. Fantasy managers should expect to see him on the field with his teammates on Wednesday when the Patriots conduct their first practice ahead of Sunday’s road matchup. He will very likely be limited again as he continues working his way back from the toe injury.​
Stevenson’s progression throughout the week will be the main story. If Stevenson can upgrade to full participation by Friday, it would put him on track to play against Cincinnati.
At this point, his status remains up in the air. It sounds as if Stevenson is nearing a return based on Vrabel’s comments and his ability to practice in limited fashion last week.​ However, fantasy managers should keep in mind that the Patriots are 9-2 and have a Week 14 bye.
If Stevenson doesn’t play this week, the team may opt to hold him out Week 13 as well, affording him the extended time off to fully recover and return in Week 15. With New England holding the best record in the NFL and riding an eight-game winning streak, there’s no urgency to rush Stevenson back before he’s completely healthy.​
Toe injuries are notoriously tricky, as witnessed with high-profile cases like Joe Burrow and Brock Purdy this season. Both players have dealt with prolonged absences from turf toe issues that have lingered far beyond initial projections. These injuries affect a player’s ability to push off and cut, making them particularly problematic for running backs who rely on explosive movements.
Stevenson’s Fantasy Outlook
Since Stevenson went down, Vrabel has handed the backfield over to TreVeyon Henderson and the rookie has taken off. The second-round pick out of Ohio State has played over 80% of the snaps in the two games Stevenson has missed and scored five touchdowns.
Henderson has been an elite RB1 during Stevenson’s absence. He became the first rookie in Patriots history with five touchdowns in a two-game span and is the third rookie in franchise history with three touchdowns in a single game, joining Rob Gronkowski and Sony Michel. Over his last two games in a five-day span, Henderson turned 33 carries into 209 yards and four rushing touchdowns while adding six receptions for 34 yards and another receiving score.​
RELATED: Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
Stevenson is not going to get his job fully back once he returns. Henderson’s recent explosion has earned him a significant role moving forward.​
Stevenson will still play a meaningful role in New England’s offense, particularly in short-yardage and red zone situations where his power running style is most effective. Expect a 60/40ish split in the rookie’s favor with Stevenson the favorite for goal line work.
If Stevenson can return this week, both backs would be very viable against an awful Bengals defense allowing the most schedule adjusted fantasy points per game to the position. The Bengals have surrendered significant rushing production throughout the season, including multiple 100-yard performances from opposing running backs.​
