The New England Patriots are preparing for one of their biggest challenges of the season, and questions surrounding their backfield couldn’t be more significant.
With a crucial divisional showdown against the unbeaten Buffalo Bills looming, all eyes are on whether veteran Rhamondre Stevenson or rookie TreVeyon Henderson will handle RB1 duties in Foxborough.
Stevenson Steps Forward as Patriots’ Backfield Leader
As it stands, Stevenson is projected to be the lead running back when New England visits Highmark Stadium on Sunday night. The Patriots, coming off a dominant 42-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 4, will need all the offensive consistency they can muster against a Bills defense that has helped the team remain perfect at 4-0.
Three weeks ago, PFSN’s Priyanshu Choudhary highlighted the early-season contrast between Stevenson and Henderson, and the gap has only widened since then.
Henderson arrived ͏with plenty ͏of͏ hype ͏after announcing himself with a 100-yard preseason ͏kick ͏return, a moment many believed signaled the start of a dynamic partnership with rookie quarterback Drake Maye.͏ But once͏ the regular season began, the Ohio State product struggled to ͏make a meaningful impact͏.
Choudhary noted that Henderso͏n saw limited chances to make an impact against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1. Despite being drafted 38th ͏overall ͏in the second ͏round, he managed just 27 yards on five carries ͏in ͏a lopsided loss.
His struggles continued into Week 2͏ ͏against Miami,͏ where New England held a narrow 15-14 halftime lead but saw Henderson once ͏again͏ on the periphery. He logged just two carries for͏ eight yards while Steven͏son took control, rushing eight times for 55͏ yards.
Even quarterback Drake Maye,͏ known for his mobility, contributed more on the ground in that contest, scrambling 10 times for͏ 31 yards.
H͏enderson’s role barely grew͏ in the second half, finishing with ͏just 10 rushing yards and two receptions͏ for 30 yards. S͏t͏even͏son, meanwhile,͏ continued to serve as the centerpiece of the run game,͏ consistently producing when called ͏upon.
Head coach Mike Vrabel has been deliberate in his approach to integrating the rookie. Choudhary observed that while it makes sense for the Patriots to ease their rookie into the offense gradually, many fans were likely expecting a bigger impact from Henderson by this point.
Despite his high draft pedigree, there’s no indication the Patriots plan to alter their depth chart before Sunday’s prime-time clash.
Stevenson’s statistical profile also supports his place atop the depth chart.
According to PFSN’s RB Impact metric, he currently ranks 40th among all running backs. Through four games in the 2025 season, he has logged 31 rushing attempts, gaining 125 yards on the ground with an average of 4.0 yards per carry and no rushing touchdowns.
In ͏the passing game, he has been targeted 12 times and caught ͏11 passes for 141 receiving yards, posting an impressive 91.7͏ percent catch rate. These numbers align ͏exactly with the͏ league averages ͏for those categories,͏ underscoring͏ his reliability and steady production even without explosive scoring plays.
With Buffalo featuring last year’s MVP in quarterback Josh Allen and a powerful ground attack led by James Cook, New England’s best chance to keep pace will likely come from leaning on what’s working. And right now, that’s Stevenson. The veteran’s reliability, efficiency, and ability to control tempo have made him the clear-cut RB1, at least for now.