New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has been a workhorse early on this season. But as the Patriots prepare to face their rival New York Jets on a short week, how much can fantasy football managers expect from Stevenson in Week 3?
Should I Start or Sit Rhamondre Stevenson in Fantasy This Week?
Overall, it has been a good start to the season for the veteran Stevenson. He’s one of five players with 200 or more rushing yards on the season (201), and his 46 rush attempts are tied for the third-most in the league with Saquon Barkley.
He’s also managed to have a rushing touchdown in each of the Patriots’ first two games, only the second time in his career he’s had a rushing touchdown in consecutive games. He became the first player in franchise history to rush for at least 75 yards and have a touchdown run in each of the season’s first two games.
So after just two games, Stevenson is almost a third of the way to matching his rushing yards from last season (619) and he’s halfway to his rushing touchdowns from the 2023 season (four).
While his Week 1 performance — 120 rush yards, one touchdown, 21.6 fantasy points — was more productive than last week — 81 rush yards, one touchdown, 17.0 fantasy points — he has still been one of the top running backs for fantasy managers in the early going.
Thus far, Stevenson is a top-10 running back in fantasy, averaging 19.3 fantasy points per game (ninth-best among running backs). He’s had at least 17 fantasy points in each of his first two games, the first time he’s had this many fantasy points in consecutive weeks since four weeks in the 2022 season (Weeks 5 through 8).
But as well as Stevenson has performed so far this season, the biggest question entering Week 3 is if fantasy managers should start or sit Stevenson for the matchup on Thursday night vs. the Jets.
And despite putting up impressive numbers over the first two weeks, there are understandable uncertainties surrounding Stevenson’s short-term impact.
MORE: FREE Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer
For one, how effective will Stevenson be on such a short week? Stevenson has been on the field for 100 total offensive snaps so far this season, playing in at least 70% of the team’s offensive snaps.
The last time Stevenson played on a short week was back in Week 12 of the 2022 season. Although he only had 16 touches in the game against the Minnesota Vikings, he finished with over 100 scrimmage yards (112) and 20.2 fantasy points.
Stevenson is also not much of a receiving threat, at least not this season. He has five receptions for 15 yards in 2024. This is a far cry from just two seasons ago when Stevenson caught 69 passes in 2022, something Antonio Gibson doesn’t help.
And then there is the opponent. The New York defense has been less than impressive this season stopping the run, allowing 155.0 YPG on the ground over the first two games (24th in NFL).
In Week 1, the Jets allowed 180 rushing yards to a San Francisco 49ers team that did not have Christian McCaffrey, and last week they allowed 130 rushing yards to the Tennessee Titans.
Stevenson has not fared well against the Jets in his career. In three career games against New York, he is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry and has yet to score a touchdown in 67 combined touches. The Jets’ talent advantage make Thursday night a slightly concerning proposition.