Pierre Strong Jr. is potentially right there in the mix if he carves out a special role, in combination w special teams contributions. He gives us something we've been missing, serious speed. It'll be good to see that tool in action. I am excited to have him. I love our guys. I think Stevenson is special, I thought Harris Classic is special. On another team. Now in PVnV novel style, here's the cold water.
One of the linked articles on the front page had a good summing up of the Pats. They basically saiid the JEST, Dolphins, and Bills all got noticably better. I thought the writer would trash us but he got it right, by my lights. He pointed out we're deep at WR and RB now... but, as of what we know today, the high ceiling isn't there. Dead on.
The only time we had 1 guy lighting up the league at either position was Randy Moss, in a 2-Sb-Loss era (with Brady.) Or, it was an age where the football bounced the other way a couple more times, to be less dramatic. Anyway, we don't usually have the shiny toys at RB and WR. TE, we've done okay with.
To the point: I love all that depth. Stevenson is all ready to take his place at the top of the chart, for what that is worth, once Harris Classic is gone. But everybody will "mainly ride the pine" in the Patriots' backfield, because we go 3-4 deep at guys who could start. We'd much rather get that production in the value bin by combining a few guys... no hard feelings after the rookie deal, go somewhere they'll pay. That's how we do with running backs. Yawl's mistake is learning their names
Our backs are rentals of various quality. Nobody's going to be a back "forever remembered as the face of the Patriots" like Priest Holmes with the Chiefs or Jerome Bettis being the Steelers incarnate, or to be more fair (modern) about it, the way Chubb in now a "Cleveland running back" probably for all time in the popular mind, even if he leaves in 3 years after this extension is up. Our backs will not lead your fantasy league. They will not be televised will not be televised will not be televised sorry, momentary Gil Scott Heron possession even though they will because of all the prime time games and if you don't read that as the NFL being "all in on Mac" I don't know what you're smoking.... but I digress...
And we'll once again, quietly, have one of the best running back corps in the league.