RB Rhamondre Stevenson is still the main man in the backfield for the New England Patriots, but will RB Ezekiel Elliott’s presence take away potential touches from him this week? We’ll take a look at which player should be your choice to start on your fantasy football team this week.
Should You Start Rhamondre Stevenson or Ezekiel Elliott This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Stevenson is the player to start. His projected 12.2 points include 42 rushing yards, four receptions, and 24 receiving yards. That projected stat line outperforms the consensus projections of Elliott’s 6.8 points.
My ranking for these running backs aligns with the consensus. Stevenson is coming off his best game of the season and should be able to match that effort against another subpar defense in the Indianapolis Colts.
Fantasy Outlook for Stevenson This Week
Stevenson is coming off his best game of the season last week against the Washington Commanders, rushing for a season-high 87 yards on just nine carries, an average of 9.7 yards per carry.
The highlight of his game last Sunday was a 64-yard touchdown run. If that was his only carry of the game last week, it still would have been more yards than he had in any other game this season.
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Along with getting Stevenson at his peak performance for the season, he’ll be facing another weak defense. Not only is Indianapolis in the bottom 10 in the NFL in rush yards allowed per game — 125.6, 24th — but no team has allowed more rushing touchdowns than the Colts’ 15.
Stevenson has started every game and has been on the field for at least 58% of the Patriots’ offensive snaps in eight of the Patriots’ nine games, so there’s no reason to expect him to spend any less time on the field this week — especially with an opponent that is vulnerable to the run.
Fantasy Outlook for Elliott This Week
Elliott continues to see plenty of time on the field as a backup. He has been present for at least 20 offensive plays in all nine of the Patriots’ games, but last week, he struggled to produce anything positive out of the backfield.
The former Dallas Cowboy ran for only 17 yards on just six carries — his fewest carries in a game since Week 4 vs. his former team. Elliott did catch three passes, but for only 15 yards, which nearly matched his total in rushing yards.
He did face the Colts last season in Week 12 and finished with 77 yards on the ground and a touchdown, but Zeke’s situation looks much different now than it did with Dallas.
Even with a subpar defense like the Colts, it’s difficult to see Elliott’s touches or production increasing in this matchup.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Elliott to finish with 30 yards with one reception for five yards.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
