Rhamondre Stevenson Fantasy Football Outlook 2022 (RB Sleeper in Run-Heavy Patriots Offense)

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson showed some flashes of his true potential as a rookie with the New England Patriots in 2021. The fourth-round pick totaled 729 yards from scrimmage and 5 touchdowns as his efforts resulted in a No. 47 RB finish in PPR-scoring fantasy football leagues.

With that being the case, it's no surprise to see Stevenson rising higher and higher in fantasy football rankings this year. His average draft position (ADP) has him going as the 38th running back off the board and as a ninth-round selection.

Rhamondre Stevenson Fantasy Football Outlook

Rhamondre Stevenson has the look and feel of a NFL running back. He checks in at 6-foot, 227 pounds, possesses explosive acceleration and is not afraid to get physical with opposing defenders. The only thing stopping him from a true breakout campaign is starter Damien Harris. Harris controlled carries (202) as well as red zone touches (48) for New England compared to Stevenson (133 carries, 29 red zone touches) and it led to 15 rushing touchdowns.

Stevenson does have standalone value, though, in an offense that posted the seventh-highest rushing play percentage in the league in 2021 (45.7%). This is a player that saw double-digit carries in seven of his 12 games played and scored at least 12 PPR fantasy points three times. Over the second half of the season (Weeks 10 through 18), Stevenson was the RB28 in PPR formats. That ranked only 11 spots lower than Harris. Keep in mind head coach Bill Belichick has become known for riding the hot hand, too. All it could take for Stevenson to see more carries is a few dynamic runs stringed together.

At the very least, Stevenson is one of the best handcuffs to roster in fantasy football. When Harris was inactive for the Patriots' Week 10 contest, Stevenson stepped up by logging 114 yards from scrimmage and 2 touchdowns on 24 touches. He finished as the RB2 that week. Picking up Stevenson in the later rounds to take on one of your first bench spots could pay off in a big way down the road.

Rhamondre Stevenson Projections

Projections from the NFL odds on FanDuel Sportsbook expect Stevenson to replicate his success from the 2021 season. He's 33rd to lead the NFL in rushing yards (+7500), which is a few spots higher than where he finished last year with 606 yards on the ground. Stevenson's also 40th to lead the NFL in rushing touchdowns (+7500). That is obviously going to be a much harder title to take home with Damien Harris also in the NE backfield. When taking Stevenson's rookie averages into account (12.3 touches per game, 5.0-yard average), even the smallest uptick in usage could result in the first 1,000-yard from scrimmage season of his young career.

Is Rhamondre Stevenson a Good Fantasy Football Pick?

When it comes down to it, is Stevenson someone to target in the later rounds? Absolutely. He has the upside managers should be searching for with their last few picks. He's the No. 41 running back in The Duel's PPR fantasy football rankings and is a could easily sneak into RB3 range or higher.

Think about it like this: Harris has yet to play a full season across three NFL campaigns and dealt with four different injuries in 2021 (rib, head, neck and hamstring). The wear and tear of being workhorse may already be catching up to him. That opens the door for Stevenson to take on a substantial role.

If you've drafted Stevenson this year, or you're a Patriots fan, make sure to check out the best New England Patriots fantasy football team names for your squad.

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Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.