​Cover Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images


In a Patriots backfield that began the season chock full with five running backs, that number quickly dwindled down by way of injuries or release.


Since then, the two remaining running backs, Sony Michel and James White, have taken advantage of their opportunities, especially White. Up to last week, White had been averaging 45 snaps per game, but with the return of Rex Burkhead in Week 13, White's snap count took a significant drop.

While this may be a welcome sign for the Patriots as a team, trying to prepare for a potential deep playoff run, it doesn't sound like something you want to hear as a ​fantasy owner. A sharp dip in White's production could end your season in one fell swoop. Burkhead is also a big goal-line back, so you have to worry about him vulturing some touchdowns away from both White and Michel as well.
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​As a fantasy owner, you now ​have to reconsider starting White, but if you do, you'll have to rely on him making the most out of the snaps he plays. White went from being an RB1 to a cusp RB2 just in time for the fantasy playoffs.     

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David Kaestle is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, David also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username davekaestle. 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.