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Sony Michel Injury Update Creates Uncertainty for 2020 Fantasy Football Outlook

By Max Staley

Sony Michel injury update points to some uncertainty for his fantasy football outlook.
Sony Michel injury update points to some uncertainty for his fantasy football outlook. / Adam Glanzman/Getty Images
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The oft-injured Sony Michel has gone under the knife yet again. While it doesn't sound like this surgery will cause him to miss much of the team's offseason program, it is a red flag for a player who has had a troubling injury history at the NFL level.

Sony Michel Injury Update

If Michel were to miss any time, James White, Rex Burkhead and Damien Harris could see an uptick in usage to begin the year. With White profiling as more of a pass-catcher, though, it's Harris and Burkhead that would likely see more of Michel's early-down work.

Harris barely saw the field last season, with just four carries for 12 yards on two appearances. The team invested a third-round pick in him during the 2019 NFL Draft, though, so the Patriots would likely want to get him some playing time if Michel was out. That said, Burkhead's presence would likely cap Harris' ceiling a bit, even without Michel.

And if Burkhead, Harris and White were to be splitting time in a Patriots' offense that no longer profiles as the juggernaut they were with Tom Brady, this situation might not be great for fantasy owners.

Right now, New England's backfield is looking like one to avoid, given the uncertainty surrounding Michel's injury. White remains the safest option, having seen at least 900 yards from scrimmage and 6 touchdowns in back-to-back seasons.

Harris, meanwhile, is best viewed as something of a lottery ticket, as a lot would have to go his way for him to become fantasy relevant.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. 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.