Rhamondre Stevenson
#1 RB,
Patriots
ACTUAL 2022
249 FPTS
RANK: 6
2023 SEASON
234 FPTS
RANK: 9
AGE
25 yrs
HEIGHT/WEIGHT
6'0'' / 230 lbs
COLLEGE
Oklahoma
SEASON | GP | FPTS | RANK | RUATT | RUYD | RUTD | RUAVE | RECPT | REYD | RETD |
2023 | 16 | 234 | 9th | 241 | 1036 | 8 | 4.3 | 44 | 318 | 1 |
2022 | 17 | 249 | 6th | 210 | 1,040 | 5 | 5.0 | 69 | 421 | 1 |
3yr Ave | 12 | 116 | 46th | 133 | 606 | 5 | 4.56 | 14 | 123 | 0 |
Stars in Week 1 upset victory
Stevenson rushed 25 times for 120 yards and a touchdown while bringing in all three targets for six yards in the Patriots' 16-10 win over the Bengals on Sunday. He also recovered a fumble.
At least for Week 1, new Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo was able to play his preferred brand of football, with game script allowing Stevenson to function in an old-school workhorse role to help grind out a low-scoring victory. Stevenson was able to rip off chunk gains throughout the afternoon, and he found pay dirt for his first touchdown of the campaign on a three-yard run to open the second quarter. Antonio Gibson took only seven carries as the No. 2 running back, clearly delineating the pecking order in New England's ground attack. Stevenson will look to replicate the stellar 2024 debut when he tangles with the Seahawks at home Week 2.
Weekly Stats 2022
Stats not availablePerformance Splits: 2020 to 2022
Fantasy Points | Rushing Averages | Receiving Averages | ||||||||||||||||
LOCATION | STADIUM | GP | GS | GM | TOUCH | RANK | YD | TD | AVE | YAC% | 10+ | 20+ | 50+ | REC | YD | TD | ||
Home | Outdoor | 13 | 6 | 14.5 | 0.92 | 17th | 59 | 0.5 | 4.7 | 54% | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3.2 | 20 | 0.1 | ||
Away | Outdoor | 10 | 1 | 11.2 | 0.78 | 35th | 54 | 0.2 | 4.6 | 52% | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.7 | 20 | 0.0 | ||
Away | Dome | 2 | 0 | 22.5 | 1.22 | 8th | 104 | 0.5 | 8.0 | 13% | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 36 | 0.0 | ||
Away | Retractable Dome | 4 | 2 | 4.7 | 0.47 | 86th | 34 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 55% | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 3 | 0.0 |
Career Stats by Season: 2021 to 2022
Fantasy Points | Rushing Stats | Receiving Stats | ||||||||||||||||||
SEASON | AGE | TEAM | GP | GS | TOTAL | RANK | ATT | YD | TD | AVE | YAC% | 10+ | 20+ | 50+ | SHARE | REC | YD | TD | ||
2021 | 23 | NE | 12 | 2 | 115 | 47th | 133 | 606 | 5 | 4.6 | 59% | 20 | 1 | 0 | 27% | 14 | 123 | 0 | ||
2022 | 24 | NE | 17 | 7 | 249 | 6th | 210 | 1,040 | 5 | 5.0 | 42% | 30 | 7 | 0 | 49% | 69 | 421 | 1 |
Rested in preseason finale
Stevenson was among the Patriots' key starters who got the night off in the team's preseason finale against the Commanders on Sunday, Mike Dussault of the team's official site reports.
As the coming season approaches, the fourth-year pro's role as New England's lead back is secure, so Sunday's contest was an opportunity for the coaching staff to get a look at Kevin Harris, JaMycal Hasty, Terrell Jennings and Deshaun Fenwick, who are competing for slotting behind Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. Stevenson's next game reps will occur Sept. 8 against the Bengals, at which time we'd expect him to have a prominent role in the Week 1 game plan, regardless of which QB ( Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye) gets the starting nod.
Six rushes in second preseason game
Stevenson rushed six times for 18 yards and wasn't targeted in Thursday's 14-13 preseason loss to the Eagles.
Stevenson got a substantially larger workload in the second preseason game after logging only one carry in the preseason opener against the Panthers. He remains on track to lead New England's backfield in 2024, with Antonio Gibson slated to back Stevenson up and mix in for passing situations. The Patriots will round out their preseason Aug. 25 in Washington.
Impressive on sole carry
Stevenson rushed once for 11 yards in the Patriots' 17-3 preseason win over the Panthers on Thursday.
Stevenson was the first running back in the game and also logged his one carry on the first play from scrimmage. The fourth-year back is slated to fill a workhorse role for the Patriots during the first year of head coach Jerod Mayo's tenure, with Antonio Gibson, who logged five touches in his own right Thursday, set to serve in a complementary capacity.
Could benefit from new offense
Stevenson believes that he will benefit from the outside zone scheme for Patriots running backs that new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is implementing this season, Mark Daniels of masslive.com reports. "Yeah, it could benefit any running back. It's my favorite scheme, to be honest with you," Stevenson said. "Outside zones, that's what I like and that's what were running."
Stevenson notes that Van Pelt's scheme is the same one he ran while in college at Oklahoma, with New England's lead back adding, "outside zone, you see everything a lot better. The o-line still has to work very, very hard and you have to be on your tracks, but it's kind of you hit what you see. You make your cut when you think you're ready and it's ultimately up to you." As the coming campaign approaches, Stevenson -- who was slowed by injuries last season -- is healthy and looks rejuvenated, according to Daniels. While working in a scheme that he's comfortable in, and with the Patriots likely to lean heavily on the run with the team transitioning at the QB position, Stevenson could be poised for a bounce-back in 2024, as the focal point of a backfield that's been bolstered by free agent addition Antonio Gibson.
Lands four-year extension
Stevenson has agreed to a four-year extension with the Patriots, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Per Schefter, Stevenson's deal is for $36 million, of which $17 million is reportedly guaranteed. The move to extend the 2021 fourth-rounder beyond his current pact solidifies the Patriots' backfield ahead of Jerod Mayo's first season as head coach, and with the team transitioning at the QB position, look for Stevenson and fellow RB Antonio Gibson to be key drivers of New England's offense in 2024. Over the course of 12 regular-season games last season, Stevenson logged 156 carries for 619 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 38 catches for 238 yards on 51 targets. As training camp approaches, the 26-year-old has moved past the ankle issue that cost him time down the stretch in 2023, with Stevenson's new contract terms reflecting his continued status as his team's lead back.
Closing in on contract extension
Stevenson said Monday on the first day of mandatory minicamp that he and the Patriots are "pretty close" to terms on a new contract extension, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Stevenson said he's "trying to get the deal done and get it locked in" and that ongoing offseason negotiations are "not frustrating, but it's just a long process." As Stevenson enters the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, New England is looking ahead to a new era under coach Jerod Mayo, with quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye atop the depth chart. Keeping Stevenson under contract long-term would provide the team some stability on offense, especially with Ja'Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn and Javon Baker also representing new additions to the wide receiver room. Mayo called Stevenson "one of the better backs in the league" this spring and said "he is our starting running back," though the team did also bring in Antonio Gibson on a three-year, $11.25 million contract this offseason to act as a complementary backfield option.
Continues to lead backfield
Following the NFL draft, Stevenson heads a New England running back corps that also includes newcomer Antonio Gibson, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.
Meanwhile, Ezekiel Elliott who actually led the Patriots with 642 rushing yards (on 184 carries) in 17 regular-season games in 2023 because Stevenson (619 yards on 156 carries) missed five contests, has signed on with the Cowboys, which leaves Kevin Harris, JaMycal Hasty, Ke'Shawn Vaughn and UDFA addition DeShaun Fenwick to compete for depth slotting behind Stevenson and Gibson. Now presumably past the ankle issue that landed him on IR last December, Stevenson is poised to reclaim his role as a pivotal option in a re-tooled New England offense under the guidance of new head coach Jerod Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. While Stevenson remains entrenched as the team's lead back and thus seems destined to maintain enough volume to remain a fantasy factor, Gibson -- who spent the last four years with Washington -- is capable of contributing both on early downs and pass-catching situations, a scenario that should help ease Stevenson's load as the 2024 campaign progresses.
Close to full strength
Stevenson (ankle) recently said he's "feeling great" and would be able to play in a game if the Patriots had one coming up, Nicole Yang of The Boston Globe reports.
Stevenson has been going to physical therapy four or five times per week since missing the final five games of 2023 with a high-ankle injury. It sounds like he'll be ready for the start of the offseason program, heading into the fourth and final year of his rookie contract. Stevenson said he plans on speaking to new coach Jerod Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt about his desire to handle a clear lead role in the backfield, after rotating with Damien Harris in 2022 and Ezekiel Elliott in 2023. Elliott is headed for unrestricted free agency this offseason, leaving Stevenson and 2022 sixth-round pick Kevin Harris as the only RBs from the 2023 roster under contract for 2024.