NFL: Super Bowl LX-Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots running back Treveyon Henderson (32) before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson took the lead role from veteran running back Rhamondre Stevenson in Week 2, and that workload makes Henderson the better bet for fantasy football managers in the Week 3 game at Jacksonville.
Henderson ran 16 times for 76 yards in the 20-3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his one touchdown came on a 39-yard run. Stevenson lost a fumble in the first quarter and finished with six carries for 43 yards.
Who will get the primary role?
Week 3 fantasy football start or sit: Rhamondre Stevenson vs. TreVeyon Henderson
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Stevenson was the lead back in Week 1 while Henderson sat out the 13-10 loss at Seattle with an ankle injury. Stevenson played 85% of the snaps that night and handled 23 touches, with 18 carries for 51 yards and five catches for 44 yards.
That role shrank after his Week 2 fumble. Stevenson played 35.8% of the snaps against Pittsburgh and got 21.4% of the designed carries. Henderson led the Patriots’ running backs in snaps, routes and carries.
Stevenson’s best argument is history, because New England has gone right back to him in the week after past fumbles. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel also said Wednesday that his team needs both backs against the Jaguars.
“I think that we all can see that when we were playing well offensively that they both had major roles,” Vrabel said. “We’re going to need his [Stevenson’s] playmaking ability. We’re going to need what he [Henderson] brings to the table as well.”
Both backs will have jobs. Still, a healthy Henderson gives the Patriots a second lead option they didn’t have in Week 1, and he earned the bigger share with his first game back. Entering Week 3, it’s a coin flip, but Henderson is the safer play with bigger upside in PPR formats.
Jacksonville run defense against Patriots backs
NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Patriots visit EverBank Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Running backs have run 34 times for 110 yards against the Jaguars, which is 3.23 yards per carry, and Jacksonville has allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards to the position. The Jaguars also rank above average in stuff rate, rushing success rate and yards allowed per carry.
However, the schedule helped. Jacksonville beat the Cleveland Browns 34-10 in Week 1, and Browns running back Quinshon Judkins ranked last in the league in rush yards over expected (minus-28) after two games. The Jaguars then lost 20-13 at Denver, and all three Broncos running backs came out of that game on the injury report. Denver still broke off a few long runs against Jacksonville.
New England’s line is also weaker now. Right guard Mike Onwenu broke his ankle in the first quarter against Pittsburgh and landed on injured reserve.
Henderson’s Week 3 edge
Week 3 fantasy football start or sit: Rhamondre Stevenson vs. TreVeyon Henderson
New England Patriots running back Treveyon Henderson (32) | Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Stevenson has already struggled against one strong front. Seattle held him to 2.8 yards per carry in Week 1, and 50 of his 51 rushing yards came after contact.
Henderson brings more speed and a better chance at the long runs Denver found. As a rookie in 2025, the 23-year-old ran for 911 yards and nine touchdowns on 180 carries, an average of 5.1 yards per carry.
Stevenson keeps an edge in the passing game. Last season, he beat Henderson in yards per route run (1.41 to 0.98) and in pass protection, and coaches trust him to pick up the blitz. That could matter against a Jacksonville defense that has allowed the league’s highest explosive pass rate. But Stevenson caught one pass for 3 yards in Week 2, and he ran a route on only 37% of the team’s pass plays.
Henderson had the larger Week 2 workload and more big-play speed. So he’s the Patriots running back more likely to lead the backfield in touches and deliver production points against Jacksonville for fantasy football managers.
Matt De Lima
Matt De Lima brings 15+ years of elite sports media experience to the table. From covering the gridiron to the hardwood, this Virginia Tech graduate has established himself as a versatile editor and writer for heavy hitters like Sports Illustrated and DraftKings. A twice-nominated FSWA finalist, Matt combines a digital-first philosophy with an eagle eye for breaking news, consistently delivering the engaging coverage today’s audience demands across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and beyond.
View All Posts