Coming out of the preseason, there may not have been a single player on the Patriots’ (5-2) roster fans were more excited about than rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson.
After dazzling against the Commanders (3-4) and Vikings (3-3) in exhibition action, including a kickoff return touchdown on his first professional play, Henderson’s stock was being bought at a rate higher than almost any player in recent memory wearing a New England uniform.
It’s crazy to think about in hindsight, but the buying opportunities surrounding the current stars of this team through seven games all had an air of caution around them:
- Drake Maye was still coming in with question marks surrounding decision making and ability to keep himself healthy (one of those facets of his game is still up in the air).
- Stefon Diggs was returning from a torn ACL less than a year after the injury occurred as a 31-year-old.
- Milton Williams was a big-money free agent, but we didn’t know if the defensive tackle could handle the expanded workload he was slated to receive once joining the Patriots’ front seven.
Keep going down the line. Almost every player on the roster had a “yeah but” attached to their name.
But through his two preseason games of action, Henderson didn’t.
So many times in recent years, we’ve seen examples of running backs coming right out of college and having an immediate impact on their offense. Those first three-to-four seasons are typically the prime year for a back, and Henderson looked like a guy ready to hit the ground running both as a speedster out of the backfield as well as a pass catcher in the flats.
Through seven games of action, those preseason buyers’ Henderson shares are tanking.
On just 43 carries this season, Henderson has amassed a measly 153 rushing yards, good for 3.6 yards per carry and only 1 rushing touchdown. He’s been a non-factor in the passing game, catching just 16 balls for 99 receiving yards. And each and every week, we’re seeing less and less of him in the game plan - which would have felt unimaginable to say after veteran Antonio Gibson’s torn ACL against the Bills in Week 5 at Buffalo (4-2).
Week 7 was a new low for the 23-year-old, only carrying the ball 2 times for 5 yards, along with receiving no targets in the passing game. Third string running back Terrell Jennings - only promoted from the practice squad after Gibson’s injury - outcarried (5) and outgained (18) the second round pick out of Ohio State.
This wasn’t what we thought it would be, and both Patriots fans and fantasy football owners across the country want to understand why.
On Thursday, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was asked why Henderson was seemingly shut out of the game plan during the Patriots’ 31-13 win over the Titans (1-6).
“It was really circumstantial,” said McDaniels. “I mean, [Rhamondre Stevenson] got - runners are kind of, you know, he just got into a rhythm. And sometimes that happens, you know? And I know TreVeyon has led us in carries in other games, and certainly [Stevenson] did last week. So, you know, there's nothing specific.
“All those guys are continuing to work really hard. They play an active role in us improving ourselves in the running game. Everybody wants to point out ‘this block’ or ‘that block’ or what have you. There's a read element to it, and there's a cohesion that has to exist between the blockers and the runner. So I think our runners are continuing to really work hard at that, meeting together with the guys up front. I mean, that's the way you get better. So expect all those guys - I thought Terrell [Jennings] went in there and did some good things, too. So continue to expect the runners to be productive.”
Even with his fumbling issues from earlier in the season, Stevenson has clearly emerged as the go to guy in this offense. And with things clicking the way they have for this team, it’s hard to imagine his carries being diverted in a different direction any time soon. If Henderson is going to get more involved in the game plan, my guess would be it comes in the passing game. Some sort of diet version of Christian McCaffery as a pass catcher out of the backfield is a piece of McDaniels’ offense that has yet to be utilized in a substantial way this season.
We know those plays are in there somewhere. We all watched James White for eight years in that role. Henderson has the skillset to be White-and-then-some. But until he earns the trust of his coaches to do all the other little things at a higher level, I don’t think we’re going to get a chance to see him unleashed to his full potential.
What we will get a chance to see this Sunday is Henderson’s former college running mate, as Browns (2-5) rookie running back Quinshon Judkins has emerged as one of the NFL’s best running backs over the past month or so. In six games of action, Judkins is 11th in the NFL in rushing yards (467) and tied for fifth in the league in touchdowns (5). His 78.7 rushing yards per game is sixth-best in all of football, and he’s shown an elite explosiveness despite his team more-often-than-not finding themselves in losing situations.
We’ll see if McDaniels gives Henderson a chance to show he stacks up against his fellow Buckeye on Sunday.
As of publishing, the Patriots are 7-point home favorites over Cleveland. You can get them on the moneyline at -350, and the total is set at 40.5.
If you feel like McDaniels is going to give Henderson a shot to do some things across the field from Judkins to build the young player’s confidence, here’s some of the prop betting markets for the Patriots’ No. 2 back:
TreVeyon Henderson Prop Bets:
- Total Rushing Yards, 18.5 (Over -118, Under -110)
- Anytime Touchdown Scorer, +270
- Player to Score First Touchdown, +1200
- Player to Score Last Touchdown, +1100
- To Score 2+ Touchdowns, +2500
- To Score 3+ Touchdowns, +17500
Tune in each and every Monday throughout the football season to Patriots Monday on WEEI. Head coach Mike Vrabel joins The Greg Hill Show at 6:30 a.m. ET, and quarterback Drake Maye joins WEEI Afternoons.