"For all the New England Patriots' success this season, one issue just won't go away - their running back depth. Despite ranking seventh in run-play percentage, the Patriots sit middle of the pack in rushing yards per game. Only TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson have averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry, and both come with caveats: Henderson's role is just now expanding with Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined, while Gibson's season ended early with a torn ACL."
"While Henderson has gained some traction with Stevenson out, it's been far from perfect. He broke out with 147 yards on the ground in Sunday's big win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but two long touchdown runs contributed the bulk of that yardage. On Henderson's other 12 attempts against the Bucs, he gained just 23 yards, or 1.9 per carry. The Ohio State product's big-play ability is impossible to ignore, but there are certainly concerns about his consistency as a true RB1."
"Terrell Jennings had his first NFL touchdown in Week 9, but has just 18 carries for 68 yards on the year; he was also ruled out for the second half of Week 10 with a knee injury. D'Ernest Johnson had some success with the Cleveland Browns a few seasons ago, but the 29-year-old isn't a meaningful part of the Patriots' stable of backs; even with Henderson and Jennings banged up on Sunday, he only got one carry."
New England's running back depth remains a significant weakness despite overall team success. The team ranks seventh in run-play percentage yet only achieves middling rushing yards per game. Only TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson have averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry, and Gibson is lost to a torn ACL while Henderson's role is newly expanding with Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined. Henderson produced a 147-yard game largely on two long touchdowns, and produced just 1.9 yards on his other carries in that game. Terrell Jennings and D'Ernest Johnson offer limited production and availability. Stevenson averages 3.4 yards per carry and has multiple sub-2.5-yard games. The backfield needs reinforcements, potentially via free agency.
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