Every offseason there are battles across the NFL for positional supremacy, starting jobs and playing time. As the offseason progresses, Sports World News will analyze position battles, and even update ones we've covered when there are major shifts.
In the wake of the Deflategate verdict-Tom Brady has been suspended for the first four games of 2015-the New England Patriots' running back gig has suddenly become more valuable. Let's figure out who has the lead to head up Bill Belichick's running game.
Leader of the Pack: LeGarrette Blount
Last season Blount was a late addition to the team after he was cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers for poor behavior. Of all the Patriots who stand to lose production thanks to Brady's absence, Blount is the frontrunner to gain value. He's a workhorse back who averaged 4.7 yards per carry as a Patriot in 2014. Usually high yards-per-carry backs are shifty, fast playmakers but Blount is a bruiser who is tough to tackle.
Blount was the thunder in New England's thunder-and-lightning pairing that included Shane Vereen, but now Vereen is gone and Blount will be relied upon more. That is if he avoids trouble off the field, and doesn't have a reoccurrence of past fumbling problems.
The Puzzle: Jonas Gray
In the 10th game of the season Gray went from someone only Notre Dame fans had heard of to the most widely added player in fantasy football. 37 carries, 201 yards and four touchdowns does that to your fantasy stock. Then he missed a meeting, the Pats added Blount, and just like that you flushed your FAAB budget down the toilet for a non-asset.
What happened?!
Only Bill Belichick knows for sure, but while Blount has succeeded in the past for the Pats he's far from a guarantee. If anything goes wrong Gray is the safest bet to assume full-time duty.
The Receiver: Travaris Cadet
Losing Vereen is not as big a deal as it seems on paper when you realize they added someone very similar in Travaris Cadet, who was targeted 51 times by the New Orleans Saints in 2014 while only getting 10 carries. Cadet is a speed demon who can run routes and has good hands. That's absolutely something the Patriots will utilize all year, and especially early on with the inexperienced Jimmy Garoppolo under center.
He will likely have his eyes on tight end Rob Gronkowski, then turn to dump-offs for Cadet. Especially in leagues where receptions get you points, Cadet could wind up being New England's most valuable fantasy back.
The Dark Horse: James White
White, a fourth-rounder out of Wisconsin last year, had major buzz as a sleeper. He only got nine carries last season so we didn't learn much about him, but we do know Belichick can be random to the untrained eye in regards to choosing which running backs to feature in a given week.
All it takes is for White to have one game like Gray had in 2014, and then do all the right things in preparation the following week and voila-you have a bargain starting RB.
Old Faithful: Brandon Bolden
Bolden is like a mix between Blount and Cadet. He's pretty big but deft in the passing game. He also lacks game-breaking ability, so his success will have to come via injury. If Cadet goes down, expect Bolden to provide some value in the passing game, although he still might not be worth adding even in that scenario.
Prediction: LeGarrette Blount gets the TDs this season, but Cadet turns out to be the most valuable Patriots RB.
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