Train Rex: Patriots Depth Chart Goes off the Rails with Burkhead

Jeremy Funk Posted On March 19, 2017

Has anyone had a better off-season than the New England Patriots? Through the multitude of free agent signings the and trade acquisitions, the Pats continue to prove why they are the top organization in the NFL. As a Colts fan, I personally well with frustration as I continue to watch the masterful maneuvering done by the New England front office. However, this bias does not prevent me as a dynasty owner from taking advantage of the organization’s brilliance.

Of all the moves made, none was more brilliant than the acquisition of running back Rex Burkhead from the Cincinnati Bengals. Although it might seem that the Patriots backfield is a convoluted one, I believe Burkhead has become the running back to own in the New England offense. In this article we’ll take a holistic view of Rex Burkhead as a college player, athlete, and production in NFL in hopes to glean insight into his potential moving forward.

College

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Rex Burkhead attended the University of Nebraska for four seasons. In his first two years in Nebraska, he served as the primary backup to incumbent star Roy Helu Jr. One might assume that he failed to deliver in this role as a backup, however this wasn’t the case. As a backup, Rex carried the ball 253 times racking up over 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns. During this same period, he proved to be a threat in the receiving game posting 26 receptions, 240 receiving yards and one touchdown.

In his last two seasons as a starter, Burkhead was the primary option in a run-heavy approach while fending off future second-round pick Ameer Abdullah. However, his final season derailed due to a high knee sprain in the season opener. Able to return after missing only two weeks, Burkhead re-injured that same knee only four games later. This ailing injury was ultimately led him to miss the remainder of his senior year and contributed heavily to him become severely undervalued going into the draft despite being a two-time Academic All-American.

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Combine

Though his top-end speed was not a highlight of his combine performance, Burkhead had a quiet standout performance in his testing. Below is a table displaying his combine metrics.

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It’s evidence what Burkhead lacks in top-end speed; he makes up for with an incredible ability to move within a short area. The most notable stats were his 10-yard split, 20-yard split, shuttle, and three-cone drill. These are well above average for players at the running back position. Additionally, he has a sudden explosion, shown in impressive broad jump and vertical jump numbers. In weighted metrics used by player profile, Burkhead played within the 93rd percentile of all running backs based playerprofiler’s Burst Score and 90th percentile in Agility Score. Finally taken as the ninth running back in the 2013 draft, Rex found a home with the Cincinnati Bengals as their sixth-round selection.

NFL Career (2013-2016)

In his first preseason in the NFL, Burkhead appeared in all four games rushing for a hundred and thirty yards on 28 carries with five receptions for 39 yards. However, Rex was quickly forgotten as he mitigated to the sideline by what was likely a compensatory hamstring injury caused by his knee injury the season prior.

In 2014, Burkhead played a significant role as a special teams guru for Cincinnati. Additionally, he saw the field as a running back, totaling 27 yards on nine rushes and seven receptions for 49 yards. One fact I found to be interesting: Rex received one start as a wide receiver, where he totaled 39 yards on three receptions. In the same game, Rex ripped off a 23-yard run on a single carry.

Rex continued his pass-catching ability into the 2015 season as he caught ten receptions for 94 yards. Unfortunately, he was not a primary weapon in the rushing attack and only received one carry in the season.

After several injuries to running back Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill in 2016, the depth chart was finally cleared to give Rex the opportunity to demonstrate his skills in the NFL. In the last four games of the season, Rex posted an 85% catch rate (3rd in the NFL) and ranked 13th in the league for juke rate. In the final game of the season, Burkhead squeezed every drop out of his opportunity by accumulating 144 total yards on 27 carries and two receptions and finding the end zone twice.

The situation in New England

Burkhead answers what appears to be an incredibly convoluted running back depth chart in New England. Currently, LeGarrette Blount and Brandon Bolden have yet to sign back to the Patriots. I am assuming these players will not be back for the 2017 season. Of all the running backs on the current depth chart, Rex Burkhead’s signing made him the highest paid and comes as a surprise, especially after Dion Lewis’ extension at the end of last season.

The Patriots, a team with the reputation for refusing to overpay players, apparently value Rex as their lead back moving forward. I don’t intend this to be a statement about the quality of players of James White and Dion Lewis, but rather an interjection about the organization’s tendency and unwillingness to pay for players who do not fit their purpose.

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Looking at the path Rex must take to find meaningful playing time; I do not see it being overly difficult despite the super bowl performance of James White and the presence of dynasty darling Dion Lewis. Both players have yet to establish a record of consistency, which is a red flag.

Lewis specifically has shown to be a “glass cannon” due to his inability to ward off injuries throughout his career. Additionally, he was benched down the playoff stretch due to fumbles and in my opinion timid running. The benching of Lewis is the event that opened the opportunity for James White to see the field. Though White looked impressive in the Super Bowl, he has consistently failed to take the lead role as the between the tackles grinder from the troubled Blount.

Conclusion

Based on the Burkhead signing, I don’t view this to be as much of a threat for White as Lewis. Due to the fragility of Lewis, the faceplant in rehabbing his knee, and his benching in the post-season, I think the Patriots are using Burkhead as their “Dion Lewis Insurance Policy.” In the signing Rex, the Patriots have added a skillful well-rounded receiving back who provides a blend of what the others bring to the table. In the scenario that I am wrong, Burkhead is still a great value as the backup receiving threat to the “glass cannon” Dion Lewis, as he’s failed to play a full season in the NFL. However, I believe Burkhead to have the clear lead to be the primary back in the New England offense.

I would highly recommend you to both aggressively add Rex Burkhead and sell Dion Lewis. Currently, I am willing to buy Burkhead for a second-round pick, however he can likely be had for a third. My statement will come as a shock to many, but I am a strong believer in the reduction of risk on my dynasty roster. The safest bet should be the cheapest option, who is likely to receive the lion’s share of the opportunity. In this case, it’s Rex Burkhead.

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