Dynasty Decision: Rhamondre Stevenson
We all know the pain of holding onto that stud player too long as their production evaporates and your once highly-priced asset becomes worthless. There are also plenty of cases of players being sold expecting that decline, only to continue defying the odds. This series will examine what you should do as players approach these decision points.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB NE
Stevenson is an incredibly polarizing player in dynasty circles. He has shown flashes of being a true three-down workhorse but has also been hampered by injuries and inconsistent offensive play. With questions surrounding his potential long-term situation in the New England Patriots offense, it’s time to dive into Stevenson’s value and decide what to do.
Previous Performance
Stevenson entered the league as a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and quickly made an impact. By his second season, he had overtaken Damien Harris as the Patriots’ primary running back, finishing 2022 with 1,461 total yards and six touchdowns while averaging 14.7 PPR points per game. His ability as a pass catcher was particularly intriguing, as he hauled in 69 receptions on 88 targets.
In 2023, expectations were high, but injuries and poor offensive play limited his production. He played in only 12 games, amassing 857 total yards and four touchdowns. While his efficiency remained solid (4.0 yards per carry), the Patriots’ offensive struggles and a lack of scoring opportunities capped his upside. He finished the season averaging 12.14 PPR points per game, a slight dip from 2022.
The 2024 season was another frustrating season. Despite some improvement at the quarterback position, once Drake Maye came in, it didn’t result in an uptick in overall offensive production for the Patriots, largely due to the lackluster offensive line and receiving corps. While Stevenson had strong performances in stretches, he was inconsistent and missed time due to injuries. He ended the season with 969 total yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 10.8 points per game.
Situation and Usage
The Patriots enter the 2025 off-season with perhaps the most exciting offensive situation in years. They have an emerging star quarterback entering his second season and have made some subtle improvements across the roster, bringing in veteran linemen like Morgan Moses and a veteran receiver in Stefon Diggs, which should help raise the overall production of the entire offense. Josh McDaniels returns as offensive coordinator, and that should be a good thing for the run game as he is an above-average play-caller who marries the run and pass game well.
If the Patriots continue to invest in the offensive line and don’t bring in any major competition into the backfield, it could be a really promising situation for Stevenson. However, if they don’t draft any linemen on day one or two and end up spending one of their top 100 picks on a running back, it could be the end of the fantasy-relevant road for Stevenson.
One concern I have about Stevenson is that a large amount of his value comes in the receiving game as a check-down option. With Drake Maye under center, he looks to scramble when things break down. Maye was second in the league last year in scramble rate at 11.2%, and that trend will likely continue over the next couple of years, which could cap the receiving upside for the veteran back.
Contract
Last off-season, Stevenson signed a four-year $36m extension that ties him to the Patriots until the end of the 2028 season. However, the deal is structured so that there is not a huge amount of guaranteed money remaining, and the Patriots could actually save over $4m if they decide to move on from the veteran running back next off-season.
Although the 2027 and 2028 years of the contract have no guaranteed money at $9.6m and $11.6m, respectively, it’s not an egregiously expensive contract, and the Patriots may opt to keep hold of their veteran back.
ADP and Trade Value
He is the RB35 in February ADP and the 124th overall player. The trade analyzer has him worth the 2.07 in the 2025 draft or a random 2026 second-round pick in a superflex league. Recent trades are below:
Conclusion
Rhamondre Stevenson is a risky proposition for dynasty. There is a chance that the Patriots bring in a rookie to take over the backfield. There is also a chance they leave the backfield untouched and decide it is Stevenson to run with. Usually, that sort of uncertainty in the off-season at the running back position would make me scared off and not want to consider acquiring that type of player. However, if you consider the asset’s price, then the risk is almost nonexistent. There are not many occasions you can potentially acquire a lead back for as little as a late second.
If you’re a contender and want to acquire a low-risk, high-reward player, Stevenson feels like a good swing to take. If you’re rebuilding, you could take a flyer, but I’m not sure his value will ever get to a point that you can sell him off for much of a profit, so it probably makes sense just to pass on this occasion.
This is absolutely an acquisition that could do nothing for you, but the chance of finding a reliable RB2 for the next season or two at a very low cost is too tantalizing to resist.
- Dynasty Decision: David Montgomery - April 18, 2025
- Dynasty Decision: Michael Pittman - April 11, 2025
- Dynasty Decision: Rhamondre Stevenson - April 4, 2025
