The Patriots have agreed to a two-year deal with RB James Robinson. According to multiple reports, it's worth "up to" $8 million. We'll be curious to see what the real value of this contract is. That could signal how big a role the team is planning. The Jaguars traded Robinson for just a sixth-round pick last year, and then he touched the ball just 31 times with the Jets. We're not betting on big stuff from him this year. This move might actually be good news for RB Rhamondre Stevenson. We figured New England would bring in at least one new RB, with Damien Harris hitting the open market. If Robinson winds up the biggest addition, then Stevenson will be well set up for RB1 upside. He finished last season 11th among RBs in PPR points per game.

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) is active for today’s game vs. the Bengals. He exploded for a 19-172-1 rushing line while playing through this ankle issue last week and will get a "full load" today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. RB Damien Harris (thigh) is inactive, leaving rookies Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris behind Stevenson in the backfield.

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) logged limited participation in practice all week and is officially listed as questionable for Week 16's game vs. the Bengals. The same goes for RB Damien Harris (thigh) this week. It's good to see both backs at least practiced somewhat this week. Fantasy managers should still keep a close eye on the final word for these guys ahead of kickoff on Saturday. Rookies Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris are names to keep an eye out for on the waiver wire just in case, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves just yet. Should Stevenson suit up, we consider him a top-10 play at the position.

Patriots RBs Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and Damien Harris (thigh) both recorded their 2nd-straight limited practices on Thursday. It is still up in the air regarding which players will shoulder the rushing workload for the Pats on Saturday vs. the Bengals. We'll keep an eye out tomorrow regarding the health of this duo ahead of Week 16 action. If one or both cannot go, check your waiver wire for Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris.

Patriots RB Damien Harris (thigh) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Tuesday. Teammate Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) was tagged with the same designation regarding an injury of his own. Should either Patriots back miss Week 16 vs. the Bengals on Saturday, rookies Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. would be in line to pick up the backfield responsibility. The Bengals rank as the 10th-toughest matchup in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs, however, so the game will be tough sledding for whoever suits up this week.

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson entered Sunday questionable with an ankle sprain but delivered big numbers after the game started. He rushed 19 times for 172 yards and a TD in the loss to the Raiders. He added 2 catches on 3 targets but lost 4 yards there amid a terrible passing day for New England. RB Pierre Strong Jr. Led the team with 3 receptions (for 12 yards) and carried 4 times for 25. RB Kevin Harris added 5-19 rushing. RB Damien Harris could be ready to re-enter the mix for a Week 16 date with the Bengals. He put in limited practices throughout Week 15 and was initially questionable before being ruled out for the Raiders game.

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) is active for today’s game vs. the Raiders. He got in just a limited practice on Friday after hurting his ankle on Monday night. It’s unclear exactly how big a role Stevenson is ready for today, leaving him as a risk/reward RB2. With RB Damien Harris (thigh) out, rookies Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong join Stevenson in the backfield.

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) has a "good chance" to play today against the Raiders, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Pats will still have Stevenson test the ankle pregame, but they did not elevate J.J. Taylor from the practice squad. That indicates confidence in Stevenson's outlook, with rookies Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. the only other healthy RBs on the active roster. We did add Stevenson to the Week 15 fantasy football rankings and will be watching for confirmation of his status.

The Patriots did not elevate a RB from the practice squad for Sunday's game vs. the Raiders. That suggests that RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) has a real chance to play. If not, New England will be down to just rookie RBs Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong. We won't get the Patriots' inactives until around 2:30 pm ET tomorrow, but we'll look for a Stevenson update in the morning.

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. RB Damien Harris (thigh) was limited. We'll keep a close eye on this backfield over the next few days, leading up to Sunday's game vs. the Raiders. Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong are the healthy RBs on the active roster. RB J.J. Taylor is on the practice squad.

As expected, Patriots RB Damien Harris (thigh) is inactive for tonight's game vs. the Cardinals. RBs Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong are active, but Rhamondre Stevenson should dominate backfield work.

The Patriots did not activate RB J.J. Taylor from the practice squad for tonight's game vs. the Bills. That leaves rookies Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris behind lead back Rhamondre Stevenson, with Damien Harris (thigh) out. Strong and Harris, of course, are only worth considering in 1-game DFS contests.

Patriots RB Damien Harris (illness) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Colts. RB Kevin Harris is a healthy scratch, leaving RBs Pierre Strong and J.J. Taylor behind workhorse Rhamondre Stevenson.

The Patriots placed RB Ty Montgomery on IR. No word yet on the specific injury, but he's out for at least the next 4 games. Montgomery finished 2nd among Patriots RBs in snaps (36%) and tied Damien Harris for the RB lead in routes (31%) in Sunday's loss to the Dolphins, finishing with 2 carries and 4 targets. His absence opens up considerable opportunity in the passing game. It's uncertain whether Harris, RB Rhamondre Stevenson or possibly even RB Pierre Strong will capture it.

Patriots RB Ty Montgomery (knee) is active for today’s opener vs. the Dolphins. He’s not a fantasy option but does figure to siphon some passing-down snaps. Rookie RB Pierre Strong is a healthy scratch for New England.

Chad Graff of The Athletic writes that RB Pierre Strong “has a ways to go” to earn the team’s 3rd-down role. “[Ty] Montgomery is the better receiver and Rhamondre Stevenson is the better runner, making it tough to supplant either of them on third downs,” Graff writes of the rookie. Strong might open the season as the kickoff returner, but he’ll need a lot to break right to gain fantasy relevance in 2022.

Mike Dussault of the Patriots' official website calls RB Ty Montgomery the "early favorite" for passing-down duties. "Montgomery has been one of the under-the-radar stars of Patriots training camp this summer, slowly but surely cementing himself as part of the running back rotation," Dussault writes. HC Bill Belichick called Montgomery a "very smart, multi-skilled, multi-talented player" prior to Tuesday's practice. This still feels like a fluid situation, with RBs Rhamondre Stevenson and Pierre Strong also in the mix for pass-catching work. But it's time to at least start considering Montgomery near the end of deeper PPR drafts.

Patriots HC Bill Belichick said Tuesday that RB Rhamondre Stevenson "has done a real good job improving his pass-game skills," especially as a pass protector. Stevenson said back in June that his primary focus this offseason was in the passing game, and it sounds like the work has paid off. New England's pass-catching role is up for grabs with RB James White's retirement. It sounds like Stevenson, Ty Montgomery and rookie Pierre Strong are the top contenders for that job.