Welcome to Week 12 of the 2025 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.
This week's roundtable features these four topics:
- Stretch-Run Sleepers
- The New England Patriots Backfield
- The Atlanta Falcons Offense
- Controversial Stances
Let's roll...
Matt Waldman: TreVeyon Henderson performed well on the stat sheet overall, but a large bulk of his production came on limited touches as a big-play/boom-bust threat in a gap-style offense. Henderson struggles where Rhamondre Stevenson excels: power and subtle decision-making on plays where creates are non-existent.
How do you see this backfield playing out with Stevenson set to return?
Josh Fahlsing: It isn't unusual for a rookie running back to not really get going until the second half of the season. Sometimes the coaches don't fully trust them yet, sometimes it takes a minute for the game to slow down for them, and sometimes they're just blocked by veteran players in front of them.
So I wasn't panicking too much when Henderson seemed like such a clear backup for the first half of the season, and I'm not too surprised he's starting to come on as we barrel toward Thanksgiving. On top of that, I don't think the Patriots took Henderson with the notion he'd be a bell cow or an every-down type of running back.
That's not to say he can't be - some folks had similar concerns about Jahmyr Gibbs coming out and he's doing just fine, thank you - but my hunch is that the Patriots took Henderson with a plan to continue to use Stevenson while he's still around and give Henderson a chance to get comfortable and show what he can become.
Injuries alter plans every year, so we might have gotten a glimpse of what Henderson could do as the main guy, but I believe the Patriots will want and need to use them both. I can't predict how they'll do it.
It could be a hot-hand approach, an early downs vs later downs approach, or they could even alternate series. If I have a similar option, I might go with it for a week to get a little data on usage before I use one or the other, but if not, there are worse dart throws you can make than a running back in this offense right now.
Joseph Haggan: Stevenson returning feels like it would be a Mike Vrabel thing to hand the reins back to him, and I do believe he does to some extent. While Stevenson is the more effective back in short-yardage situations, it is Henderson's big-play ability, hands, and explosiveness that have seemingly brought the Patriots' offense to an entirely new level.
Henderson's propensity to find the end zone, five in his last three games, should be enough to run with the red zone offense. His big-play ability also opens up more bootleg and play-action options. Stevenson will get some touches, but the Henderson takeover should be legit.
Will Grant: I think this question would have had a very different answer if the Patriots had not been a surprise playoff contender this season. After a 1-2 start, it looked like they would be battling Miami to see who would be the 2nd-best team in the division.
After eight straight wins, including some in very convincing fashion, their chances of making the playoffs increase every week. With a two-game lead on the Bills and a solid 3-0 division record, not only are the playoffs a strong possibility, but they are very much in the hunt for a first-round bye.
Given that, I don't see how you can discount either Henderson or Stevenson for the remainder of the season. This feels very much like Detroit or Chicago, where you have a 1A and a 1B running back for the team.
Henderson looks to be the passing-down back, with 10 receptions over the last three games compared to Stevenson, who has just 16 for the season. Henderson's 4.9 YPC is impressive, too, given the fact that he's had over 100 carries as well.
My thoughts are that Henderson and Stevenson will split time when both are 100 percent, with Henderson probably getting a 60-40 split with touches. Stevenson is not old by any stretch, but he's amassed about 1,000 touches over his first five seasons and has missed time due to injury.
If the Patriots want him healthy for the playoffs, they will need to limit his exposure between now and then.
