Bill Belichick does not like fumbles. Last season, Stevan Ridley had issues holding on to the ball and was promptly benched. Dion Lewis had fumbling issues, but he remains at the top of the depth chart despite the few issues. Lewis has been a breakout star for the Patriots through two games as he capitalized off the absence of LeGarrette Blount. However, even with the running back active again after a suspension, it is Lewis making the biggest impact which is expected to continue.
According NESN.com, through two games Lewis has garnered 258 yards on the ground while being out on 81 percent of the team's offensive snaps. Lewis continues to be the favored running back heading into Week 3 as he has a big fan in Belichick who likes the running back's ability to create his own yards.
"Dion's been very productive with the ball in his hands," Belichick said, via NESN.com. "He's been very dependable when he hasn't had the ball. That's really the bottom line - in the passing game, being able to protect, run routes, catch. In the running game, read blocks and make good decisions and make yards on his own. We're going to block plays for whatever the yardage is - 1 yard, 2 yards 5 yards, 10 yards, but then any skill player, you want them to be able to add yards to that on their own with their running skill, whatever that is: quickness, speed, power, so forth. It's a combination of all those things."
Blount's debut with the team did not go as well as expected. The running back was simply buried on the bench in Week 2. The running back was out a week for a suspension and many believed he would return and be the bruising workhorse he was last year. Instead, he carried the ball twice for four yards as Lewis thrived. Blount and Lewis are different types of rushers. Blount is a downfield runner while Lewis is more shifty with speed. Lewis appears to be the best fit right now, but as the Patriots prepare to go up against the weaker defense in the Jacksonville Jaguars, Blount could be more active. However, fantasy owners would be wise not to quit on Blount just yet.
Tom Brady has not had to rely on the ground game as much in the first two games of the year as the quarterback continues to have his way in the passing game. Brady has 754 passing yards in two games as Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman lead the way. With Brandon LaFell and Brandon Gibson out, Aaron Dobson is growing into becoming a top target while Scott Chandler is also thriving in two tight end sets. Blount will have to do some major improving if he is going to get his name onto this list.
