The New England Patriots are heading into the 2013 season expecting to be explosive on offense and while most of that is due to Tom Brady and his fantastic play at quarterback, it also is due to how the trio of running backs in Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden performed last season.
The Patriots had one of the most consistent rushing attacks in years with the three on the roster last season along with Danny Woodhead and the team ranked seventh in the league in rushing yards per game with over 135 yards per game. The team was dynamic in the running game and all the running backs showed some skills at catching the ball out of the backfield, something that could be huge for fantasy owners in PPR leagues. Ridley is the top guy of the trio, but Vereen has the chance to be a huge sleeper after putting up solid numbers last season.
Woodhead is gone from the roster and the team has added LeGarrette Blount in a trade, but that shouldn't diminish the trio, especially if Bolden comes back full from some injuries he had. Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen were huge for the team in the playoffs last season and Ridely showed that he can be one of the best running backs in the league after rushing for 1,263 yards with 12 touchdowns during the regular season. Bolden played well with 274 rushing yards on 56 carries and two touchdowns in 10 games played and he missed some time with a knee injury, but is looking healthy this summer.
Obviously the top guy for fantasy owners is Ridely, but a great handcuff would be Vereen, who rushed for 251 yards and three touchdowns last season while also adding eight catches for 149 yards and a score. His numbers should rise now that Woodhead is gone and he has proven to be a very versailte back in camp, lining up in the slot and in the backfield, something Belichick did often with Aaron Hernandez.
The first game of the preseason could be a precursor, as LeGarrette Blount posted 101 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries while Ridley added 92 yards and touchdown against the Eagles in Week 1. Ridley is going to be the main guy, but having Blount and Vereen behind him will be huge for Tom Brady and for fantasy owners.