RUNNING BACK
Currently on the roster:
Damien Harris RB 90.3 57.1
Sony Michael RB 80.9 68 75.8
James White RB 65.5 76.1 71
Brandon Bolden RB 68.3 76.2 57.2
J.J. Taylor RB 61.2
Danny Vitale FB 49.3
Former NE Players:
Rex Burkhead RB 78.2 70.2 61
Dion Lewis RB 54.7 60.2 65.3
Kenjon Barner RB 60.6 60 59.4
James Develin FB 51.7 56.8
Other Notables:
Derrick Henry RB 92.4 76.2 85.3
Dalvin Cook RB 89 81.3 72.6
Nick Chubb RB 87.2 88.7 86.4
Jonathan Taylor RB 83.9
Alvin Kamara RB 82.2 70 82.9
D Montgomery RB 81.7 66.6
Aaron Jones RB 79.4 84.8 80.7
C McCaffrey RB 75.5 86.5 82.8
I knew Harris had a good year last year, but he scored insanely well (like #2 in the league good). For all the grief the message board has given Sony Michel, his performance was also very good. Also noteworthy was that Rex Burkhead's season score was better than any of James White's seasons. White may have had a bigger impact by playing more snaps or getting more touches in prior years, but on a per play basis last year Burkhead did really well. Since blowing up his knee, ACL surgery, and going on IR in November, there has been very little reported on his health and availability for 2021.
I would have thought Develin would have had a bigger impact than the numbers show. Apparently his skill set was lead blocking on runs, but they never used him much either running or receiving and that keep his PFF score down. Lewis the last couple of years has become much more of an afterthought at the RB position.
We've already debated White coming back, and the jury's still out in terms of whether that was a smart move or not. The Pats need to either get Cam on the same page with White coming out of the backfield or have unnamed QB of the future start building some chemistry with him. I would guess neither one of the options will happen enough to make White a real contributor like he was with Brady a couple of years.
As far as 2021 goes, NE should be fine but beyond that they need RB help. They are limited in roster spots this year, so maybe they will hold off on drafting someone else until next year. Or maybe Rex is healthy enough to come back for all or most of the season.