The Patriots have agreed to a four-year, $36 million extension with RB Rhamondre Stevenson, according to multiple sources. The pact includes $17 million in guarantees, indicating he'll play through at least two years of it. The extension also gives Stevenson the seventh-highest annual average salary among RBs, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Patriots HC Jerod Mayo: "I think he’s one of the better backs in the league. It’s no doubt about it. I think over the last couple of years it’s been kind of tough on him, as far as just getting started, so I’m excited to see what he does this season.”
Mike Dussault of the team website in early June: "If there's one thing that looks familiar on the Patriots offense this spring it has been the extensive involvement of Rhamondre Stevenson, who once again appears to be primed to do a little of everything for the newly re-tooled unit under Alex Van Pelt. ... This spring Stevenson has looked not only fully recovered from the injury, but lighter and quicker through extensive work during OTAs."
It's been fair to worry that RB Antonio Gibson's arrival in free agency would cut well into Stevenson's recent work shares. But this extension should assuage such concerns.
Stevenson hasn't been as good a receiver as Gibson over their time in the NFL. He saw tons of targets in a bad offense with few options over the past two years but produced modest efficiency.
Expect a split along the lines of Stevenson playing the "early-down" role to Gibson's "third-down back." But Stevenson's carries per game increased each of the past two years. And it sounds like he's healthier and in better shape than last season.
Stevenson's well worth mixing into your drafting at his current low-RB2 price tag in best ball.
This extension boosts Stevenson's dynasty outlook as well. Second-contract life hasn't always been kind to RBs in recent years. But the financial commitment says we should at least bet on good workloads over the next two years for a 26-year-old RB heading into his fourth season.
Our historical aging curve data says that Stevenson should be near his fantasy peak this season -- with his proximity to that peak depending on how you classify him among RBs.
Gibson's a slight loser here. If the financial commitment to Stevenson shows how much the Patriots still believe in him, then it has to at least slightly ding the upside of the No. 2 RB.
That said, New England also signed Gibson to a three-year deal this spring. So don't alter your outlook too much ... unless you mistakenly thought the new guy was about to displace the incumbent.
The new contract might bump Stevenson up in ADP, but we're not betting on a significant rise. He should remain in value range.
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