Sony Michel Emerges as Clear-Cut Lead RB in Resurgent Juggernaut

It looks like we finally have some clarity in the Patriots backfield.

After missing Week 1 and turning in 2 duds against Jacksonville and Detroit, Sony Michel finally looked like a 1st-round pick against the Dolphins. After 24 carries combined in 2 weeks he totaled 25 on Sunday, racking up 112 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Michel got off to a hot start, running for 36 yards on his first 4 carries, so the Patriots rode the hot hand, mixing in James White but leaning heavily on Michel in the running game. With Rex Burkhead now on IR alongside Jeremy Hill and White remaining primarily a pass-catching back, Michel is carving out a lucrative role on an offense that looks to be righting the ship at the quarter mark of the season.

Michel missed a great deal of time in training camp and the preseason recovering from a knee injury, so Sunday was likely the first time he felt fully comfortable in the Patriots offense. It’s clearly not a simple system – ask Chad Ochocinco – but Week 4 was wildly optimistic for the outlook of the remainder of Michel’s rookie year. James White agreed with this sentiment after Sunday’s win over the Dolphins, saying, “Sony is a good football player. I’m excited to see him go out there and prove it. He didn’t get to play in the preseason, so I think the more he gets out there the better and better he will get and the more confidence he will play with.”

If Michel’s production and role in New England’s offense remains anywhere near this level, he’s at worst a mid-level RB2 for the remainder of the season. He’s still yet to establish any role catching passes out of the backfield with just 2 catches on the year, so his PPR potential is limited, but as the primary runner in a strong offense that’ll only get stronger with Josh Gordon‘s growth and Julian Edelman‘s return, he’s a great option moving forward.

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  • Fan of Boston sports, hazy IPAs, and chicken pot pie. Frequent user of obscure movie quotes that nobody else finds funny.

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