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James White 2020 Outlook: With Upheaval Comes Risk
4 years agoNew England Patriots running back James White finds himself in a tumultuous position entering this season. After a 2019 campaign that saw his production decrease across all major categories, he now will be without quarterback Tom Brady in the backfield. With Brady now in Tampa Bay, the Patriots will look to either second-year passer Jarrett Stidham or veteran Brian Hoyer to take command of the offense. With Stidham being unproven and Hoyer limited, the Patriots will likely have to lean more on their rushing attack than in previous seasons. Unfortunately for White, Sony Michel and Damien Harris remain on the team. Both of these tailbacks will probably receive more rushing attempts than him barring injury. Of course, White does the majority of his damage on check downs. He may be used even more in the short passing game with the apparent lack of a vertical passing threat at quarterback. White is currently going as the RB36 in drafts, and with 80 receptions and 700 receiving yards a realistic projection, he provides value at that price. However, be aware that the Patriots offense could look vastly different from what anyone expects. While White could exceed these stats significantly, his floor is also much lower than usual.
