This week’s underestimated player spotlight is here, featuring an offensive weapon on a mediocre team. The team is still pushing for playoffs but will need a lot of help. This is a running back who is close to 1,000 yards this season, yet not talked about as much as others with similar stats. This week’s underestimated player spotlight is on Rhamondre Stevenson, running back for the New England Patriots.
Underestimated Player: College
Stevenson played as a running back for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2019 and 2020. Those are the only two seasons that there are statistics for, but they were still decent years for the running back. Both seasons for the Sooners were bowl years, giving Stevenson more chances to show what he can do. Stevenson also did well because not only can he rush the ball, but he can receive it as well. Only having two years’ worth of statistics can be a strong reason why Stevenson is an underestimated player.
In his two years of playing football for the Sooners, Stevenson had a total of 165 rushing attempts for 1,180 yards, according to Sports Reference. The running back averaged 7.2 yards per rush and scored 13 touchdowns in two years. For only two seasons, the stats are not bad and was clearly good enough to get Stevenson into the NFL.
As Stevenson can also receive, in the two seasons, he had a total of 28 receptions for 298 yards, averaging 10.6 yards per catch. Stevenson had no receiving touchdowns but that was still a reason the Sooners were in a position to score. Perhaps if he had one more season with Oklahoma, he would not have been an underestimated player and drafted earlier.
Underestimated Player: Career
Stevenson was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Stevenson was not given the starting role for the Patriots right away, and still does not start every game, but has shown improvement in his two years playing for New England.
In his two seasons so far with the New England Patriots, Stevenson has rushed the ball 329 times for a total of 1,550 yards, according to Pro Football Reference. Stevenson has scored ten rushing touchdowns, scoring five this year and five last year. Just as he did in college, Stevenson can also be a receiver at times. In his two seasons, the running back has had 76 receptions for 507 yards. 18 of those receptions were for a first down, and one was a touchdown. If Stevenson can stay focused and put more points on the board, he no longer will be an underestimated player.
Underestimated Player: 2022 Season
This season has been full of ups and downs for the running back. Just this past weekend, Stevenson made a costly fumble against the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth quarter with very little time on the clock. The Patriots ended up losing this game 22-18, falling to a 7-8 record. This put Stevenson in a bad light, and something he will need to overcome. The runningback is still an underestimated player, but will truly need to prove the doubters wrong after last week.
This season, Stevenson is the Patriots leading rusher. According to ESPN, Stevenson has rushed the ball 196 times for 944 yards. Stevenson is close to 1,000 yards with two games left and will need to hope the team trusts him enough to get the ball and reach the 1,000 yards mark. The running back has scored five rushing touchdowns this season, and only fumbled the ball one time. Stevenson also has 62 receptions for 384 yards and one touchdown. If he can stay disciplined, he can earn the trust back from the team, and no longer be an underestimated player in the NFL.
The Patriots will next face the Miami Dolphins, in New England. Look for this week’s underestimated player to make up for his mistakes and push for his team to get the win and stay in the playoff hunt.
For more NFL and College Football content:
Be sure to check out last week’s, Underestimated Player Spotlight to see who I chose. Also, check out my most recent article on the 49ers here, and this article on the 49ers here. Read here for if it is time for running back Jordan Mason to get more playing time.
Check out my most article on Rutgers Signing Day. Also, be sure to check out this article explaining Michael Dixon’s transfer to Rutgers, and last week’s Top 5 Rutgers Games of the Season. Read here for Penn State’s top players who have already declared for the NFL Draft.
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