Week 3 vs Saints
James White continues to deliver for the Patriots, both on the ground and in the passing game. He tied with Jakobi Meyers with six targets against the Jets and is second overall for the season with 13, just two behind Meyers. White also had a red-zone rushing touchdown against the Jets, so he can do it all and is back in the flex conversation. The Saints were ok versus Christian McCaffrey on the ground (3 ypc on 24 carries) but McCaffrey still came away with 65 yards on five catches. White will continue to get his.
Week 2 at Jets
James White played 28 offensive snaps against the Dolphins, but showed early on he may be one of Mac Jones' favorite targets. White was tied with Nelson Agholor with seven passing targets. Only Jakobi Meyers (9) had more. Even with limited usage, White's passing-game ability will give him PPR value and make him Flex-worthy in deeper leagues. Especially knowing how the Jets allowed nine catches to a running back in Week 1. Granted, that back was Christian McCaffrey, though to be fair, it was his first game since Week 9 of 2020 and only his fourth game since the start of last season due to injuries. White will be involved again on Sunday.
Week 1 vs Dolphins
While Damien Harris will handle most of the early-down work, James White is still around to handle pass-catching duties. That gives him some value in PPR, but he's a deep flex option in Week 1 against a Dolphins defense that was one of the better defenses against opposing fantasy running backs in 2020.
Fantasy Upside
James White returns to the Patriots after posting his sixth-straight season with at least 40 catches, though he finished with under 400 yards receiving for the first time since his rookie season. Still, he is the pass-catching back in New England, giving him added value in PPR leagues.
Fantasy Downside
White barely sees the field on early downs. He had all of 35 carries in 2020 and scored just three total touchdowns. White became an afterthought in the red zone with Cam Newton under center. If you're in a standard league, White might be in the RB5 range and a late-round pick, if drafted at all.
2021 Bottom Line
White's value depends heavily on your scoring format. If you're in PPR or half-PPR, White gets a boost and could be an RB3. One other thing to monitor is the quarterback battle in New England between Newton and rookie Mac Jones. That could also play a factor in how White will be used. Also, keep in mind Sony Michel is still around and the Patriots drafted Rhamondre Stevenson in the fourth round, so keep an eye on them as well.
Week 17 vs. New York Jets
James White has not received more than seven touches in a game in over a month. The Patriots deploy an ultra run-heavy scheme that lacks explosion in all phases, a setup that is not conducive to White's skillset. The only game script where White projects for success is one where the Patriots trail the vast majority of the game, and even then there is no guarantee Cam Newton can move the ball through the air. While the Jets would normally be an enticing matchup, they are actually decent at limiting opposing running backs. White's recent usage and the general offensive struggles in New England mean he cannot be deployed as a starting option in any fantasy format this week.
Week 15 at Miami Dolphins
James White continues to be phased out of the offense in New England, including in negative game scripts, an area he has normally thrived. He has played less than 40% of the Patriots' offensive snaps in three consecutive weeks and has only received 13 total touches in that span. White's never going to receive a ton of carries, so targets in the passing game are crucial to his fantasy production and he is not getting them right now with Cam Newton struggling to do anything through the air. Now the Patriots will take on Miami, a team that boasts a good defense against both the run and pass. White presents little upside and his floor is nonexistent. Keep him benched in Week 15.
Week 14 at Los Angeles Rams
James White's multi-touchdown performance in Week 12 predictably proved to be fool's gold as he saw just four targets and no carries in Week 13, catching three of those targets for one yard. White's fantasy viability is almost completely dependent on the Patriots falling behind and being forced to drastically increase their passing volume in catch-up mode. That scenario could play out in Week 14 when the Patriots travel to LA to face the Rams and their elite defense. Even so, White's sporadic involvement in the New England offense makes him tough to trust in fantasy lineups regardless of opponent. White is a low-end flex play in PPR leagues at best, and is probably best left on benches in Week 14.
Week 13 at Los Angeles Chargers
James White's usage continues to be perplexing. Rex Burkhead's injury seemingly opened up additional passing game opportunities for White, and we saw that come to fruition in Week 11 when White received nine targets. Last week, White only saw one target but converted two red zone carries into touchdowns. White's short-yardage touchdowns last week appear to be more of an aberration than something that will continue with any consistency. White's value will continue to be as a pass catcher, but as we have seen, even his usage there has been spotty. The Chargers are not an overly difficult matchup for running backs, meaning White can be started as an RB3 in PPR leagues but he is far from a sure thing on a weekly basis.
Week 12 vs. Arizona Cardinals
James White saw nine targets last week and should get a bump in usage following Rex Burkhead's season-ending injury. White has had a disappointing season to this point in the year, but he has a chance to make waves if he now monopolizes the pass-catching role in the New England backfield. In Week 12, White and the Patriots will take on an Arizona defense that has been around league-average against running backs in 2020. Arizona's high-scoring offense might actually benefit White in Week 12 as he will be on the field with greater frequency if New England is trailing. With Burkhead out and the Patriots needing to score points to keep pace with the Cardinals, White is an interesting play in PPR leagues this week.
Week 9 at New York Jets
James White's fantasy relevance depends entirely on his pass-catching, something that has not been consistent as the New England offense struggles to score points of late. White only has five targets over the last two weeks, a workload he has turned into three receptions for 38 yards. White's projection has to be dropped even further than normal this week with the Patriots playing the Jets, a team that is overmatched every week regardless of opponent. Projected game script suggests the Patriots will run the ball all over the Jets, meaning White could take a backseat to teammate Damien Harris in Week 9. White is just a low-end flex play in PPR leagues.
