Week 11 vs. Oakland Raiders (game in Mexico City)
Hola fanáticos del fútbol americano! James White and the Patriots head to Mexico to face the Raiders with Dion Lewis leading the team in carries last week with Mike Gillislee a surprise healthy inactive. Rex Burkhead and James White are doing the majority of backfield receiving, but Lewis is getting work near the goal line and is a low-floor FLEX option in Week 11 against the Raidera—a team ranked just 28th in our aFPA vs. RB rankings.
Week 10 at Denver Broncos
Want to play fantasy football Russian Roulette? Because that's what figuring out which Patriots RB to start each week and whether to start them at all is like. Plus, the Broncos are fifth in our aFPA vs. RB rankings. If there is one to start, it's not Dion Lewis, who should be considered a touchdown-or-bust proposition.
Week 8 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
This one could be another shootout, as Chargers-Patriots has the seconnd-highest over/under of Week 8, and Dion Lewis has emerged as the preferred early-down back for New England with 24 carries over the past two weeks for 128 yards. The overall split in this backfield makes him no better than a FLEX option in Week 8, though, as James White is still the passing-down back. Lewis still hasn't played 50% of the snaps in any game this year.
Week 7 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Dion Lewis got the start over Mike Gillislee last week and may have cemented a larger workload when Gillislee fumbled in the game. It's always risky to rely on a Patriots RB, but Lewis has seen his snaps increase every week, and the Falcons are just 28th in our aFPA vs. PPR RB rankings. Consider Lewis a FLEX option for Week 7 in what could be a shootout.
Week 6 at New York Jets
Is Dion Lewis starting to come on for the Patriots? Well, his snaps have increased every week this season, and he's received red zone work each of the past two weeks. You can't start him this week, but it's a name you should monitor (and maybe bench stash).
Week 3 vs. Houston Texans
Rex Burkhead may not play in Week 3 (ribs); however, Dion Lewis has only played 13% of snaps this season. You can't consider starting him in Week 3.
Week 2 at New Orleans Saints
Dion Lewis was fourth in running back snaps for the Patriots last week. You can't start him in Week 2. Simple as that.
Week 1 vs. Chiefs
According to the 4for4 Player Touches App, Dion Lewis touched the ball on 49.7% of his snaps last season, averaging 0.68 PPR points/touch. The problem is he failed to reach double-digit PPR points in all but one of his seven games last year. Volume is the big issue. It's possible Lewis could emerge and take the pass-catching role from James White, but with the pecking order going into Week 1 for New England's re-tooled backfield still unclear, it's likely best to keep Lewis on your bench to start the season.
Fantasy Upside
The Patriots are 17-0 in games Dion Lewis plays. So he's got that going for him...which is nice. If there were to be an injury somewhere else ahead of him on the depth chart, Lewis flashed some brilliance in 2015, but meaningful work has not come recently.
Fantasy Downside
Upon his return from injury last season, Lewis was only the RB42 in PPR leagues. It's clear James White has supplanted him in the passing back role for New England, especially after White's heroic Super Bowl and contract extension. Lewis has also missed nine games in each of the least two seasons.
2017 Bottom Line
The Patriots brought in two new running backs in Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead and signed James White to an extension. Lewis will not have a significant role for fantasy purposes.
Super Bowl vs. Atlanta
Dion Lewis took a step back two weeks ago as he was given six carries in which he accumulated 11 yards rushing and had 8 yards receiving on two targets in a 36-17 win against the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. Lewis, who had been sharing early-down work with LeGarrette Blount, emerged as the lead back against the Texans, but was not a large piece of the game plan against the Steelers. Belichick will almost certainly get Lewis more involved in the Super Bowl. Atlanta ranks 26th at defending RBs out of the backfield per DVOA, and are an above average matchup overall in regards to RB aFPA.
