Week 11 vs Buffalo
In Week 10 Blount put up his prototypical 19-66-1 line, similar to many of his other games. (He even added 2-11 in the passing game this week.) If we toss aside the Jets game, when the Patriots (somewhat predictably) abandoned the run against a tough Jets front, this week was Blount's lowest yardage total since Week 3, scoring TDs in scoring in four of those six games. In, short, Blount has been the model of consistency this year.
Playing at home against a middling Bills rush defense this weekend, we expect the Blount train to keep rolling as expected. Blount ranges from a weak RB2 to a fringe RB1 depending on your league size and scoring format and figures to be in most fantasy starting lineups.
Week 10 at New York Giants
With fellow RB Dion Lewis going down with an injury in Week 9, LaGarrette Blount played 60 percent of the snaps and received 29 touches, both season high marks, en route to a solid 29-129-1 line. Blount will continue to be a non-factor in the Patriots passing game, but may be in line for more touches with Lewis out for the season. In a middling aFPA matchup, we have Blount as a RB1 in standard and solid RB2 in PPR leagues.
Week 9 vs Washington
LaGarrette Blount has etched out a nice role on the 2015 Patriots. Jets game aside, he has played between 29-42 percent of the snaps and has received 13-19 touches, rushing for over 70 yards in each game. Week 8 was no different, with Blount playing 39 percent of the snaps and rushing for 72 yards on 17 touches (with a 1-2 line in the air). His fantasy value is somewhat dependent on goal-line work, where Dion Lewis also sees work at times.
The Patriots are in a good spot this weekend, but Washington's rush defense is one of the lone consistent bright spots on the team this year. We have Blount as a middling to top RB2 in standard leagues, and a middling to top RB3 in PPR leagues.
Week 8 vs Miami
In Week 7, HC Bill Belichick completely abandoned the run game, choosing not to run against a stout Jets defensive line. As such Blount played only 12 percent of the snaps, rushing just three times for a whopping negative three yards. With fellow RB Dion Lewis ruled out for the game, some owners may have expected more, but this may serve as a reminder of the "joy of owning Patriots RBs" (quotes mark sarcasm).
One week after facing the stingiest defense to opposing RBs via our aFPA, Blount faces our 22nd-ranked aFPA rush defense. Playing at home as five point favorites, Blount figures to be more involved this week. We currently have him as a solid RB3 and fringe RB3 in larger leagues. In PPR leagues, we have him as a solid RB4 to middling RB3. He should see a bump in value if fellow RB Dion Lewis (questionable) doesn't play.
Week 7 vs New York Jets
LaGarrette Blount rewarded fantasy owners who played him in Week 6 with a solid 16-93-1 line, playing 42 percent of the snaps. Despite the fantasy community's narrative of "Blount games," Blount has played between 29 percent and 42 percent of the snaps in the last three weeks, touching the ball between 13 and 19 times. While game flows and goal line work may ebb and flow somewhat, Blount may have carved a nice weekly role on the 2015 Patriots. In a very tough matchup against the 2nd ranked aFPA Jets, we have Blount as a middling to weak RB2 in standard, and middling to weak RB3 in PPR, depending on your league size.
Week 6 at Indianapolis
Playing 29% of the snaps in Week Five, LaGarrette Blount put up a nice 13-74 line on the day. While that is a respectful real football day, Blount's fake football owners may have been hoping for more than a RB38 finish on the weekend. This in some way may encapsulate Blount's weekly usage, floor, and upside. When he doesn't get increased usage as a game closer and/or fails to reach the endzone, he may not offer fantasy owners the return they hope to see from someone in their fantasy lineup.
This weekend's affair with the Colts projects to go the Patriots way, so it is possible Blount gets more involved this week as the game progresses. In standard leagues, we have Blount as a solid to low RB2, depending on your league size. In PPR we have Blount as a high-end to middling RB3 option. He has reasonable starting value this weekend, but owners should remember the boom/bust and low floor nature of playing Blount, as well.
Injury note: Dion Lewis appeared on the injury report midweek with an abdomen injury. If Lewis is limited in practice Friday or if the weekend reports are pessimistic, Blount could see a bump in fantasy value heading into Sunday night. It is a situation, though, worth monitoring.
Week 5 at Dallas
LaGarrette Blount owners who risked playing Blount in Week Three were handsomely rewarded to the tune of an 18-78-3 line, and he even adeed a rare reception (1-14). It was great to see Blount on the field and putting up fantasy numbers, though we should remember much of those numbers were racked up in garbage time. Blount will have his moments in 2015, and may yet have nice end of season numbers. Projecting when those moments may come, however, may be difficult for the time being.
Bill Bellichick may shuffle his RB corp around on any week at any time, so we recommend fantasy owners start Blount with their eyes open. He is a boom/bust flex option for the time being. We rank him as a great or middling RB3 option, depending on your league size. In PPR leagues, we rank Blount only as a great to middling RB4.
Week 5 vs Jacksonville
Be it easing in after missing Week 1, game plan, or the success of fellow RB Doin Lewis, LaGarrette Blount didn't see much action in his 2015 debut, playing only seven snaps (two carries for four yards). We still have him as a fringe RB3 in our ROS outlook, but owners may be wise to keep Blount on their bench until we see more on game day. Blount should be on benches in PPR leagues this week, but may make for a weak flex play in standard leagues.
Week 2 at Buffalo
LaGarrette Blount returns from his one-week suspension and will see his first piece of 2015 action in Week 2. An offseason 4for4 darling, we still project Blount to score the most standard-format fantasy points, but only by the slimmest of margins. It's essentially a coin flip. In standard scoring, we project Blount as a fringe RB3 in 12-team leagues, or middling RB4 in 10-team leagues. While we remain somewhat bullish on Blount's seasonal outlook, we'd consider leaving Blount on benches until we have clearer information on this backfield.
Blount's projection remains unchanged in PPR formats, though many other RBs increase in value in that format. So in PPR formats, we suggest leaving Blount on your bench this weekend.
Week 1 vs Pittsburgh
4for4 darling LaGarrette Blount is the favorite to lead the Patriots backfield this season, but will be serving his one game suspension in Week 1.
