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The New England Patriots have one of the deepest running back rooms in the National Football League, and that may be needed more than ever in Week 14. Starting running back Damien Harris suffered a hamstring injury during the team's 14-10 win over the Buffalo Bills back in Week 13, but had a bye week to rest up and attempt recovery. Will he be ready to go in Week 15?
Let's assess the current situation within the New England backfield heading into their Week 15 primetime road matchup against a good Colts run defense.
Is Damien Harris injured, or is he playing in Week 15? Should Harris be started if cleared to play? Does either Rhamondre Stevenson or Brandon Bolden become if Harris is ruled out? Below we take a quick look at the updated injury status for Harris and attempt to answer questions about his availability and his potential replacement moving forward.
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Is Damien Harris Playing in Week 15 Against the Colts?
Both New England and Indianapolis are coming off of their bye week and will play at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night. Damien Harris suffered a hamstring injury during his big outing against the Bills in Week 13 and appeared to be on the mend. However, Harris has now been officially ruled out.
Should I Start Rhamondre Stevenson in Week 15 Against the Colts?
Rhamondre Stevenson becomes a borderline RB1 with the news of Harris being ruled out against the Giants. When he's been given a full workload on several occasions during his rookie season, turning 20 carries against the Cleveland Browns into 114 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns.
In a bad weather game with Harris still healthy, Stevenson handled 24 carries and wound up with 78 rushing yards. Don't expect a ton of passing usage, as veteran running back Brandon Bolden seems to have that role locked up. However, Stevenson has been a physical, explosive runner all season and shoots up the running back landscape into RB1 territory against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.
The Colts are a more challenging running back matchup, ranking fifth-best against fantasy running backs. Don't let this scare you away from Stevenson, as he should be primed to handle a few valuable goal-line carries with the number of times Mac Jones will shred the Colts' secondary on Saturday night.
Should I Start Brandon Bolden in Week 15 Against the Colts?
Brandon Bolden is a 31-year old veteran running back that has stepped into the James White role for New England since his injury earlier in the year. Bolden has at least 25 receiving yards in three of his last five games and should receive a handful of carries to spell Rhamondre Stevenson. He ripped off seven yards per carry against the Bills in Week 13 and is rested coming out of the bye week.
The Colts are vulnerable against wideouts, and Bolden could wind up as a solid flex option in PPR leagues as a result. Touchdowns are a premium for the veteran running back. However, his floor is intact as a high-end RB3 due to his usage and strong hands as a pass-catcher.
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