Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots is expected to handle a substantial workload in the upcoming Week 1 season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. This potential increase in carries comes as Stevenson's teammate, second-year running back TreVeyon Henderson, has missed two weeks of practice due to an ankle injury, casting doubt on his availability for the game.
Last season, Stevenson recorded 603 rushing yards, a figure affected by injuries and a timeshare with Henderson. Despite the lower yardage total, he averaged an efficient 4.6 yards per carry. His performance metrics from the 2025 season, according to Pro Football Focus, showed he forced 33 missed tackles on 130 carries and averaged 3.8 yards after contact per attempt. If Henderson is sidelined, Stevenson is likely to receive the kind of volume he rarely experienced in the previous year.
The Seahawks' backfield also faces uncertainty. The team enters the opener without a clear primary ball carrier following Kenneth Walker III's departure in the offseason and with Zach Charbonnet on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. George Holani is currently listed as the top running back, but he had limited production last season, with 73 yards on 22 carries. He and rookie Jadarian Price are expected to split early-season duties, with Emanuel Wilson also in the mix.
Given these circumstances, Stevenson may not need to outperform the entire Seahawks defense to be the game's leading rusher. A performance of 15 to 18 carries, combined with the Seahawks' running backs not establishing themselves as a dominant force, could be sufficient for Stevenson to lead the game in rushing yards.