The Patriots are reportedly talking to Ezekiel Elliott, the latest veteran free agent running back they've kicked the tires on (recently, Leonard Fournette and Darrell Henderson). It's a reminder that Bill Belichick sees value in experience at the position.
New England doesn't tend to sign running backs to second contracts, but throughout Belichick's tenure they've been willing to bring in older veterans, rather than relying on youngsters. Some of those guys have worked out very well, most notably Corey Dillon and LeGarrette Blount, who were part of Super Bowl winners with the Patriots.
They've also used plenty of running backs at more advanced ages in situational or third-down roles, guys like Brandon Bolden and Kevin Faulk. Other veteran backs have enjoyed good second careers with the Patriots; Antowain Smith, certainly, and to a lesser extent Fred Taylor or Sammy Morris.
in the Belichick era, the Patriots have had 6 running backs aged 30 or older put up top 25 seasons (PPR scoring) for them. They've had 7 other top-50 seasons out of such wizened ballcarriers. Elliott is only 28 years old, so a comparative spring chicken.
Table shows all the running backs aged 29 or older who have made it onto the fantasy radar for the Patriots since Belichick took over, sorted by PPR finish. (I included all seasons ranking in the top 75.) Just a handful of actual stars, but clearly Belichick is willing to go with an experienced ballcarrier in a significant role even if they've lost a step or two from their heyday. That's Elliott all over, so maybe he'll wind up in New England (taking some value away from Rhamondre Stevenson, perhaps getting occasional goal-line work).
| OLDER PATRIOTS RUNNING BACKS, 2000-2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Age | Run | No | Rec | TD | Rk |
| 2004 | Corey Dillon | 30 | 1635 | 15 | 103 | 13 | 8 |
| 2016 | LeGarrette Blount | 30 | 1161 | 7 | 38 | 18 | 9 |
| 2001 | Antowain Smith | 29 | 1157 | 19 | 192 | 13 | 10 |
| 2005 | Corey Dillon | 31 | 733 | 22 | 181 | 13 | 17 |
| 2008 | Kevin Faulk | 32 | 507 | 58 | 486 | 6 | 21 |
| 2006 | Corey Dillon | 32 | 812 | 15 | 147 | 13 | 24 |
| 2002 | Antowain Smith | 30 | 982 | 31 | 243 | 8 | 24 |
| 2008 | Sammy Morris | 31 | 727 | 17 | 161 | 7 | 36 |
| 2015 | LeGarrette Blount | 29 | 703 | 6 | 43 | 7 | 40 |
| 2021 | Brandon Bolden | 31 | 226 | 41 | 405 | 3 | 41 |
| 2003 | Antowain Smith | 31 | 642 | 14 | 92 | 3 | 41 |
| 2009 | Kevin Faulk | 33 | 335 | 37 | 301 | 3 | 42 |
| 2007 | Kevin Faulk | 31 | 265 | 47 | 383 | 1 | 44 |
| 2020 | Rex Burkhead | 30 | 274 | 25 | 192 | 6 | 44 |
| 2006 | Kevin Faulk | 30 | 123 | 43 | 356 | 3 | 45 |
| 2019 | Rex Burkhead | 29 | 302 | 27 | 279 | 3 | 47 |
| 2009 | Sammy Morris | 32 | 319 | 19 | 180 | 2 | 56 |
| 2005 | Kevin Faulk | 29 | 145 | 29 | 260 | 0 | 59 |
| 2007 | Sammy Morris | 30 | 384 | 6 | 35 | 3 | 63 |
| 2008 | LaMont Jordan | 30 | 363 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 70 |
| 2019 | Brandon Bolden | 29 | 68 | 9 | 111 | 4 | 73 |
| 2009 | Fred Taylor | 33 | 269 | 2 | 17 | 4 | 75 |
--Andy Richardson