Patriots' Pierre Strong: Logs 10 carries in rookie season
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Strong finished the 2022 season with 10 carries for 100 yards and a TD in 15 games to go along with seven catches (on seven targets) for 42 yards.
The 2022 fourth-rounder saw limited action as a rookie, with Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris handling the bulk of the Patriots' backfield duties. With Harris slated to become a free agent this offseason, there could be snaps and touches up for grabs next season for Strong, as well as 2022 sixth-rounder Kevin Harris. Though Strong is no threat to supplant Stevenson, the 5-foot-11, 205-pounder out of South Dakota State could potentially carve out enough of a change-of-pace role during his second pro campaign to merit fantasy consideration in PPR formats.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Catches two passes in Week 16
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Strong caught both of his targets for 10 yards in Saturday's 22-18 loss to the Bengals.
Even though Damien Harris (thigh) remained out Saturday, Strong logged just two snaps in the contest, while working behind Rhamondre Stevenson (51snaps), per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. As long as Stevenson and/or Harris are available, Strong can't be counted on to see enough touches to merit fantasy lineup consideration.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Limited touches Sunday
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Strong carried the ball four times for 25 yards and caught all three of his targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 30-24 loss to the Raiders.
The rookie was coming off a big performance against the Cardinals, but with Rhamondre Stevenson apparently fully recovered from his ankle injury and having a massive day, there weren't many touches left over for Strong in the New England backfield. He may have played well enough over the last two weeks to secure the No. 2 spot on the depth chart even once Damien Harris (thigh) is healthy, but his fantasy outlook seems dim for Week 16 against a Bengals defense that has stifled the likes of Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry over the last month.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong Jr.: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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We'll keep an eye on the Patriots backfield this week, but Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and Damien Harris (thigh) could be out. That would leave Strong and Kevin Harris as the backfield tandem against the Raiders, and Strong is the preferred Fantasy option. In Week 14 against the Cardinals when Stevenson got hurt, Strong had five carries for 70 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 20 yards on two targets, and Harris had eight carries for 26 yards and a touchdown. Both could have the chance to make plays, but Strong is clearly the more explosive rusher. The Raiders have allowed six running backs to score at least 12 PPR points in their past five games.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong Jr.: Week 15 Adds (RB Preview)
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I prefer Strong to Kevin Harris because I think he has more paths to Fantasy relevance. If Rhamondre Stevenson is out, I could still see a path to five-to-10 carries and a handful of targets if Strong is sharing with Damien Harris. If both Patriots' lead backs are out then you could start both Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris as borderline No. 2 backs, but I would prefer Strong because of his work in the passing game. For now, put in a claim for both.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong Jr.: Week 15 Waiver Priority List
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I hope there ends up being no need to add Strong as that would mean Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) is OK, but Stevenson was injured Monday night at Arizona in Week 14. And Damien Harris (thigh) was also out against the Cardinals. If either Stevenson or Harris plays in Week 15 at Las Vegas then adding Strong might be a mistake, but he's a potential lottery ticket if both are out. He would share touches with Kevin Harris (1 percent rostered), and both played well in Week 14 when Stevenson got hurt. Strong had five carries for 70 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 20 yards on two targets. Harris had eight carries for 26 yards and a touchdown at Arizona. Strong would be a high-end flex at Las Vegas if Stevenson and Damien Harris don't play and is worth 5-10 percent of your remaining FAB. Kevin Harris would be a low-end flex and is worth 1 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Excels with extra opportunity
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Strong rushed five times for 70 yards and a touchdown and brought in both targets for 20 yards in the Patriots' 27-13 win over the Cardinals on Monday night.
A bulk of Strong's production came on a game-long 44-yard run on the Patriots' first possession of the second half, with the rookie taking the ball to the Cardinals' 12-yard line to set up a Nick Folk 23-yard field goal. Strong then capped off the scoring on the night with a three-yard touchdown rush early in the fourth quarter, his first NFL trip to the end zone. Strong could have a significant role in a favorable Week 15 road battle against the Raiders if either or both Damien Harris (thigh) and Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) is sidelined for that game.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: May move up depth chart
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Strong is a candidate to see extra work Thursday against the Bills, Mark Daniels reports.
With Damien Harris (thigh) unlikely to play Week 13, Strong could find himself as Rhamondre Stevenson's backup against Buffalo. The rookie running back has seen the majority of his work on special teams, with just one carry on the year, which came Week 6 against Cleveland for five yards. Fellow rookie Kevin Harris could also be an option, but he's only been active one game this season. J.J. Taylor, who is currently on the practice squad, could also see himself elevated to the main roster and be a threat to Strong's ability to move up the team's depth chart for the contest. The situation will be worth monitoring for single-game DFS contests, as whoever were to have the inside track as the No. 2 to Stevenson could certainly be worth a dart throw if Harris does indeed miss the game.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Listed as active Sunday
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Strong (hamstring) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Colts, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
With Damien Harris (illness) inactive for the contest, look for Rhamondre Stevenson to handle the bulk of the Patriots' backfield duties on Sunday, while J.J. Taylor and Strong are available to work in complementary roles. Neither of two backups are high-percentage fantasy lineup options in Week 9, however.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Listed as questionable for Week 9
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Strong (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
A hamstring issue limited Strong at practice this week, with his status of added import in terms of the Patriots' backfield depth Week 9, given that Damien Harris (illness) also is listed as questionable for the contest. If Harris ends up being unable to play this weekend while Strong is available, the rookie fourth-rounder still would be a speculative fantasy option, however, with Rhamondre Stevenson capable of absorbing the bulk of the RB touches in the event of a Harris absence.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: One carry in Week 6
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Strong logged four of a possible 70 snaps on offense in Sunday's 38-15 win over the Browns, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
With Damien Harris (hamstring) inactive Sunday, Strong -- who carried once for five yards -- and Kevin Harris (12 snaps, three carries) both suited up for the contest, but as expected Rhamondre Stevenson handled the bulk of the team's backfield work. Strong remains off the fantasy radar until or unless he starts seeing steady snaps and touches in the Patriots offense.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong Jr.: Week 6 Waiver Priority List
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NFL Network reports that Damien Harris (hamstring) will "likely miss multiple games," which means Strong is now the No. 2 running back in New England behind Rhamondre Stevenson. That could change when Ty Montgomery (knee) is healthy, but Strong has some lottery-ticket appeal in case something happens to Stevenson while Harris is out. And there's a chance the Patriots can use Strong in tandem with Stevenson, so Strong could become a flex option in deeper leagues. He's worth adding in all leagues for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong Jr.: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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NFL Network reports that Damien Harris (hamstring) will "likely miss multiple games," which means Strong is now the No. 2 running back in New England behind Rhamondre Stevenson. That could change when Ty Montgomery (knee) is healthy, but Strong has some lottery-ticket appeal in case something happens to Stevenson while Harris is out. And there's a chance the Patriots can use Strong in tandem with Stevenson, so Strong could become a flex option in deeper leagues. He's worth adding in all leagues for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Inactive in Week 5
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Strong is inactive for Sunday's game against the Lions.
With Strong inactive, Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson will once again lead the Patriots' rushing attack in Week 5, while the team will have six wide receivers active against Detroit.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Logs two special teams snaps
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Strong did not log a snap on offense in Sunday's 37-26 loss to the Ravens.
Strong was limited to two special-teams snaps in the contest, with Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson once again leading the Patriots backfield. At some point, Strong could earn a share of change-of-pace work for the team, but for now the 2022 fourth-rounder is off the fantasy radar.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Three snaps in Week 2
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Strong logged three snaps on offense in Sunday's 17-14 win over the Steelers, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Strong, who didn't record a catch or carry in the contest, did return two kickoffs for 48 yards in his NFL regular-season debut. While it's possible that the 2022 fourth-rounder could grow into a change-of-pace role in the Patriots offense over the coming weeks, the team's backfield is currently led by Damien Harris (27 snaps, 15 carries) and Rhamondre Stevenson (42 snaps, nine carries).
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Listed as questionable for Week 2
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Strong (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers after practicing in a limited fashion this week, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports.
Now that Ty Montgomery (knee) is on injured reserve and in line to miss at least four games, Strong, if available Sunday, is a candidate to see some change-of-pace snaps in the New England backfield Sunday against the Steelers. That said, the team also has the option of elevating J.J. Taylor from the practice squad, plus Rhamondre Stevenson also could see more work in passing situations Week 2.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Could see added opportunities
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Strong is a candidate to contribute as a pass catcher out of the Patriots' backfield in the coming weeks after Ty Montgomery (knee) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Montgomery had emerged as the team's top change-of-pace option coming out of the preseason, but now that he's out for at least the next four games, Strong -- who was inactive Week 1-- has a chance to contribute as soon as Week 2 against the Steelers. It's also possible that the Patriots elevate J.J. Taylor from the practice squad, and Rhamondre Stevenson could also see more work in passing situations than he did in the Week 1 loss to the Dolphins. Strong at least has some sleeper potential in deeper leagues if he ends up seeing steady snaps while Montgomery is out.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Catches two passes Friday
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Strong carried twice for four yards and caught two of his three targets for 13 yards in Friday's preseason finale against the Raiders.
Of more import than the stats Strong logged Friday while logging 14 snaps is that Ty Montgomery -- the favorite to handle the Patriots' top pass-catching/change-of-pace RB role -- suffered an ankle injury in the contest. If Montgomery is forced to miss extended time, Strong would be a candidate to handle an expanded role as the season progresses, while top early down options Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson could see added opportunities in the passing game out of the gate, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site notes.
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Patriots' Pierre Strong: Seven touches in preseason opener
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Strong rushed six times for 25 yards and caught his only target for no gain in Thursday's 23-21 preseason loss to the Giants.
Strong has reportedly shown good receiving ability in camp, which could be his ticket to a complementary role in the wake of James White's retirement, but he failed to make much of an impact in that regard Thursday. It's also a bit worrisome that he was deployed after both J.J. Taylor and rookie sixth-round pick Kevin Harris, which suggests that Strong could be below both in New England's backfield pecking order, but the 2022 fourth-rounder has time to make up some ground on that front. On the bright side, Strong's average of 4.2 yards per carry was the highest among Patriots rushers Thursday, which gives him some momentum to build on for the second preseason game against Carolina next Friday.
