Fantasy Football: 4 Things We Learned From Week 2

There Are Two Backs to Own on the Patriots

The New England Patriots' backfield is one of the most tired fantasy cliches. Year after year we hear the same analysis saying "the Patriots' running backs are too hard to predict." It's that same analysis that caused LeGarrette Blount to fall deep into the seventh-round of fantasy drafts last year.

It was unrealistic to expect another Patriots running back to repeat Blount's 18-touchdown season, but Mike Gillislee is definitely giving it his best shot. Gillislee's 13 red zone carries lead the NFL by a pretty wide margin; the next closest back, C.J. Anderson, has 10 carries in the red zone, and he is the only other running back with double digit carries inside the 20-yard line.

Gillislee may have the red zone carries locked up, but James White has shown that he is worth starting over each of the last two games. As we saw in the Super Bowl back in February, White can get it done in the air. So far, he is second on the Patriots in targets, trailing only Rob Gronkowski, and he is actually leading the backfield in snap percentages.

With the injuries to the rest of the Patriots' receivers, Tom Brady could end up looking at White even more frequently. The Pats have lost Malcolm Mitchell, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and now possibly Rob Gronkowski and recent addition Phillip Dorsett -- and it's still just Week 2.

The Patriots score enough points to support two fantasy football running backs. With Gillislee dominating in the red zone and White filling in as a slot receiver, there's no need to worry about which back to start: the answer is both.