What to do with Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead in Week 3 fantasy football

James White was a scratch in Week 2 after he tragically lost his father in a car accident, leaving Sony Michel and Rex Burkhead to man the backfield. White will be out once again this week. Burkhead and Michel did little to impress in a high scoring game which saw Cam Newton vulture goal line touches for the second week in a row. Are either of the other two backs reliable enough to insert into your Week 3 lineup and the Patriots take on the Las Vegas Raiders? We break down the fantasy implications below.

Fantasy Football analysis: Patriots RBs Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead

Rex Burkhead’s role was expected to increase in the absence of James White, however it remained a very minor role, as Burkhead received seven and six carries respectively in Week 1 and Week 2. He did record four receptions in Week 2 for 47 yards, however these targets will likely go to White upon his return. Burkhead’s volume is not consistent enough to trust him in your lineups at this time.

Sony Michel had 10 carries for an unimpressive 37 yards in Week 1 and his fantasy day was salvaged by a touchdown. In Week 2, his workload actually decreased as he had only seven carries for 19 yards. Michel is unlikely to get consistent goal line work this season, as Cam Newton seems to have a lock on that role. A decline in usage when a fellow back is unavailable is never a good sign for fantasy outlook and Michel should likely be left on benches until Belichick commits to giving him a larger workload.

Fantasy Start/Sit Recommendation

Sit Rex Burkhead
Sit Sony Michel