Elliott landed with the Patriots in mid-August, just days after a lackluster showing by Patriots backup running backs in their first preseason game. He'll provide some impactful depth for New England along with a proven track record in short-yardage/goal-line carries. What he's unlikely to provide is a heavy-volume option with efficient results -- he has recorded two carries of 30-plus yards over his last three seasons combined (712 carries) and is coming off an age-27 campaign where he averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per run. He also had a career-low 17 receptions. Elliott could flirt with 10 touches per week including goal-line carries but is unlikely to be an appealing must-start Fantasy option like he once was. We wouldn't get excited to draft him at all, but it might be worth letting him fill a bench spot with a late-round pick just to see what happens.
Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Excels in versatile role Thursday
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Elliott rushed 22 times for 68 yards and brought in seven of eight targets for 72 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' 21-18 win over the Steelers on Thursday night.
With Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) sidelined, Elliott had the Patriots' ground game all to himself, but it was his work as a pass catcher that really stood out. The veteran back led the Patriots in receptions and targets as Bailey Zappe utilized him heavily in the pass game, and Elliott recorded his first receiving touchdown since Week 16 of the 2021 season on an 11-yard grab to cap off New England's game-opening drive. Elliott also shouldered his heaviest workload on the ground since Week 5 of last season, when he logged the same number of carries with the Cowboys in a game against the Rams. Given his volume in the first installment of what's projected to be a multi-game absence for Stevenson, Elliott has solid fantasy prospects heading into a Week 15 home matchup against the Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 17.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Sit Him (Lineup Decisions)
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The Patriots O-line struggles to sustain blocks and the offense is so limited in moving the ball that it has played just 15 snaps inside the five-yard line this season -- somehow that's only third-worst. That limits Elliott's touchdown upside, and while the veteran has some solid lateral agility to make defenders miss and still has really good hands (a selling point for him in PPR!), he's just not fast enough to create a bunch of breakaway plays. I'm also not sure the Patriots will put everything on Elliott's plate when they've rarely let one back handle nearly every snap this year -- going into Week 13, Rhamondre Stevenson had played under 70% of the snaps in eight of his prior nine games. Could Elliott get 15 touches including three or more catches? *That* feels safe, but everything else is a significant risk, even against a defense that's going through some run defense issues like the Steelers. He's at best a low-end RB2 in full PPR and otherwise a low-upside play. I'd rather start Keaton Mitchell, Joe Mixon and Chuba Hubbard.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: RBs to Start
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As bad as things have been offensively for the Patriots this season, a running back has scored at least 13.2 PPR points in six of the past seven games. The majority of that has been Rhamondre Stevenson, but Elliott reached that total in Week 13 against the Chargers when Stevenson injured his ankle. He had 21 total touches against the Chargers, including four catches for 40 yards on five targets, and his role in the passing game should be important. Stevenson, who might be out for the season with his ankle injury, is one of 10 running backs this year with at least 50 targets. And the New England backfield is No. 6 in the NFL with 66 receptions. I like Elliott as a No. 2 running back this week against the Steelers, who have allowed five of the past eight running backs to score at least 13.6 PPR points.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Comes off injury report
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Elliott (thigh) was removed from the Patriots' second Week 14 injury report Tuesday.
Elliott was included on Monday's estimated injury report as limited due to a thigh injury, which now appears to have been a precautionary measure. The Patriots did get on the practice field Tuesday, but Rhamondre Stevenson predictably wasn't among those present after Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the running back was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain. Because Stevenson almost certainly will be ruled out ahead of Thursday's game at Pittsburgh, Elliott should get a chance to lead New England's backfield in Week 14. Through 12 games this season, Elliott has averaged 3.8 yards on his 112 carries, hauled in 24 of 31 targets for 154 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns.
Elliott is my favorite waiver add if you need a Week 14 band-aid. This offense has ranked in the top ten in terms of running back target rate this year and Bailey Zappe has kept it up with 22% of his passes going to backs. The Steelers were just gashed for 130 yards and two TDs on the ground by another veteran, James Conner, and now they're on a short week.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Limited on Monday's estimate
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Elliott (thigh) was listed as a limited participant on Monday's practice estimate.
Elliott was nursing a thigh injury heading into this past Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Chargers, but he played through it and handled a season-high 21 touches, as Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) exited in the first half. Stevenson was listed as a non-participant Monday and is unlikely to play against the Steelers on Thursday, so if Elliott can avoid a setback with his thigh, he's likely to draw the start in a Patriots backfield that also includes Ty Montgomery and JaMycal Hasty.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Lead back after Stevenson injury
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Elliott (thigh) rushed 17 times for 52 yards and caught four of five targets for 40 yards in Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Chargers.
Elliott took over as the lead back after Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) exited in the first half. The former Dallas running back finished with season highs in both touches and scrimmage yards. Stevenson will be hard-pressed to recover on a short week before Thursday's road game in Pittsburgh, so Elliott's likely to retain the lead role in Week 14.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Expected to take on Chargers
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Elliott (thigh) is expected to suit up for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Elliott logged three consecutive limited sessions in practice this week and is officially listed as questionable, but the expectation is that he will suit up versus Los Angeles. He hasn't scored since Week 7, and while continuing to work behind top backfield option Rhamondre Stevenson, Elliott has handled double-digit carries in just three of 11 appearances on the season. He should be officially announced as active roughly 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Questionable after limited practices
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Elliott (thigh) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
Elliott was limited in all three of New England's practices throughout the week. If he's able to play, he'll likely work in his customary role as the primary backup to Rhamondre Stevenson. Should Elliott sit, more opportunities could be available for JaMycal Hasty or receiving back Ty Montgomery. The Patriots will have a short week after Sunday's game, with a Thursday night trip to Pittsburgh on the docket Week 14.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Another limited practice
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Elliott (thigh) remained a limited participant at practice Thursday.
Elliott also had his reps capped Wednesday and may need to practice fully Friday in order to avoid carrying an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Chargers. Assuming Elliott is available for the contest, his fantasy upside will be capped by the fact that he continues to work behind top backfield option Rhamondre Stevenson.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Overshadowed by Stevenson
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Elliott rushed the ball nine times for 46 yards in Sunday's 10-7 loss to the Giants. He added two receptions on two targets for six yards.
Elliott saw his role spike in Week 10 prior to New England's bye, but that didn't remain the case Sunday against the Giants. Rhamondre Stevenson was particularly effective on the ground, leaving Elliott in more of a true change-of-pace role. Given the limited volume, he'll be reliant upon finding the end zone for the majority of his fantasy value.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Sleeper RBs
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I like Rhamondre Stevenson as a No. 2 running back in all leagues against the Giants in Week 12, but Elliott can be a flex option in deeper leagues. It's a favorable matchup since a running back has scored at least 13.9 PPR points in four games in a row against the Giants, including three with at least 20.1 PPR points (Breece Hall in Week 8, Josh Jacobs in Week 9 and Brian Robinson Jr. in Week 11). Stevenson has the best chance to take advantage of this defense, but Elliott should get opportunities as well. He scored 10.8 PPR points in Week 10 against the Colts with 13 carries for 54 yards, along with two catches for 34 yards on two targets, and he's now scored at least 9.1 PPR points in three of his past five games.
If you need a Week 12 flex, you should be looking to the wide receiver waiver wire. If you need an RB2, Elliott is the best option available in more than a third of leagues. Elliott had 88 total yards and 10.8 PPR Fantasy points in Week 10 and should have fresh legs coming off a bye. The Patriots should be able to win this game on the ground against Tommy DeVito and the Giants. The last time the Patriots held an offense below 20 points was Week 3, when Elliott ran the ball 16 times for 80 yards. That's the kind of game script you're hoping for.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Week 12 Waiver Priority List
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Elliott might be the best option listed here if you need a flex or low-end starter in deeper leagues for Week 12. He scored 10.8 PPR points in Week 10 against the Colts with 13 carries for 54 yards, along with two catches for 34 yards on two targets, and he's now scored at least 9.1 PPR points in three of his past five games. Rhamondre Stevenson remains the best running back for the Patriots, but Elliott is going to get touches and has a favorable matchup in Week 12 at the Giants. He's worth adding for up to 5 percent of your FAB.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Solid numbers in Week 10 loss
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Elliott carried the ball 13 times for 54 yards and caught both his targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 10-6 loss to the Colts.
The 88 scrimmage yards were a season high for Elliott, as the Patriots went with a ground-heavy game plan that also saw Rhamondre Stevenson get 23 touches. Heading into New England's bye, the veteran RB has just 331 rushing yards and two TDs through 10 games as Stevenson's understudy, but Elliott could pop for bigger numbers in Week 12 against a Giants defense he has plenty of experience punishing from his Cowboys days.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Gets nine touches in Week 9
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Elliott rushed six times for 17 yards and caught three of five targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Commanders.
Elliott was bottled up on the ground while teammate Rhamondre Stevenson produced a 64-yard touchdown en route to a season-high 87 rushing yards. The former Dallas running back has reached 50 scrimmage yards in only one of nine games with the Patriots, and Elliott continues to cede the majority of backfield touches to Stevenson. Given his modest role in New England's low-octane offense, Elliott won't have much fantasy appeal in Week 10, even against the porous Colts defense in Frankfurt.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Efficient on ground in loss
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Elliott rushed seven times for 36 yards and wasn't targeted in the passing game during the Patriots' 31-17 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
Elliott saw only three fewer carries than backfield mate Rhamondre Stevenson and was more efficient than the latter, averaging 5.1 yards per tote to his teammate's 3.9. Nevertheless, Elliott's lack of involvement in the passing game for the second straight contest and the snapping of his two-game touchdown streak led to a highly underwhelming fantasy afternoon for the accomplished veteran, which he'll aim to bounce back from in a Week 9 home matchup against the Commanders.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Week 8 Early Waiver Targets (Add/Drop)
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Much to the chagrin of Rhamondre Stevenson managers, Elliott still has a legitimate role in this offense, and Sunday, he was actually the primary runner for the Patriots. Now, Elliott wasn't great, because he isn't a great player at this point, but the Patriots offense has at least shown some signs of life over the past few weeks, and with Elliott getting 11 carries in Week 7, he probably needs to be rostered as an emergency injury or bye week fill-in, especially since the Patriots don't have their bye until Week 11.
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Patriots' Ezekiel Elliott: Two-game TD streak
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Elliott rushed 11 times for 31 yards and a touchdown while failing to catch his only target in Sunday's 29-25 win over the Bills.
Elliott gave the Patriots a 10-0 first-quarter lead with a two-yard rushing touchdown. It was the 70th rushing touchdown of Elliott's career, and his second touchdown in the last two games after the veteran running back opened his tenure in New England with a five-game touchdown drought. Over the past three games, Elliott has 26 carries to Rhamondre Stevenson's 27, but the former Dallas running back remains a non-factor in the passing game. Elliott has just 59 receiving yards on the season heading into a Week 8 road game in Miami.
The Bills run defense is flat out bad and Elliott has double-digit touches in three of his last five games. Elliott is averaging almost a full yard per carry more than Stevenson, so it seems unlikely he'll completely disappear from the attack in Week 7. Bill Belichick would love to run the ball and keep Josh Allen on the sideline for as long as possible.
