FanPost

Belichick Loves Burkhead and So Should You!

When you think of Patriots running backs in the Brady-Belichick era, you think of two types: runners and pass-catchers. There are the Dillon-Maroney-Green Ellis-Blount-Michels along with the Faulk and Woodheads (James White is a more extreme pass-catching running back, he is in his own category). But which category does Rex Burkhead fall under?

Although Burkhead is sometimes used as a pure runner, when his stats are compared to that of other Patriots running backs, it indicates that he is a pass-catcher. Danny Woodhead accounted for 2,181 yards as a Patriot, 45% of those yards coming through the air. Kevin Faulk accounted for 7,308 yards as a Patriot, with 51% through the air. In his brief and ongoing career with the Patriots, Rex Burkhead has compiled a nice 1,064 yards, 47% through the air. Clearly, Burkhead fits the same role that those two did as a Patriot. But why... why do fans not recognize his value to this team like they did Faulk and Woodhead?

Not only do fans undervalue Burkhead, they even called for his release during the most recent off-season. This is a guy who essentially scored two game-winning touchdowns against the Chiefs in last year’s AFC Championship. In that game he also had 2 runs of 10+ yards in the 4thQuarter/Overtime. Talk about a closer, two weeks later in Super Bowl 53, Burkhead, who averaged over 6 yards per carry in that game, came up huge with a 26-yard run on 2ndand 7 with 2:42 to go in the game. That run not only helped take a ton of time off the clock, it put us into field goal range and allowed Gostkowski to nail a 41 yarder to put the game out of reach for the Rams. Go back to the Super Bowl loss against the Eagles and you will see Burkhead, yet again, come up huge with a 47-yard catch.

If you don’t believe me as to how valuable Burkhead is, you must believe Bill Belichick. I would argue that Burkhead is Belichick’s most trusted running back. Let’s go back to last year’s AFC Championship. It’s overtime, the season is on the line, if Brady doesn’t get the ball into the end zone, Patrick Mahomes will. The Patriots had to score on their opening overtime possession and who did they turn to? Rex Burkhead! Burkhead had 4 carries on that one drive, while no other running back had a single carry. Go back even further to Super Bowl 52, Burkhead had 75% of the 4thquarter carries in a game that came down to the wire. Granted, Brady only handed the ball off 4 times in that quarter, it still goes to show who Belichick wanted carrying the ball with the game on the line.

Burkhead’s efficiency is a product of ambiguity. When a player like Michel is on the field, it is generally obvious that he will be running the ball or blocking. When a player like James White is on the field, it is generally obvious that we will be passing the ball. But when a player like Rex Burkhead comes on the field with nearly the same yards rushing as he has receiving, it becomes unknown what the Patriots are doing and as a result provides Burkhead with a great opportunity.

Belichick is infamous in the fantasy football community for his use of running backs. "Whose game is it going to be this week? Michel? White? Burkhead? BOLDEN?" Fantasy players ask that question every week. And yes, some weeks won’t be Burkhead’s "week". But as we get closer to the playoffs and we start to have more competitive games, don’t be surprised when Belichick turns to his reliable, can-do-it-all running back in Rex Burkhead.



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