Brandon Bolden

Bolden has found a new home in Las Vegas, joining head coach Josh McDaniels as the latter served as the 32-year-old running back's offensive coordinator in New England. Bolden flashed his versatility in 2021 as he posted a career-best receiving stat line out of the Patriots' backfield with 41/405/2 on just 49 targets in 17 games. This coming season, in addition to potentially being a core special-teamer he should have a chance to compete for complementary backfield touches behind Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake and Zamir White.

Bolden, who opted out of the 2020 season, returns to the team's backfield mix but largely earns his living on special teams, having just 52 touches in 61 regular-season appearances from 2016 to 2019. Though the versatile 31-year-old is capable of subbing in at running back when the need arises, he's behind Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson in the early-down equation and James White in passing situations.

Bolden, who had spent the previous season with the Dolphins, returned to the Patriots in 2019, reprising his duties as a versatile backfield depth option and core special teamer. In the process, he logged 15 carries for 68 yards and three touchdowns and nine catches on 11 targets for 111 yards and a receiving score over the course of 15 games. In late July, the 30-year-old elected to opt out of the 2020 season.

Back with the Patriots after a one-season stint with the Dolphins, 29-year-old Bolden is on track to reclaim his previous role as a core special-teamer. His fantasy value is minimal, however, given that he is merely a depth option in the team's backfield, which also includes Sony Michel, James White, Damien Harris and Rex Burkhead. During the 2018 campaign, Bolden logging just eight rushing attempts for 91 yards and two TDs, while catching three passes for 13 yards and a receiving score.

The 28-year-old has been with the Patriots since 2012, and he's managed to stick around that long thanks to his versatility and special-teams prowess. Bolden finished up the 2017 season with 13 carries for 67 yards and one catch for seven yards in 16 games and now faces his annual challenge of securing a roster spot with the team.

The 27-year-old Bolden is on track to reprise his role as a core special-teamer for the Patriots, though his fantasy value is minimal given that he is merely a depth option in the team's backfield, which also includes Dion Lewis, James White, Mike Gillislee, Rex Burkhead and D.J. Foster. During the 2016 campaign, Bolden played in 14 games, logging just one rushing attempt for four yards, while catching two passes for 15 yards.

Bolden finished up the 2015 regular season with 63 carries for 207 yards to go along with 19 catches for 180 yards and two TDs in 15 games. Though Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount still top the Patriots' running back depth chart, Bolden is on track to reprise his role with the team this coming season as a versatile depth back, who is also a valuable special teams contributor. It's that element of his game that figures to secure his role with the team, while James White, Tyler Gaffney and D.J. Foster battle for the remaining backfield spot or two.

While Bolden’s fantasy upside is limited, the Patriots thought enough of him to ink him to a two-year, $2.32 million contract extension this offseason. Though Bolden can offer value as a backup running back option, his prime value to the team is that he is one of the Pats’ core special-teamers. While LeGarrette Blount and Jonas Gray are the team’s top power backs and James White and Travaris Cadet profile more as change-of-pace options, Bolden’s versatility and special-teams value should be enough to secure him a roster spot, though it would take a series of injuries in the team’s backfield for him to enter the fantasy equation.

Bolden maintained a healthy 4.9 YPC and upped his number of receptions from two the year previous, to 21 in 2013. His utility role in the Patriot's offense came about with injuries to Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen. His role projects to be much of the same in 2014.

Bolden figures to directly compete with newcomer LeGarrette Blount for a depth role behind presumed starter Stevan Ridley. Both are bruising backs and unless injuries hit the team's other backfield options during the preseason, it's quite possible that only one of the two will make the team's final roster.

A fractured ankle that Bolden suffered as a senior, plus a one-game suspension he was handed, probably caused him to slide out of the draft, but he'll take aim at cracking a New England backfield that also includes Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead and Joseph Addai. Even if he doesn't make the team's final roster, he could end up on the team's practice squad out of the gate, as fellow undrafted free agent BenJarvus Green-Ellis did.