Burkhead carried six times for 26 yards and caught his only target for five yards in Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Bills.

EDGE Analysis

Burkhead was on the field for 32 of a possible 65 snaps on offense Week 8, while Damien Harris logged 20 snaps and 16 carries (for 101 yards and a TD), and James White was out there for 31 snaps en route to recording two carries and two catches. It's a timeshare arrangement that doesn't give Burkhead much of a weekly floor, with Harris serving as the Patriots' primary ballcarrier and White the team's top receiving threat out of the backfield.

Burkhead carried four times for 12 yards and caught three passes (on four targets) for 35 yards in Sunday's 33-6 loss to the 49ers.

EDGE Analysis

Burkhead was on the field for 25 of a possible 52 snaps on offense, as he continues to work in a timeshare with Damien Harris (21 snaps, 10 carries) and James White (10 snaps, no carries/one catch). White's limited involvement Week 7 wasn't typical, and looking ahead to this coming Sunday's game against the Bills, Burkhead remains a hit-or-miss fantasy option due to his unreliable weekly volume.

Burkhead rushed five times for 14 yards in Sunday's 18-12 loss to Denver.

EDGE Analysis

Burkhead, who wasn't targeted in the contest, was on the field for 18 of a possible 57 snaps on offense, while working in a Week 6 backfield timeshare with Damien Harris (12 snaps, six carries) and James White (31 snaps, four carries and eight catches). As long as the Patriots continue to employ a committee approach in their ground game, Burkhead will be a hit-or-miss fantasy option whose weekly ceiling hinges on game scripts and flows.

Burkhead rushed 11 times for 45 yards and brought in his only target for five yards in the Patriots' 26-10 loss to the Chiefs on Monday night.

EDGE Analysis

With Sony Michel (quadriceps) on injured reserve, Burkhead was bound to see a boost in opportunity, and accordingly, he recorded a season-high number of carries. However, second-year man Damien Harris stood out by gaining 100 yards on 17 rushes, potentially earning the right to helm the backfield again in a Week 5 matchup against the Broncos. Burkhead was solid in his own right, and given coach Bill Belichick's sometimes mercurial deployment of his running backs. it's certainly possible the veteran rises to the forefront at some point during Michel's absence.

Burkhead rushed six times for 49 yards and two touchdowns while adding seven catches for 49 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 36-20 win over the Raiders.

EDGE Analysis

Burkhead operated as New England's pass-catching back with James White (personal) sitting out a second consecutive week, and he made the most of the opportunity with an 11-yard touchdown catch in the final minute of the first half en route to leading the team in receiving yards on the afternoon. While Sony Michel (nine carries for 117 yards) was the leading rusher and J.J. Taylor led the team with 11 carries (for 43 yards), Burkhead was the most opportunistic running back, with rushing scores of five and two yards in the second half. The Patriots will distribute touches out of the backfield between a few guys every week, but at least until White returns, Burkhead has the highest floor thanks to his pass-catching ability. Game script should favor Burkhead and the rest of New England's pass catchers in Week 4 against the Chiefs.

Burkhead had six carries for two yards and four receptions for 47 yards in Sunday's loss to Seattle.

EDGE Analysis

Burkhead technically led all Patriot backs in playing time (72 percent of offensive snaps), but Sony Michel ended up with one extra carry and Cam Newton stole all the goal-line work. The lack of touchdown opportunities hurts Burkhead's overall value, but he remains involved enough in the pass game to potentially have PPR value heading into a Week 3 matchup with Oakland.

Burkhead was on the field for 19 of a possible 64 snaps on offense in Sunday's 21-11 win over the Dolphins, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. In the process, Burkhead carried seven times for 32 yards and wasn't targeted in the passing game.

EDGE Analysis

Meanwhile, Sony Michel (10 carries) and James White (five carries) each saw 19 snaps, while rookie J.J. Taylor (four carries) was on the field for nine. As long as the Patriots employ a backfield committee, Burkhead will remain a hit-or-miss option, with a fantasy ceiling at the mercy of game scripts and flows that will change on a weekly basis.

The Patriots head into Week 1 with a backfield led by Sony Michel, Burkhead and James White, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rookie J.J. Taylor is also in the depth mix, but with Lamar Miller no longer on the team and Damien Harris (finger/IR) slated to miss at least three games, Burkhead does have a path to early-season touches, especially if the Patriots elect to ease projected top option Michel back into the mix, given that he's bouncing back from a foot injury. Accurately predicting the Patriots' carry allotments is a frustrating endeavor, but with less competition to contend with, Burkhead could see enough of an early-season role to merit deep league/flex consideration.

Burkhead is facing increased backfield competition after the Patriots signed Lamar Miller (knee) on Monday, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Burkhead could be in line for a solid opportunity on one hand, with Sony Michel (foot) uncertain for Week 1 and Brandon Bolden having opted out of the season. On the other hand, the Patriots saw fit to add a veteran in Miller, whose dual-threat skill set mirrors Burkhead's. In addition to Burkhead and Miller, second-year back Damien Harris also lingers on the roster, while passing-down specialist James White could also factor more prominently into the running game if Michel misses time. In the event Michel gains full clearance for the start of the season, the distribution of snaps and touches in the New England backfield would become even more difficult to predict.

Burkhead and the Patriots have agreed to a reworked contract that frees up nearly $1 million in cap space for the team, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

The team is giving Burkhead a $550,000 signing bonus in exchange for dropping his base salary from $2.5 million to $1.05 million in the final season of a three-year contract. This improves his chances to retain a spot on the 53-man roster, but he may still need to compete with Brandon Bolden in a battle that will be determined in part by special teams value. The Patriots seem to appreciate Burkhead's versatility, but he may not be needed on offense if Damien Harris steps into a larger role. Burkhead is 30 years old and has missed 15 games in his three seasons with the Patriots.