The Player
Tyler Gaffney is used to having to wait his turn. For three years, he was a backup running back at Stanford behind workhorse Stepfan Taylor, never given more than 74 carries until his breakout senior season. Once given the opportunity, however, Gaffney exploded for 1,709 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, demonstrating a rugged power and the speed to threaten defenses at all levels.
At the NFL Combine, Gaffney was fantastic, showing the burst and explosiveness that you could see on his college tape:
| Name | Hght | Wght | 40 yd | Bnch | Vert | Broad | 3Cone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladainian Tomlinson | 5' 10" | 221 | 4.46 | 18 | 40½" | 124" | 6.84 |
| Christine Michael | 5' 10" | 220 | 4.54 | 27 | 43" | 125" | 6.69 |
| Carnell Williams | 5' 11" | 217 | 4.43 | 19 | 35½" | 118" | 6.94 |
| Marshawn Lynch | 5' 11" | 215 | 4.46 | 20 | 35½" | 125" | 7.05 |
| Tyler Gaffney | 5' 11" | 220 | 4.49 | 15 | 36½" | 116" | 6.78 |
| Knowshon Moreno | 5' 11" | 217 | 4.5 | 25 | 35½" | 115" | 6.84 |
| Isaiah Crowell | 5' 11" | 224 | 4.57 | 23 | 38" | 117" | 7.28 |
| Chris Ivory | 5' 11½" | 222 | 4.48 | 36" | 119" | 7.2 | |
| Marion Barber | 6' 0" | 221 | 4.53 | 20 | 40" | 127" |
While not a particularly creative runner like Ladainian Tomlinson, he runs with a decisiveness and tenacity that allows him to create yards after contact and has enough long speed to finish once given a crease. He certainly has the ability to make lateral cuts (demonstrated by his outstanding 6.78 three-cone time), although he seemingly prefers to take a no-nonsense approach, finding the hole and hitting it at full speed.
Already this preseason, he has totaled 130 yards on 29 carries (4.5 yards per carry), including one 44-yard touchdown run during which he pulled away from the defense once in the open field. Finally healthy after two injury shortened seasons for the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers (who originally drafted him in the sixth round in 2014), Gaffney is finally getting his opportunity to show that he belongs.
The Opportunity
Until the Dion Lewis show last season, the Patriots' mix at running back has been difficult to predict and frustrating to monitor in fantasy. The team often uses a variety of different backs and schemes each game independently based on the weaknesses of the team they are facing. The Patriots haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Stevan Ridley in 2012, a player with almost identical physical measurables to Gaffney (although Gaffney tested as a much faster athlete).
While Dion Lewis was a revelation as a receiving back and in space out of the backfield in spread formations, his injury history is extensive, and he was placed on the PUP list, making him ineligible to play until after Week 6. That leaves James White in the passing down role, with Gaffney battling LeGarrette Blount and Brandon Bolden for the power rushing role.
Blount has been an effective role player for the Patriots during his off-and-on time with the team, but he is not necessarily known for his endearing antics, and suspensions and off-the-field incidents have followed him around his entire career. The Patriots were fine letting him leave for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014, only bringing him back after his wore out his welcome and was cut by Pittsburgh.
Bolden has been a valuable role player for the Patriots for years but is being overshadowed by Gaffney this preseason. We know there are valuable touches to be had in this backfield, but predicting who will receive them (and when) will never be a simple task. Still, Gaffney is just the type of tough, no-nonsense athlete who could endear himself to this coaching staff.