The New England Patriots made a late-round gamble on Alabama running back Jam Miller in the seventh round of the NFL draft, but fantasy managers should temper expectations for 2026. While every rookie brings hope, the Patriots' track record for finding late-round RB gems is thin—Craig James' 1985 season stands as a rare bright spot over the last 50 years. For Miller to carve out a role, a lot would need to go right, and even more would need to go wrong around him.

The backfield picture is already crowded. TreVeyon Henderson is poised to take on a heavy workload, while Rhamondre Stevenson will handle the scraps. Stevenson has shown flashes as a 1A option, but his injury history and fumbling issues leave the door open for Henderson to claim the lead role—likely by September. Even if Stevenson falters, Miller isn't an automatic beneficiary. This is a Super Bowl-caliber roster, and the Patriots would likely turn to a veteran free agent or trade target before trusting a seventh-round rookie or depth piece like Terrell Jennings.

Miller's college production raises red flags too. His yards per carry declined each season at Alabama, and he only topped 12 carries seven times. Those heavier workloads were often followed by underwhelming performances. For now, Miller looks like a camp body with little path to meaningful touches in 2026. Fantasy owners should look elsewhere for backfield depth.