- In 2016, Rex Burkhead's 5.1 yards per touch almost matched Giovani Bernard’s 5.2.
- Bernard averaged more yards per route run (1.54 vs. 1.34), while Burkhead managed more yards per target (7.25 vs. 7.0).
- Burkhead forced missed tackles at a higher rate and averaged more yards after contact per attempt than either Bernard or Jeremy Hill.
- Bernard’s 26.9 elusive rating was his lowest in four seasons, while Burkhead’s 49.9 was the team best.
Fantasy Slant: Burkhead landed in a crowded Patriots' backfield, but he's a sneaky bet to emerge as a viable fantasy option in 2017. His ability as a receiver projects well in the New England offense given the recent fantasy success of backs like Dion Lewis and Danny Woodhead. In 365 career snaps, Burkhead has seen 48 targets.