New England Patriots: 5 second-year players primed to breakout in 2020

Watch out of New England Patriots running back Damien Harris.

With Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, James White and Brandon Bolden making up the New England Patriots depth chart at running back, why in the world would Bill Belichick draft Alabama product Damien Harris in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft?

Well, we will find out in 2020.

While Michel, Burkhead, White and even Bolden are more versatile running backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield, Harris is your prototypical power back who gets yards after contact.

Take a look at this:

As we seen during the preseason in 2019, he is also a capable receiver which makes him an offensive weapon the Patriots will utilize a lot more in 2020.  In both power and second-level speed, Damian Harris can progress into the type of running back the team has been lacking sense the days of Corey Dillon.  Yes, I said Corey Dillon and not LeGarrette Blount.

Blount was more a power back who would run through or even over defenders where Dillon was the type of back to break tackles, but also had the speed to separate from defenders in open space.

That is what I see in Damien Harris which is why both Sony Michel and Rex Burkhead have to look over their shoulders when it comes to snaps at the position.

With just four rushing attempts for 12 yards in his rookie season, expect Harris to be more of that back he was at Alabama in his second season in the NFL.