The New England Patriots were tried and tested on Sunday, holding on for a massive statement win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Patriots' eighth win of the campaign came on the backs several standout rookie performances, giving the fan base a lot of hope for the franchise's future.
Without question, running back TreVeyon Henderson was among New England's top first-year performers. Henderson saw an increased role again with Rhamondre Stevenson missing his second straight game due to a toe injury. Sunday saw the rookie turn in a career performance, running for 147 yards on 14 carries, scoring two touchdowns.
Not to be outdone rookie Kyle Williams also scored his first touchdown of his career. Just like Henderson, he saw an increase in snaps with Kayshon Boutte out with a hamstring injury, playing a career-high 34 offensive snaps. Williams had a breakout chance and rewarded the coaching staff for putting their trust in him. The 22-year-old pass-catcher showcased his speed on his 72-yard touchdown score, which made him such an intriguing prospect.
Clearly, the young playmaker made the most of his opportunity, but that doesn't mean he'll be kept in the same role moving forward.
Patriots' WR Plans Are Unclear After Kyle William's Breakout
Williams' only catch on the day was a beauty, and it remains to be seen if the Patriots will find ways to get him involved. Boutte was doing a great job as the team's WR2 before going down with his injury, after all, tallying 431 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 23 catches in nine games.
Once Boutte is back, it might be tougher to get Williams involved due to the number of receivers the Patriots could utilize. Nevertheless, Week 10 proved that Williams should still see the field due to his skill set. For Williams to better develop, he'll need to see the field more than he did before his veteran counterpart's injury. Given Boutte's hamstring injury, it could be wise for him and Williams to split snaps so Boutte doesn't risk re-injury.
Still, too much of a good thing might not be bad for the Patriots. Head coach Mike Vrabel can alternate between Williams and Boutte as his downfield threats, giving both field-stretchers time to take a breather when needed.
The Patriots will be on a short week in Week 11, hosting the divisional rival New York Jets for Thursday Night Football. Due to the short week, it will be interesting to see if Boutte plays, given his hamstring injury and the fact that New England likely doesn't want to make it worse.
If Boutte were to miss the game, Williams could be in line for another big game. Having two good games in a row could make Williams' role in the offense consistent moving forward, giving Patriots fans plenty to monitor this week.