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Shane Vereen | Running Back

Team: New England Patriots
Age / DOB:  (24) / 3/2/1989
Ht / Wt:  5'9' / 205
College: California
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

ESPN Boston considers Shane Vereen the clear-cut favorite to inherit ex-Patriots RB Danny Woodhead's third-down/passing-game role.
It's an easy connection to make after Vereen filled in for a banged up Woodhead in the Divisional Round and ripped off 124 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 touches. "I'd say that I'm approaching this season a little bit differently than I did last season," Vereen said. "Just with a mindset of my role on the team." The 2011 second-rounder has developed slowly, but will be an outside threat for RB2 value if he can run with Woodhead's old job in camp. May 14 - 3:22 PM
Source: ESPN Boston

Highest Searched Players over the last 7 days


Player News

Date:
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

ESPN Boston's Field Yates expects Shane Vereen's playing time to "spike" in 2013.

The writing is on the wall for a potential breakout year. Danny Woodhead's free-agent departure opens up all passing-down work behind Stevan Ridley, and Vereen earned a significant bump in snaps after averaging 6.4 yards per touch and scoring seven touchdowns last season, including the playoffs. Woodhead quietly finished as top-25 fantasy back in 2012. Vereen will be on the RB2 radar.
Source: ESPN Boston
Mar 16 - 6:51 PM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Shane Vereen rushed four times for 16 yards in the Patriots' AFC Championship Game loss to the Ravens, adding two catches for 22 yards.

Opportunities were few and far between for Vereen one week after he torched the Texans, as the Patriots had trouble finding success on the ground against a far feistier Ravens defense. Three of Vereen's touches came after Stevan Ridley departed early in the fourth quarter with a head injury. That number could have been bigger, but the Pats were forced to go into pass-happy comeback mode after going down 28-13 with 11:13 remaining. A 2011 second-round pick, Vereen will enter 2013 with just 85 career regular season touches, but should see his role increase even if the Patriots re-sign impending free agent Danny Woodhead. Vereen has shown he has what it takes to excel in New England's fast-paced attack.
Jan 20 - 10:39 PM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Tom Brady referred to Shane Vereen's 124-yard, three-touchdown performance in Sunday's victory as "just a huge growing-up moment."

"So very special," added Brady, who has apparently been moonlighting as a Hallmark greeting card writer. Taking over for Woodhead as the no-huddle back, Vereen played a career-high 38-of-66 snaps compared to 27 for Stevan Ridley. As the Pats' game-plans are unpredictable, Vereen's role for the AFC Championship game remains an open question.
Source: Boston Globe
Jan 14 - 1:27 PM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Shane Vereen burned the Texans for 83 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions and added another 41 yards and a score on seven carries to lift the Patriots to a 41-28 victory in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

It was a coming out party for the 2011 second-rounder, who took over as the passing-down specialist with Danny Woodhead sidelined by a thumb injury. After putting the Pats ahead on a 1-yard touchdown run, Vereen was left wide open in the flat for an 8-yard score. Staking New England to a 38-13 lead, he put the game away early in the fourth quarter on perfectly thrown over-the-shoulder pass for a 33-yard touchdown at the pylon. He joined Rob Gronkowski and Curtis Martin as the only players in franchise history with three touchdowns in a playoff game. The well-rounded Vereen proved to be a play-making upgrade on Woodhead and a fine change-of-pace to Stevan Ridley. Look for Bill Belichick to increase his role going forward. He's certainly earned it.
Jan 13 - 8:02 PM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Shane Vereen didn't receive a single touch in Sunday's Week 16 win over the Jaguars.

Vereen was the team's No. 4 back on Sunday, sitting behind Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, and Brandon Bolden. New England's backfield order after Ridley is changing by the week.
Sun, Dec 23, 2012 06:16:00 PM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Shane Vereen lost the ball on his lone touch in New England's Week 15 loss to the 49ers, fumbling at the end of a four-yard reception in the first quarter.

Vereen wasn't heard from again, even after Stevan Ridley lost a fumble early in the third quarter. New England went with Danny Woodhead as it attempted to erase a four-touchdown deficit. Although Vereen's miscue was a costly one, it was also his first fumble of the season. He should remain Ridley's primary backup over Woodhead and Brandon Bolden in Week 16.
Mon, Dec 17, 2012 01:26:00 AM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Shane Vereen rushed for 40 yards on eight carries in Monday night's Week 14 win over the Texans.

Vereen didn't register in the passing game and was targeted just one time on the night. He did handle much of the work in the running game in the second quarter while Stevan Ridley was sparingly used, though. But, Ridley later returned from a mini-benching of some kind and carried the load in the second half. Vereen is nothing more than a must-own handcuff in fantasy.
Tue, Dec 11, 2012 12:53:00 AM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Shane Vereen rushed three times for 14 yards in the Patriots' Week 13 win over the Dolphins.

Vereen is a distant backup to feature back Stevan Ridley. With Patriots actually in a close game for the first time since Week 10, Vereen wasn't trusted to even kill the clock. He's nothing more than a must-own handcuff.
Sun, Dec 2, 2012 04:46:00 PM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Shane Vereen rushed for 42 yards on 10 carries and caught two passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in Thursday night's win over the Jets.

Vereen's big play was an 83-yard catch-and-run down the left sideline which resulted in a score to put the Patriots up 14-0. The second-year back is seeing increased touches of late, but we still don't like him as much more than a handcuff for Stevan Ridley at the moment.
Fri, Nov 23, 2012 12:51:00 AM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Shane Vereen rushed 11 times for 40 yards and a touchdown in New England's Week 11 rout of the Colts.

He added one catch for 11 yards. Nine of Vereen's touches came in the fourth quarter, which the Pats entered leading 38-17. He watched the sea part on his touchdown, lumbering four yards to the end zone essentially untouched. The score provided the final in New England's 59-24 rout. Although today's stat line was tantalizing, don't let it fool you into thinking Vereen is anything more than Stevan Ridley's handcuff — he's not.
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 07:52:00 PM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Shane Vereen rushed five times for just five yards in Week 10 against the Bills.

It was not a pretty day on the ground for the second-year back out of Cal. Vereen did add one catch for 11 yards but was mostly a non-factor. He's a pure handcuff to Stevan Ridley for the next few weeks with Brandon Bolden suspended.
Sun, Nov 11, 2012 05:25:00 PM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Shane Vereen carried the ball seven times for 22 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' Week 8 rout of the Rams.

He added one catch for 17 yards. Vereen made a knee-buckling jump cut on a 14-yard gain in the second quarter, though three of his carries came with the game well in hand. However, he was called on to execute a 4th-and-1 from the Rams' one-yard line with 14:12 remaining in the first half, and responded with his third career touchdown. Vereen is a pure handcuff to Stevan Ridley, but seemingly locked into 6-8 weekly touches in the absence of Brandon Bolden, he's worth a roster spot in 14-team leagues.
Sun, Oct 28, 2012 04:44:00 PM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Coach Bill Belichick suggested that Shane Vereen has moved up the depth chart regardless of Brandon Bolden's (knee) health going forward.

"Hopefully he'll get more opportunities, because I think he can contribute for us," said Belichick. "More of it is, Shane being healthy and Shane being ready to go, than waiting for something to happen to somebody else. It's more a case of him really being able to go out there and being the player that he is." As the satellite-back complement to Stevan Ridley, Vereen should be owned in 12-team fantasy leagues. We would rather roster him than La'Rod Stephens-Howling this week.
Source: CSN New England
Tue, Oct 23, 2012 06:39:00 PM
Shane Vereen - RB - Patriots

Coach Bill Belichick suggested that RB Shane Vereen is ideally used as a "space" player as opposed to a high-volume interior runner who can sustain a rushing attack.

"He's an elusive guy -- he's got good balance, plenty of strength for his size," said Belichick. "[He’s] not the biggest guy, but plenty of strength; he gives us some versatility there. I think he's able to run inside, run in some traffic, but he's a good space player, on the edge and in the passing game." Vereen is more of a complementary back as opposed to a threat to Stevan Ridley's carries.
Related: Stevan Ridley
Source: WEEI.com
Tue, Oct 23, 2012 02:40:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Tom Brady
2Ryan Mallett
3Mike Kafka
RB1Stevan Ridley
2Shane Vereen
3Brandon Bolden
4LeGarrette Blount
5Leon Washington
GLB1Stevan Ridley
2Shane Vereen
3RB1Shane Vereen
2Stevan Ridley
FB1James Develin
2Ben Bartholomew
WR11Danny Amendola
2Julian Edelman
3Donald Jones
4Matt Slater
5T.J. Moe
WR21Aaron Dobson
2Josh Boyce
3Michael Jenkins
4Lavelle Hawkins
5Kenbrell Thompkins
6Mark Harrison
WR31Julian Edelman
TE1Rob Gronkowski
2Aaron Hernandez
3Michael Hoomanawanui
4Daniel Fells
5Jake Ballard
K1Stephen Gostkowski