Stevan Ridley played on 17-of-82 snaps in Sunday's win over the Browns.

NFL Network's Albert Breer reports Stevan Ridley is expected to be active for Week 14 against the Browns.

Multiple media outlets have had similar reports, including ESPN's Adam Schefter, ESPN Boston, and MassLive.com. Ridley was a healthy scratch last week but should play a minor role as LeGarrette Blount's backup at the "big back" position on early downs. Ridley is not a fantasy option for Week 14.

Stevan Ridley is expected to be active for Sunday's game against the Browns.

Ridley was a healthy inactive last week due to his fumbling issues. It's not known what kind of role he'll be given if he manages to play, but he'll likely be behind early down back LeGarrett Blount for carries and can't be trusted in the fantasy playoffs. Shane Vereen remains the only Patriots running back worth starting in Week 14.

The "gut feeling" of ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss is that Stevan Ridley's days as the Patriots' lead back are "probably over."

Reiss believes Ridley's time with the Patriots has "officially reached a crossroads." It's important to emphasize that this is just Reiss' gut feeling, but he follows the Patriots as close, if not closer, than anyone in the business. Speaking about his production meeting with coach Bill Belichick during Sunday's telecast, CBS' Dan Dierdorf said Belichick's "intolerance has reached the boiling point when it comes to turnovers." At the very least, Ridley is going to be staring at a reserve role if he's active for Week 14. It's quite possible he'll be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive week. Ridley can't be trusted for the fantasy playoffs.

Coach Bill Belichick says Sunday's benching of Stevan Ridley wasn't about sending a message, but putting the Patriots in the best position to win.

"If I have a message to send to somebody, I'll just sit down and talk to them and tell them what it is," Belichick said in Monday's presser. "This isn't cryptic. ... Along with every other decision on the team that I make, (the inactive players are) made with what gives our team, in our opinion, the best opportunity to win on Sundays." Taking Belichick at his word, it means he thinks fellow fumbler LeGarrette Blount gives the Pats a better chance to win than Ridley, but we digress. With the Pats' backfield now in all-out Lord of the Flies mode, it's going to be awfully hard to trust anyone other than Shane Vereen for fantasy purposes in Week 14.

Stevan Ridley is inactive for Week 13 against the Texans.

As is Aaron Dobson (foot). It's fairly surprising that Ridley is straight up inactive, but he was never likely to be in for a big role against the Texans after losing his third fumble in three games last week. Passing-down/hurry-up back Shane Vereen figures to lead the Patriots' backfield in touches, while Brandon Bolden should operate as the primary "big back" in Ridley's absence. Fellow fumbler LeGarrette Blount will likely be mixed in, but only Bolden is worth FLEX consideration. Bolden isn't a desperation option, as there's a good chance he'll find pay dirt. As for Ridley, this will likely be in the only week he's inactive, but he's a long way away from reclaiming starting duties. Also inactive for the Pats are CB Alfonzo Dennard, LB Steve Beauharnais, DE Jake Bequette, TE Michael Hoomanawanui and OT Marcus Cannon.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Stevan Ridley is not expected to play much on Sunday against the Texans if he's even active.

Ridley is no lock to even suit up for Week 13 after he's lost fumbles in three straight games. It'd be a bit of a surprise if he was a healthy scratch, but we agree with Schefter that Ridley is probably third in line for "big back" carries. He's behind Brandon Bolden and LeGarrette Blount, while Shane Vereen is the obvious passing-down back. Ridley is off the Week 13 fantasy radar.

Patriots OC Josh McDaniels spoke about Stevan Ridley's fumbling issues on Tuesday, but shed little light on his Week 13 status.

"When things happen like this, in back-to-back games - or in this case a few games in a row - I think you certainly have to address what you can address in terms of trying to fix the problem," McDaniels said obliquely. "I have great confidence in Stevan as a runner. ... At the same time, obviously, ball security is the most important factor for our offense and for our team when we have the ball." McDaniels is talking in circles, but what he didn't say - we're moving forward with Ridley as our No. 1 back - speaks volumes. ESPN Boston expects a three-man rotation at the Patriots' "big back" position against the Texans, and we agree. It's quite possible Brandon Bolden will lead the way, with Ridley and fellow fumbler LeGarrettte Blount being mixed in lightly. It's impossible to see the Pats trusting Ridley in the red zone, leaving him as a low-end FLEX option.

ESPN Boston expects a rotation at the Patriots' "big back" position for the short-term future.

Beat writer Mike Reiss states the obvious, saying "the days of [Stevan] Ridley playing a running back-high 45 percent of the offensive snaps, as he did last year, are over. Too risky." Ridley has lost fumbles in consecutive games and has now coughed it up four times on the season. LeGarrette Blount has also had fumble issues and Brandon Bolden is a backup-caliber player. Ridley is likely to still get some chances, but he probably won't start and is unlikely to get chances red-zone situations for now. Passing back Shane Vereen is the only Patriots runner we'd feel comfortable starting against the Texans Sunday.

Stevan Ridley did not play a single snap after his first quarter fumble in Sunday night's overtime win against the Broncos.

Ridley has now lost four fumbles this season and seven since the final game of the 2011 campaign. He was replaced by LeGarrette Blount initially, but Blount also lost a fumble which led to a 13/58/1 night for Brandon Bolden. "For me, it's almost disgusting -- consecutive weeks, and personally as a player, my team deserves better," Ridley said. "I come in. I work and bust my ass every day to come in here and not make the same mistakes. To have the same mistakes happen, there's something I've got to do different, I've got to do better." We wouldn't bet on Ridley getting his starting job back for the Week 13 game at Houston.

Stevan Ridley had just four carries for 14 yards in Sunday night's Week 12 win over the Broncos.

Ridley started, but was benched after fumbling on the Patriots opening drive of the first quarter. He's now turned the ball over in three straight games and currently leads the NFL with four fumbles. Ridley remains the Patriots best option for early-down work, but there's no guarantee he'll get his starting job back next week. Even in a plus-matchup against the Texans, he can't be counted on until this situation works itself out.

Stevan Ridley played six snaps after his second quarter fumble in Monday night's loss at Charlotte.

The fumble was Ridley's eighth since the final game of the 2011 season. But owners should be encouraged that he wasn't completely benched, getting critical carries deep in the tight game. It's a sign that coach Bill Belichick realizes the gap between Ridley and LeGarrette Blount is wide despite the butterfingers. We'd expect Ridley to start and handle a majority of the base work against the Broncos in Week 12.

Stevan Ridley rushed for 48 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries against the Panthers in Week 11.

As is the norm, Ridley wasn't involved in the passing game. He also lost a fumble at the beginning of the second quarter in the red zone and spent the rest of the half and 13:22 of the third quarter in Bill Belichick's doghouse. It was Ridley's third lost fumble of the season and his second in as many games. LeGarrette Blount came on and picked up 49 yards on ten carries. Ridley scored from one yard out on a stretch run to the right after he reentered to tie the game at 17-17 in the fourth quarter. He also had a fine 13-yard run early on where he ran into a wall of defenders but bounced off the right edge to pick up a first down. Ridley will be safe to ride as a high-end RB2 next week against the Broncos.

Following Sunday's win over the Steelers, coach Bill Belichick absolved Stevan Ridley of blame for his second-half fumble.

Ridley caught a short pass from Tom Brady near the sideline and never got firm control of the ball. Belichick said Troy Polamalu made a good play to strip it out, taking his somewhat fumble-prone back off the hook. Note that on the very next series, Ridley was out there and got a first-down handoff. With 393 yards and six touchdowns on his last 82 carries (4.79 YPC), Ridley's arrow is pointing straight up heading into the bye.

Stevan Ridley rushed 11 times for 50 yards and a touchdown in New England's Week 7 loss to the Jets.

He "added" two catches for three yards. Ridley was the invisible man through the game's first 1.5 quarters, notching only one touch as passing-down/hurry-up back Brandon Bolden monopolized snaps. The Pats began feeding Ridley on their third drive, however, where he broke loose on the outside for a 17-yard score. Why he didn't touch the ball more on an afternoon where Tom Brady was clearly off is unclear. Ridley brings the stress on a weekly basis, but is still more RB2 than RB3.

Returning to the lineup after a one-week thigh/knee injury, Stevan Ridley led the Patriots backfield in Week 6 snaps played (38).

The Patriots opened the game playing a series-by-series rotation, but put the backfield on Ridley's back until late-game mode, when they played four wide receivers and inserted Brandon Bolden as a pass protector and checkdown option. Ridley (38 snaps) came away with a season-high 21 touches. Role-player Bolden (34 snaps) had seven touches. Fading-away LeGarrette Blount (16 snaps) was stuffed for nine yards on seven carries.

Stevan Ridley rushed 20 times for 96 yards with two touchdowns in Sunday's 30-27 Week 6 win over the Saints.

Ridley didn't start and didn't even get into the game until there was roughly 1:40 left in the first quarter. After that, it was his finally show. Displaying truly eye-opening one-cut burst through the hole and good power at the goal-line, Ridley ended up touching the ball 12 times in the first half alone and dominated base snaps. He could have had a much bigger game if the Patriots were nursing a lead instead of battling the Saints for momentum all day long. Clearly a superior talent than LeGarrette Blount (seven carries for nine yards), the buy-low window is officially shut on Ridley. He'll be a RB2 despite a tough matchup at the Jets in Week 7.

Stevan Ridley (knee) and Danny Amendola (groin) are both active for Sunday's game against the Saints.

Despite being listed as questionable on Friday's injury report, NFL Network's Albert Breer reports Stevan Ridley (knee/thigh) is expected to play in Week 6 against the Saints.

Initial reports indicated Ridley's injury was not a long-term worry, and his return after just one missed game would confirm that. Ridley will be an interesting flex play against a Saints defense that's far more vulnerable to the run than pass, and could see more carries than usual after LeGarrette Blount's Week 5 lost fumble. View Ridley as a boom-or-bust Week 6 fantasy play.

Stevan Ridley (knee/thigh) is listed as questionable for Week 6 against New Orleans.

Ridley's return to "limited" practices this week was a good sign, but the Patriots aren't interested in dishing out game-day availability information, and we won't know Ridley's status until roughly 3PM ET on Sunday. Ridley owners should be looking elsewhere on flex spots unless something changes.