FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots leading rusher Dion Lewis is back to his pre-2015 ACL injury form, leading the team with 607 yards on 117 carries (5.2 avg.). His physical makeup -- 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds -- has been a notable storyline since taking over a leading role in Week 5, in part because there aren't many like him.

With this in mind, I asked Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward who Lewis reminded him of during Wednesday's conference call, and he reflected on an old AFC North rival.

"It's hard to say, because I think he's successful in so many different ways [but] he's got a little bit of Ray Rice in him where he may be small in stature but plays very big in his role," Heyward answered. "He's able to fall forward as a running back, and that's always good, and he's able to catch out of the backfield too. He's become a good target for [Tom] Brady. He's an every-down back, and he's showing it, but they also do have a myriad of backs that do some really good things – [Rex] Burkhead and James White."

Lewis was flattered by the comparison to the 5-foot-8, 206-pound Rice.

"Ray Rice was a great player. He's definitely a lot different than me as a player, a lot bigger -- probably about 20 pounds heavier than me. But he was definitely someone I looked up to watching when he was at Rutgers and when he was in the league with the Ravens, having those big years and rushed for 1,300 yards [in 2009, 2011] and stuff," Lewis said. "He's a player I've always looked towards."

Lewis, whose one-handed reception was one of the Patriots' offensive highlights on Monday night when the team got out of balance and had only 10 rushing attempts, has been asked several questions about his size this year. During the team's week-long stay in Colorado, he explained how he might be small, but he isn't little.

That was a reference to a playing style he has always tried to bring to the field.

"I definitely don't feel small when I'm on the field. I feel big when I'm out there," he said. "That's just the way I've always been. I've always been the smallest guy on the field, I'm used to it, but when I'm on the field I don't feel small at all."