Fantasy Football News

The Patriots are placing WR A.J. Brown on IR, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. That knocks Brown out for at least the next 4 games, making Week 6 his earliest return.

Patriots WR A.J. Brown is expected to miss "at least" 4 weeks with his high-ankle sprain, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Patriots WR A.J. Brown left Wednesday night’s game against the Seahawks early in the third quarter after getting his ankle rolled up on an incompletion. X-Rays ruled out a fracture, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network says Brown is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain that could cost him 1 to 6 weeks, depending on the severity.

Update: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says Brown is expected to miss at least four games after testing confirmed the high-ankle sprain.

The Patriots traded WR Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans for S Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. The Texans were in need of a shot in the arm at the position after WR Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL last week. Other WRs Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell have also missed most of training camp. Boutte had been rumored to be on the trade block since before training camp and was expendable after the Patriots brought in AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs.

Patriots WR Romeo Doubs was quiet early in training camp, but he excelled yesterday catching all 5 targets in a seven-on-seven session. What may be more interesting is Doubs' role in the Josh McDaniels offense. According to Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar, Doubs’ primary role will be from the “inside” instead of the X outside WR he played on the Packers. That big slot role could open up easier targets for Doubs, giving him weekly fantasy upside if he's on the same page as QB Drake Maye.

The Patriots plan to increase their offensive pace this season, which will be their second under OC Josh McDaniels (for his latest stint, that is). Last year's offense ranked third-slowest in the league at 30.6 seconds per play. They ranked 24th in 2021 (29.6 seconds), McDaniels' previous most recent Pats season. Before that came a No. 20 ranking in 2020 after eight straight seasons of finishing inside the top 12:

• 2019: 27.9 (11th)
• 2018: 28.0 (seventh)
• 2017: 26.8 (third)
• 2016: 27.9 (12th)
• 2015: 27.2 (eighth)
• 2014: 26.6 (third)
• 2013: 25.8 (fifth)
• 2012: 24.8 (first)

New England's renovated WR corps will be interesting to watch throughout the summer, and the first days of camp have already supplied some interesting notes. A.J. Brown, for one thing, has reportedly gotten off to a slow start in his connection with QB Drake Maye. According to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, Brown caught just three of 10 passes from his new QB through Tuesday's workout, limited to the short range. Kayshon Boutte, meanwhile, "has been a highlight machine" despite running fourth among Pats wideouts. Romeo Doubs and DeMario Douglas have joined Brown as the top three.

According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte is currently not attending voluntary workouts with the Patriots, instead working out away from the facility. This could be an indication that trade rumors from SI’s Albert Breer about Boutte being available for a fifth- or sixth-round draft pick could be accurate. WR A.J. Brown is still expected to be traded from the Eagles to the Patriots after June 1st according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, which could push Boutte out with WRs Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III completing the current WR room.

The Patriots will be releasing WR Stefon Diggs when the new league year begins next week. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that the veteran WR is due $1.7 million in fully guaranteed money for the coming season, with another $6 million set to become guaranteed next week if he remained on the roster.

Patriots WR Demario Douglas (hamstring) is active for today’s game vs. the Jets. He was limited in practice all week and listed as questionable. That adds obvious risk to Douglas’ fantasy profile, although New England could definitely use him today with WRs Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins out. Douglas ultimately isn’t a viable play in redraft leagues but has some flier appeal in daily tournaments.

Patriots WRs Kayshon Boutte (concussion) and Mack Hollins (abdomen) are out for Sunday’s game vs. the Jets. That strips the offense of two of its top three WRs in targets. And Demario Douglas, who’s fourth among New England WRs in targets, is questionable with a hamstring injury. That leaves Stefon Diggs and Kyle Williams as the top two healthy WRs. Diggs is much more likely to get a full helping of routes in this one, making him a safer fantasy bet. We’d try not to use Williams in season-long leagues, but he’s an intriguing flier in daily contests. TE Hunter Henry could also see more volume this weekend.

The Patriots' Week 1 loss to the Raiders found Kayshon Boutte leading the WR corps across the board. His eight targets tied TE Hunter Henry for the team lead. Boutte's 6 receptions tied two others for the team lead. His 103 receiving yards beat his nearest teammate by 37. And Boutte led the group in both total snaps (58 of 71) and routes (44 of 53). No other Patriot reached 40 routes for the game.

"DeMario Douglas has been the Patriots’ best pass-catcher, and it isn’t close," insider Taylor Kyles writes a few days into training camp. Douglas looks comfortable in OC Josh McDaniels' offense, is creating tons of separation, and has built a strong rapport with QB Drake Maye, according to Kyles. "The third-year receiver is primed to be the latest in [OC Josh] McDaniels’ long line of slot studs," Kyles adds.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that Patriots WR Stefon Diggs has gained clearance for "full participation" at training camp. Diggs, of course, is working back from an October ACL tear. But New England checked out the knee before guaranteeing $25 million on Diggs' three-year deal in late March.

Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald doesn’t project Patriots WR Ja’Lynn Polk to make the final roster.

The Patriots obviously knew when they signed WR Stefon Diggs that he was coming off a right ACL tear in October. ESPN's Mike Reiss reported shortly before that signing that Diggs was "ahead of schedule." Chad Graff of The Athletic, however, says Diggs' recovery timeline "could cause him to miss the start of the season."

WR Stefon Diggs is signing a three-year deal with the Patriots. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that it carries a max value of $69 million. ESPN's Adam Schefter adds that Diggs will get $26 million in guarantees. The agreement followed a Diggs visit that included a physical. The veteran WR tore his right ACL on Oct. 27.

The Patriots are expected to hire Josh McDaniels as OC under new HC Mike Vrabel, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's a homecoming for McDaniels, who had two previous stints with New England. He ran the offense from 2006 to 2008 and then again from 2012 to 2021. The Patriots ranked top eight in points in 12 of McDaniels' 13 seasons and top 11 in yards in 10 of 13. Of course, the majority of those offenses were quarterbacked by Tom Brady. In three years without Brady, McDaniels' Patriots finished eighth, 27th, and sixth in points; fifth, 27th, and 15th in yards. McDaniels also spent two seasons as Broncos HC (2009-2010), one as Rams OC (2011), and two as Raiders HC (2022-2023). None of those teams ranked better than 12th in yards or points. McDaniels has shown the ability to morph his offense to fit the personnel, with eight top-10 finishes in rushing yards and 10 top-10 finishes in passing yards. He's not as exciting for QB Drake Maye and this Patriots offense as Ben Johnson or even Liam Coen would have been. But McDaniels is at least a known commodity and should bring some stability to this offense in 2025. We'll see what the team does this offseason to upgrade the offensive line and skill positions.

Patriots WR Demario Douglas (ankle) is active for today’s game vs. the Colts. He was limited in practice all week, but we never heard anything to suggest he was in danger of missing this one. Douglas remains a fine WR4 in PPR leagues.

Patriots WR Demario Douglas (ankle) is expected to play vs. the Colts today, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Douglas was limited in practice all week, but we never sensed any real concern about his availability for this one. Douglas remains a fine WR4 play in PPR leagues.