Fantasy Football Player Notes

A.J. Brown remains one of the NFL's premier alpha receivers despite a frustrating 2025 season in Philadelphia (WR11 PPG). After being traded to New England, Brown should immediately command massive volume and reclaim high-end WR1 upside, with an ascending quarterback in Drake Maye. Even in a down year, Brown still posted elite target share numbers and remained highly productive on a per-game basis. With him on a pass-heavy offense that is willing to feature him as the focal point, a major fantasy bounce-back and WR1 szn is LOADING for AJB.

In only his second NFL season, Drake Maye finished QB2 in fantasy scoring, averaging 21.1 fantasy points per game. Maye was sublime as a passer last year, leading the NFL in completion percentage (72.0%), yards per pass attempt (8.9) and passer rating (113.5). Maye finished a close second in the MVP balloting behind the Rams' Matthew Stafford. Aided by the tailwinds of a favorable regular-season schedule, Maye produced 4,394 passing yards and 31 TD passes. He also chipped in as a runner with 450 rushing yards and four TD runs - and his bountiful college rushing stats suggest there's still more meat on that bone. Maye got a rude wakeup call in the playoffs, completing 58.3% of his throws and averaging 207 passing yards per game and 6.9 yards per attempt in a four-game run against the Chargers, Texans, Broncos and Seahawks - all among the best pass defenses in the league. Despite the sour ending, Maye's second NFL season was a triumph. He's a top-five fantasy quarterback moving forward.

TreVeyon Henderson finished his rookie season as the RB24 in fantasy points per game, but it wasn't nearly that productive for fantasy managers when you look at the full breakdown of how it unfolded. In Weeks 10-11, Rhamondre Stevenson wasn't active, and Henderson feasted with 60.3 combined PPR points, which accounted for 29.2% of his overall fantasy production for the season. If you take those two monster games out of the equation, Henderson would have averaged 9.8 PPR points per game, which would have made him the RB33 in fantasy points per game. Without Stevenson in the lineup in Weeks 9-11, Henderson averaged 19 touches and 110 total yards. With Stevenson active, Henderson had 11.2 touches and 57.2 total yards per game. This isn't to shade Henderson, but I'm trying to give context to his rookie season that will be overlooked at first glance. I don't know how Henderson overtakes Stevenson in 2026 if both of these players continue to post per-touch efficiency metrics like they did last season. Last year, Henderson was bested by Stevenson in every metric that I care about, namely explosive run rate, missed tackle rate, yards after contact per attempt, yards per route run, and pass protection stats. Among 49 qualifying backs, Henderson ranked 12th in explosive run rate, but he was also 32nd in missed tackle rate and 42nd in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). Henderson could eat into Stevenson's workload more in 2026 if he can take another step and payoff as an RB2, but he 's best viewed as an upside RB3.

Rhamondre Stevenson was the Pats' lead back last year as the RB21 in fantasy points per game, and I don't see that changing in 2026. Stevenson was amazing on a per-touch basis, and he bested TreVeyon Henderson in EVERY discernible metric that I care about. Last year, Stevenson was fifth in explosive run rate, missed tackle rate, and yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). Stevenson also surpassed Henderson in yards per route run (1.41 vs. 0.98) and pass protection. Unless Stevenson falls off in 2026, he should remain the lead back for New England after playing at least 57% of the snaps in nine of his 14 games played in 2025. Stevenson should be a nice value for fantasy managers again this season.

Romeo Doubs lands in a much more pass-heavy offensive environment after signing with New England, where he should have a larger opportunity than he ever consistently received in Green Bay. The veteran receiver quietly improved his efficiency over the last two seasons while maintaining strong red-zone involvement and reliable weekly usage. Doubs has recorded two seasons with at least seven receiving TDs, while also commanding 17 or more red-zone targets in multiple seasons. Doubs may never develop into a true alpha WR1, but Drake Maye and Josh McDaniels could help unlock the most productive stretch of his career. He profiles as a solid WR3/FLEX option with touchdown upside in an ascending Patriots offense.

With 60 catches for 768 yards and seven touchdowns last season, Hunter Henry finished TE7 in half-point PPR fantasy scoring and TE12 in fantasy points per game among TEs who played at least five games. That was a career high in yardage for Henry, and his 8.8 yards per target represented his best mark in that category since 2017. Henry seems to have good rapport with young Patriots QB Drake Maye, and the 31-year-old tight end hasn't shown signs of slowing down. But New England's potential addition of WR A.J. Brown could put at least a slight dent in Henry's target share.

The Pats boasted a bottom-10 pass rush last season. They lost their sack leader in free agency and replaced him with Dre'Mont Jones. NE seems like a unit that could regress with a more difficult schedule in 2026 and worse injury luck on defense. Note that despite finishing last year inside the top 5 in fewest points allowed, they were the third-worst red zone defense. Just 23rd overall in defensive DVOA as the 10th-ranked DST. It's probably not worth reaching on too early based on their tougher opening 4 matchups against the formidable Seahawks, Steelers, Jaguars, and Bills.

Native Venezuelan Andres "Andy" Borregales tied for 15th in fantasy scoring as a rookie, making 27-of-32 field goals and 53-of-55 extra points. The Patriots should once again have a solid offense, with young star QB Drake Maye at quarterback and new arrival AJ Brown upgrading New England's WR corps. Borregales finished second in extra-point attempts last year behind only Jake Bates. The Patriots will have a tougher schedule in 2026 than they had in 2025 and if Borregales has fewer extra points and more field goals this season, he could crack the top 10 in fantasy scoring at the position.