Fantasy Football Player Notes

A.J. Brown has a new home in New England for the foreseeable future. Brown has been a WR1 in fantasy points per game over the last four seasons (WR10, WR12, WR8, WR8), and I don't see that stopping this season. Brown moves from an Eagles offense that was 15th in neutral passing rate to a Patriots' system that was ninth in neutral passing rate and could climb even higher this season with the additions of Brown and Romeo Doubs this offseason. Brown could easily spike a career high in touchdowns this season. Last season, Philly was 32nd in passing rate inside the ten-yard line while the Patriots were 15th. That jump in touchdown fuel (if it all works out) could send him into top five status this season among fantasy receivers. Last year, among 109 qualifying receivers, Brown was ninth in target share (27.5%), 17th in yards per route run (2.23), eighth in first-read share (35%), and 20th in first downs per route run (0.104, per Fantasy Points Data). Brown was also 30th in separation score and 16th in route win rate among the same sample of receivers. While many will worry about Drake Maye spreading the ball around in 2026, I'm not because last year that was related to New England not having an alpha-level receiver like Brown on the depth chart. That isn't the case now. Brown is a strong WR1 with more upside than he's had in previous seasons because of the passing volume floor and ceiling for New England this year.

Drake Maye had a wonderful breakout season last year as the QB3 in fantasy points per game, and he could equal or surpass that this season. This offseason, New England gave Maye new weapons that could take this offense to another level with the additions of Romeo Doubs and A.J. Brown. The Pats were ninth in neutral passing rate last season and could bump that up some more with Doubs and Brown in town. I'm painting the fever dream outcome for Maye, but none of this is impossible or even improbable. Maye will continue to add fantasy points weekly with his legs on top of the passing upside. Last year, Maye was 12th in rushing yards per game and seventh in red zone carries per game among quarterbacks. As a passer, he was outstanding, ranking first in yards per attempt, seventh in highly accurate throw rate, eighth in hero throw rate, and fourth in fantasy points per dropback (per Fantasy Points Data). Maye should be considered a strong top-five fantasy quarterback option with the ability to push Josh Allen for the QB1 spot if everything goes his way in 2026.

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.

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.

Romeo Doubs lands with the New England Patriots and should be Drake Maye's clear WR2 behind A.J. Brown. He should see a volume bump with the Pats, simply moving from an offense that was 30th in neutral passing rate last year (Green Bay) to one that was ninth in neutral passing rate. I wouldn't be surprised if the Pats increase their neutral passing rate this season, either with the arrival of Brown and Doubs and Drake Maye having another year in Josh McDaniels' offensive system. Also add in Green Bay's love of rotating receivers and Doubs 72.8% route share last year, and it's not difficult to see Doubs being a late-round value. Last year, Doubs was the WR43 in fantasy points per game with five weeks in weekly scoring as a top 25 fantasy wideout. Last year, among 109 qualifying wide receivers, Doubs was 36th in target per route run rate, 31st in yards per route run, 18th in first downs per route run, and 27th in fantasy points per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Also among those 109 receivers, Doubs was 23rd in separation and fifth in route win rate. He's primed to explode this season with WR2/3 upside if everything goes right.

Last year, Hunter Henry was the TE12 in fantasy points per game while setting a new career high in receiving yards (768) and finishing with the second-most receiving touchdowns in a season in his career (seven). Among 54 qualifying tight ends, he was 15th in target share, 13th in receiving yards per game, 17th in yards per route run, and 14th in first-read share and first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Henry will take a step back in 2026 after the additions of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs this offseason, so I wouldn't expect him to be a TE1 again. He's best viewed as a solid TE2.

The Pats were the DST8 in fantasy points per game last year, and they could be a top-ten unit again in 2026. Last year, New England allowed the 14th-fewest net yards per attempt and the 12th-fewest yards per carry. The additions of Kevin Byard and Dre'Mont Jones will help. The back end of this secondary, led by Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and Marcus Jones, will still be the strength of this defense.

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.

Kyle Williams' rookie season was essentially a red-shirt season. With Kayshon Boutte traded to the Houston Texans, Williams will likely take over his field-stretching role, which could lead to some nice matchup-dependent flex weeks. Last year, Williams had only a 27.6% route share while producing a 12% target-per-route run rate with 1.24 yards per route run (18.2 aDOT, per Fantasy Points Data). Williams has been a beast during the preseason with 3.47 yards per route run (20.4 aDOT, per PFF). Unless there are injuries to the New England receiving depth chart, I don't expect Williams to have a high-volume role, but he could easily be a nice bye-week flex at multiple spots in the 2026 season or a last-round best-ball pick that pays off.