RADIO
A.J. Brown Still Trying to Get his Explosiveness Back?
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown has not looked the same since returning from a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. "Yeah, sometimes. Sometimes I see it, and sometimes I'm pushing through. But none of that stuff really matters. I'm out here, so...," Brown said when asked if he is still trying to get his explosiveness back, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler is still searching for his first touchdown in a Patriots uniform and has six receptions on 16 targets for 75 yards in two games since returning from Injured Reserve. He was slightly better in last Thursday night's loss to the Chicago Bears, catching three of his six targets for 48 yards, but fantasy managers are looking for more as we near the halfway point of the 2026 season. The good news for Brown's frustrated fantasy managers is that he should be more effective as he slowly gets back to 100% health. If Brown has another dud this Sunday against the one-win Miami Dolphins, the concerns will only grow for the veteran pass-catcher.
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Reiss
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Reiss
DeMario Douglas Still Carries Clear Streamer Appeal on the Waiver Wire
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas put up a dud in his team's Week 7 loss to the Chicago Bears, recording three catches for 23 yards on four targets. However, the 25-year-old had been playing very well coming into the game, logging 11 receptions for 151 yards and three touchdowns on 13 targets across his last two contests. Despite the setback against Chicago, Douglas should still have a window to contribute in the New England passing game. Patriots wide receivers Romeo Doubs (shoulder) and Mack Hollins (calf) are both currently on Injured Reserve. The Patriots also have a favorable schedule on paper, with matchups against the Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions over the next three weeks. Even off the disappointing week, Douglas carries clear appeal on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Vrabel Not Concerned with A.J. Brown's Struggles
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has no concerns about wide receiver A.J. Brown and his early-season struggles. On Monday morning, Vrabel said, "I thought he dropped a few passes. I don't think anybody has to press here or anything else. I think we just have to get back into a rhythm offensively with the guys we have." In three games, Brown has caught nine of 20 targets for 101 yards and no touchdowns, with three drops. In his first game with New England, he suffered a high-ankle sprain that placed him on injured reserve, causing him to miss four games. Now healthy and with quarterback Drake Maye playing at a high level since Week 4, Brown should bounce back unless he continues to struggle. Fantasy managers should view Brown as a buy-low candidate, as he should produce WR2 numbers moving forward.
Source: Mike Reiss - ESPN
Source: Mike Reiss - ESPN
DeMario Douglas Disappoints After Two-Game Scoring Surge
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas caught three of four targets for 23 yards in Thursday's 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears, giving him 5.3 PPR fantasy points after consecutive productive outings. He had totaled 11 receptions for 151 yards and three touchdowns against the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets, drawing eight targets against New York in Week 6. That total fell to four on Thursday, despite New England being without Romeo Doubs (shoulder) and Mack Hollins (calf). Drake Maye threw for 321 yards, with Hunter Henry drawing seven targets, A.J. Brown six, and Rhamondre Stevenson five. Douglas's receiving yardage was his lowest since Week 4, and his sudden drop in opportunities is the bigger concern for fantasy managers who started him on the strength of his recent production.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
A.J. Brown has Another Dud in Thursday's Loss in Chicago
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown was looking for a bounce-back game on Thursday night on the road against the Chicago Bears, but it did not come. Brown came off Injured Reserve last weekend for Sunday's 26-19 victory over the division-rival New York Jets, but he battled drops and finished with only three catches on 10 targets for 27 yards. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler was held in check again in Thursday's loss to the Bears, as he caught only three of his six targets on the night for 48 yards and no touchdowns. Brown's 48 receiving yards were fourth on the team, and his six targets were only one fewer than tight end Hunter Henry. He has not looked all that comfortable in two games since returning from a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. With more time to rest before the team's Week 8 game on the road against the division-rival Miami Dolphins, fantasy managers will be hoping that Brown can finally make some noise in 2026. He has been one of the biggest fantasy busts at the receiver position through the first seven games of the year.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
A.J. Brown Ready to Bounce Back on Thursday Night?
New England Patriots veteran wide receiver A.J. Brown returned from a high-ankle sprain that landed him on Injured Reserve in the Week 6 win over the division-rival New York Jets, but he struggled with drops and caught only three of his 10 targets for 27 yards in his second game with the Patriots. Brown also disappointed in his debut with New England in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, when he caught three of his four targets for 26 yards before injuring his ankle. Thursday Night Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit thinks Brown is primed to bounce back to form on Thursday night against the hosting Chicago Bears in Week 7. "I would be shocked if AJ Brown doesn't play incredibly well tonight. He was getting back into rhythm last week coming back from injury," Herbstreit said on The Pat McAfee Show. Brown is a difference-maker when healthy, and quarterback Drake Maye is expected to try to get his WR1 the ball early and often on Thursday night. Fantasy managers should be starting Brown this week, even after his lackluster return from injury in Week 6. Do not forget that receiver Romeo Doubs (shoulder) is on IR and will miss the next four games, which will raise Brown's fantasy ceiling.
Source: Kirk Herbstreit
Source: Kirk Herbstreit
Hot Stretch Vaults DeMario Douglas Into WR3 Conversation for Week 7
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas has emerged as a legitimate WR3/flex option in fantasy football for Thursday's Week 7 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Douglas had a relatively quiet start to the season, but recent injuries to Mack Hollins (calf) and Romeo Doubs (shoulder) have allowed him to break out in a huge way. Over the last two weeks, he has exploded for 13 targets, 11 catches, 151 yards, and three touchdowns. It's a small sample size, but he ranks as the WR5 in PPR scoring during that two-week window. Douglas should remain one of Drake Maye's favorite targets in Week 7 with Hollins and Doubs both on IR. AJ Brown is presumably the alpha receiver here, but even he is at risk of getting outperformed by Douglas after dropping three of his 10 targets last Sunday. Douglas, meanwhile, caught seven of the eight passes thrown his way and proved himself as a reliable target all over the field. He has jumped all the way up to WR34 in RotoBaller's latest Week 7 fantasy football rankings, making him a very strong candidate to start for managers in 12+ team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
A.J. Brown Looks to Shake Off Major Drops Issue
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown has top-10 upside in fantasy football, but he'll first need to show a little more reliability in the passing game. Brown returned from a four-week injury-related absence last Sunday and had three dropped passes (plus a muffed onside kick recovery attempt) against the Jets. Drops have been a factor for Brown throughout his career, but this was easily one of the worst performances of his career in that regard. He will look to turn things around with a much more reliable performance against the Chicago Bears in Week 7. Fortunately for Brown, this is a relatively favorable matchup, as the Bears have allowed the 11th-most receiving yards, ninth-most receiving touchdowns, and 13th-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2026. Brown will also have a little less competition for targets after Romeo Doubs (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve, although volume was never really a major concern for the alpha receiver, especially after he was targeted 10 times in Week 6. Brown is a high-end WR2 for now, but his track record makes it clear that he has WR1 upside and could return to top-12 territory on a weekly basis if he strings together a couple of strong outings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Romeo Doubs a Drop Candidate Following Injury
New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs (shoulder) was placed on the Injured Reserve earlier this week. The Patriots are hopeful that Doubs can return following the bye in Week 11. Fantasy managers are going to be without Doubs for at least the next five games, which is going to be a tough sell for many fantasy managers. Doubs was already struggling with two total receptions over his last two games. Also, top wideout A.J. Brown is back in the mix, so Doubs is expected to see reduced usage. Fantasy managers in 12-team redraft formats who don't have an IR spot available might want to drop Doubs for someone who can help them now.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
A.J. Brown Cleared to Play on Thursday Night in Chicago
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) was removed from the final Week 7 injury report on Wednesday and will play on Thursday night against the hosting Chicago Bears. Brown was limited in practice on Monday and Tuesday before upgrading to full participation on Wednesday. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler returned from Injured Reserve to play in the Week 6 win over the division-rival New York Jets on Sunday. He played 76% of the offensive snaps, but he was rusty and battled crucial drops, ultimately finishing with only three catches on 10 targets for 27 yards. The positive takeaway is that quarterback Drake Maye targeted Brown double-digit times in his first game back. Another week removed from his high-ankle sprain, fantasy managers will be hoping he can finally produce in just his third game with the Patriots. Brown caught three of his four targets for 26 yards in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks before spraining his ankle. At worst, he should be considered a low-end WR2 for fantasy managers this week.
Source: New England Patriots
Source: New England Patriots
Efton Chism III a Deep-League Waiver-Target Amid Patriots WR Injuries
New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III could be an intriguing option in Week 7 following injuries in the receiver room. After back-to-back solid outings in Weeks 4 and 5, Chism was held without a reception in the 26-19 win over the New York Jets. Despite his quiet showing, he played 61% of snaps even after AJ Brown returned, marking the second-highest snap count of his career. With Mack Hollins (calf) and Romeo Doubs (shoulder) placed on injured reserve, Chism has an opportunity to be a key playmaker for an offense that is starting to find its groove. While he's not a priority target in most fantasy leagues, managers in deeper leagues can keep an eye on the 2025 undrafted receiver, especially if additional injuries plague this room.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
A.J. Brown Seen Working on the Field on Tuesday
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) was seen working with the team in individual drills during Tuesday's practice, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Brown returned from his Week 1 high-ankle sprain in Sunday's divisional win against the New York Jets, but the 29-year-old is still on the Week 7 injury report and was estimated to be limited for Monday's session. He could be listed as limited again on Tuesday, but barring a setback with his ankle, he should be active to kick off Week 7 action on Thursday night on the road against the Chicago Bears. Brown was a bust for fantasy managers who started him in Week 6 in his return following a four-game absence, as he managed to catch only three of 10 targets for 27 yards in the 26-19 win. The veteran pass-catcher battled drops and looked rusty in his first game back. Hopefully, Brown will look better on Thursday night as he looks for his first touchdown of 2026. At the very least, Brown should be considered a low-end WR2 as he looks to get back in a groove as New England's WR1.
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Reiss
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Reiss
Romeo Doubs Not Facing Long-Term Absence
New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs (shoulder), who was placed on Injured Reserve on Monday after suffering a shoulder injury in Sunday's Week 6 win over the division-rival New York Jets, is not expected to face a long-term absence and is hopeful to return after the team's Week 11 bye, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. It is good news for fantasy managers who will be stashing the first-year Patriots receiver in deeper leagues now that he may only end up missing four games while on IR. The 26-year-old former fourth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2022 from Nevada caught his only target of the game in the win over the Jets, and it ended up going for 42 yards and his third touchdown of the season. Doubs has averaged a career-high 18.6 yards per catch through six games while hauling in 14 of his 24 targets for 261 yards and three touchdowns, which has been rather disappointing when considering that top wideout A.J. Brown just returned on Sunday after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He will not be a must-hold in shallower fantasy formats over the next four weeks. Doubs is currently rostered in 67% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
DeMario Douglas a Must-Add Following Teammate's Injury
Fantasy managers may have been dropping New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas going into the team's Week 6 matchup on Sunday against the division-rival New York Jets with star receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) returning from Injured Reserve. Brown struggled with drops in his first game back, and Romeo Doubs suffered a shoulder injury, leading to Douglas having a second straight strong game, catching seven of his eight targets for a team-high 86 yards and his third touchdown of the season in the 26-19 victory. The 25-year-old pass-catcher now has 11 receptions on 13 targets for 151 yards and three touchdowns in the last two weeks. Brown is now back for New England, but Douglas will be a popular waiver-wire target this week in fantasy football now that Doubs has been placed on Injured Reserve. Doubs will miss at least the next four games, opening up a bigger window for Douglas to see consistent targets from young quarterback Drake Maye. At the very least, the slot man should be in play as a WR4/flex option, especially for a potential shootout against the Chicago Bears this Thursday night in Week 7. Douglas is widely available and is currently rostered in only 8% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Romeo Doubs Being Placed on Injured Reserve
New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs (shoulder) is being placed on Injured Reserve due to the shoulder injury he suffered during New England's Week 6 win over the New York Jets, per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. The 26-year-old will now be sidelined for at least the Patriots' next four games, which run through Week 10. Across six games so far this season, Doubs recorded 14 catches for 261 yards and three touchdowns on 24 targets. New England got superstar wideout A.J. Brown back from the IR in Week 6, which briefly bumped Doubs back into the team's WR2 role. With Doubs sidelined, Brown could see an even larger target share than usual. Patriots wide receivers DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III could all see increased usage as well.
Source: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
Source: The 33rd Team - Ari Meirov
