RADIO
Rhamondre Stevenson Likely Headed for Immense Volume in Week 8
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to be involved early and often against the Miami Dolphins in Week 8. The Patriots' receiving corps is quite depleted right now with A.J. Brown (knee) unlikely to play and Mack Hollins (calf) and Romeo Doubs (shoulder) both on injured reserve. As a result, not only do we expect Stevenson to handle a large workload in the rushing game, but he should also fetch plenty of targets in the passing game. Stevenson had five catches last week, and he has accrued three-plus targets in five of his seven games so far this year. The 28-year-old's rushing efficiency has been subpar, but his contributions in the passing game cannot be ignored, especially in PPR leagues. He's a high-end RB3 in standard formats, but he jumps to the mid-RB2 range in half-PPR and full-PPR. He should benefit from a matchup against the Dolphins, who have allowed the most receiving touchdowns and the fifth-most receiving yards to opposing running backs in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Drake Maye Still a Premium Fantasy QB Despite WR Injuries
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been performing at an elite level lately, and he should continue to be started as a high-end QB1 in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins. Maye is coming off one of the best four-game stretches in recent memory, amassing 1,199 passing yards, 129 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns, and just three interceptions during that span. The former No. 3 pick's resilience will be tested this week, as he enters a road divisional game without several of his top weapons. The Patriots will be without Mack Hollins (calf) and Romeo Doubs (shoulder), who are both on injured reserve. It also looks like A.J. Brown (knee) will be inactive; he is listed as questionable but is trending in the wrong direction after missing Friday's practice. That will leave Maye with a receiving corps of Rhamondre Stevenson, Hunter Henry, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III. That's a group that lacks firepower, but Maye can still prevail as a strong QB1 option against a Dolphins defense that has allowed the sixth-most passing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks in 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
TreVeyon Henderson Questionable to Play With Illness
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness) is questionable to play in Week 8 versus the division-rival Miami Dolphins on Sunday, according to Taylor Kyles. Henderson has been under the weather this week and did not practice on Thursday or Friday, putting his availability for Sunday's game in question. The second-year back out of Ohio State should be feeling better by Sunday, but it does not mean that he should be in starting fantasy lineups as the clear No. 2 back behind Rhamondre Stevenson in New England. In two games since he aggravated an ankle injury in the Week 5 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Henderson has not played more than 24% of the offensive snaps while carrying the ball only 10 times for 40 yards while catching three passes for 23 yards on three targets. The only thing that makes Henderson a little more attractive in starting fantasy lineups as an RB3/flex if he is active in Week 8 is the strong matchup against the Dolphins. RotoBaller has Henderson ranked as the No. 43 fantasy RB for the week.
Source: Patriots CLNS - Taylor Kyles
Source: Patriots CLNS - Taylor Kyles
A.J. Brown Questionable to Play on Sunday
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) is questionable to play on Sunday against the division-rival Miami Dolphins in Week 8, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. The Patriots will see where Brown is at on Saturday before they travel to Miami. Brown is officially up in the air to play this weekend due to a chronic knee condition, but the good news is that fantasy managers should know by the end of Saturday whether he will be available for Week 8 fantasy lineups. The 29-year-old landed on Injured Reserve after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and the three-time Pro Bowler has not looked great in the two games since his return, catching six of 16 targets for 75 yards and no touchdowns. Now, his knee injury could cause him to miss more time. With Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins currently on IR for the Pats, quarterback Drake Maye is running out of reliable targets. If Brown is out in Week 8, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams will start in three-wide sets for New England.
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
A.J. Brown Absent from Friday's practice
There was no sign of New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee, ankle) during the portion of practice open to the media on Friday, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Brown was limited in Wednesday's practice and was then downgraded to a DNP on Thursday as he manages a chronic condition in his knee. Additionally, the veteran wideout is still working his way back to 100% after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the season opener that landed him on Injured Reserve. The 29-year-old returned to the Patriots in Week 6, but he has not looked right in two games, catching six of 16 targets for 75 yards and no touchdowns, and his status is now in doubt for the Week 8 contest against the division-rival Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Fantasy managers need to check back on Brown's official designation for the weekend. If he is ruled out, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams would serve as the starters in three-wide sets, with Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins still on Injured Reserve.
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Reiss
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Reiss
TreVeyon Henderson Has Yet to Regain Form Following Ankle Injury
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson has continued to struggle to start his second NFL season. In six games, Henderson has 52 carries for 203 yards and one touchdown, along with five receptions for 45 yards. Henderson suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 5. While he has yet to miss a game this season, he has clearly been affected. He has totaled just 99 scrimmage yards in three games since the injury and has played just 22% of snaps since Week 5. While the Patriots offense has hit a groove in recent weeks, they're relying more on Rhamondre Stevenson as the bellcow rather than Henderson. At the moment, Henderson will serve as a handcuff behind Stevenson and should not be in starting lineups in Week 8.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
TreVeyon Henderson Under the Weather on Thursday
Updating a previous report, New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness) was listed as a non-participant in Thursday's practice due to an illness, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. It was initially believed that Henderson's DNP on Thursday was related to the ankle injury that he suffered in the Week 5 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The 24-year-old should be in the clear to play in Week 8 on Sunday against the division-rival Miami Dolphins, but his role behind Rhamondre Stevenson of late makes him a shaky flex option for fantasy managers, even in a great matchup against the one-win Dolphins. Since injuring his ankle in Week 5, the former second-rounder from Ohio State has not missed any games, but he has not played more than 24% of the offensive snaps and has only 10 carries for 40 yards and three receptions for 23 yards. In six games total, Henderson has averaged just 3.9 yards per carry for 203 yards on the ground and one touchdown, adding five catches for 45 yards as a receiver. His lack of pass-blocking skills will continue to keep his fantasy ceiling low, especially if Stevenson remains healthy.
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Reiss
Source: ESPN.com - Mike Reiss
TreVeyon Henderson Absent From Thursday's Practice
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) was not present at the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. It is a downgrade for Henderson after he was listed as a full participant on Wednesday's report. It is unclear at this time if Henderson suffered a setback with his ankle injury or if the Patriots are just giving him the day off ahead of their Week 8 divisional tilt this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. The 24-year-old suffered an ankle injury in the Week 5 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He has played in the two games since, but he has not seen much involvement and has not done much on the ground, carrying the ball just 10 times for 40 yards while catching all three of his targets for 23 yards through the air. The second-year back from Ohio State has also seen his playing time drop behind lead back Rhamondre Stevenson, as he has not played more than 24% of the offensive snaps since his ankle injury in Week 5. Henderson is trending down as an RB3/flex for fantasy managers this week, and he could be in danger of missing Sunday's game if he aggravated his ankle injury.
Source: Boston Herald - Doug Kyed
Source: Boston Herald - Doug Kyed
A.J. Brown Missing From Practice on Thursday
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) was not in attendance at the team's practice on Thursday, according to Sophie Weller of Patriots Wire. The knee injury for Brown was added to the injury report on Wednesday, so Weller wonders if something happened to him during the first practice of the week. It is not what Brown's fantasy managers want to hear as he works to regain his explosiveness following the high-ankle sprain that he suffered in his Patriots debut in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler has played in two games since being activated from Injured Reserve, but he has not looked like himself, catching six of 16 targets for 75 yards without finding the end zone. Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins both remain on IR for the Patriots, so if Brown is unavailable to play in Week 8 versus the division-rival Miami Dolphins, DeMario Douglas could serve as quarterback Drake Maye's top target in an excellent matchup alongside trusted tight end Hunter Henry. Brown has been a fantasy bust so far in 2026 in his first year in New England, playing in only three games while grabbing nine of his 20 targets for 101 yards and no touchdowns.
Source: Patriots Wire - Sophie Weller
Source: Patriots Wire - Sophie Weller
Drake Maye Bouncing Back from Rough Start to 2026 Season
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye got off to an abysmal start in 2026 -- which included turning the ball over seven times compared to just one touchdown pass through the first three games of the campaign -- but has bounced back in a big way over the past four games. In the past four weeks, Maye has thrown for 1,199 yards (299.75 yards per game), 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions (he did lose one fumble in that stretch as well). He has also scored two rushing touchdowns during that span. Most recently, Maye completed 24 out of 31 passes (77.4%) for 321 yards and scored three total touchdowns (two passing and one rushing), while throwing one pick in a 30-24 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 7. It took Maye some time to find his footing in 2026, but he has solidified his status as a must-start quarterback. Maye ranks as RotoBaller's No. 2 quarterback for Week 8 in a road matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
A.J. Brown Limited in Practice on Wednesday with an Ankle Issue
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday's injury report, per Evan Lazar of Patriots.com. It's not clear whether Brown is dealing with a new ankle injury or simply managing lingering effects from the high-ankle sprain that he suffered in Week 1. Brown returned from that injury in Week 6 after missing four games. However, he's struggled upon his return, recording just six catches for 75 yards and zero touchdowns on 16 targets over his last two games. The veteran wideout also told reporters on Wednesday that he's had some trouble fully regaining his explosiveness while he recovers from the injury. If Brown is unable to play in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins, Patriots wide receivers DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams could be in line for larger workloads.
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
Source: Patriots.com - Evan Lazar
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
Rhamondre Stevenson a Reliable RB2 with Pass-Catching Upside
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has topped 12 fantasy points in four of seven contests and ranks as the RB17 through seven weeks. Aided by an unlikely 48-yard catch-and-run touchdown to end the first half of the team's Week 7 primetime tilt with the Bears, Stevenson's 204 receiving yards rank 7th among all NFL backs, and his brilliance as a blocker will continue to put him in position to contribute in the passing game. Already a high-upside RB2, he draws a favorable matchup in Week 8, facing a Dolphins defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points above expectation to the position, and he is RotoBaller's RB21 for the week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Eli Raridon Worth Adding After Another Strong Performance
New England Patriots rookie tight end Eli Raridon caught three of four targets for 56 yards and a touchdown in Thursday's Week 7 loss to Chicago, including a 30-yard scoring reception from Drake Maye. Raridon also caught five for 57 against Las Vegas in Week 5 and has 12 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns in six appearances. Hunter Henry remains New England's primary tight end, catching seven passes for 71 yards against Chicago, but Raridon is establishing a receiving role of his own. His big-play ability makes him an intriguing Week 8 pickup against Miami.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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
