RADIO
New England Patriots Avoidable Against a Surging Offense in Week 9
The New England Patriots D/ST can be left on the bench or waivers in most fantasy leagues ahead of Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. The Patriots have a solid defense on paper, and they hold a respectable #11 rank in fantasy scoring at the D/ST position so far this year. However, after facing teams like the Jets, Raiders, and Dolphins in the last four weeks, their schedule gets tougher midseason with back-to-back games against the Packers and Lions. Facing the Packers this week will be a tough test for this Patriots defense. Green Bay is averaging a modest 1.4 turnovers and 21.4 points scored per game this season. Green Bay's passing attack -- led by quarterback Jordan Love, tight end Tucker Kraft, and receivers Matthew Golden and Christian Watson -- has been remarkable since Week 1, and the offense has looked more well-rounded lately with the return of running back Josh Jacobs. New England's D/ST, which has just two turnovers over the last three weeks, ranks as the #16 option in RotoBaller's Week 9 fantasy football rankings. The Patriots can be avoided in most leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
New England Patriots D/ST Should Feast on the Road in Week 8
The New England Patriots D/ST unit should be started in all fantasy leagues ahead of a very enticing Week 8 road matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots rank near the middle of the pack in fantasy scoring this season, and they're coming off a shaky loss against the Bears in which they allowed 405 yards with zero turnovers. However, the Bears and Dolphins are two very different teams, and New England should bounce back with a much softer matchup on Sunday afternoon. The Dolphins have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing D/ST units so far in 2026. Their eight turnovers isn't an outrageous number, and they rank near the middle of the league in terms of sacks allowed. However, the biggest issue for Miami has been a mere lack of production. They have scored just 98 points on offense this season, which is the second-lowest mark in the NFL. The Dolphins and Chargers are the only teams with fewer than 108 points this year. We expect that New England's defense will have no trouble limiting points and capitalizing on mistakes this Sunday, making them a must-start D/ST for fantasy purposes. The Patriots rank #4 among D/ST units in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 8.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
New England Patriots Defense Not Worth Streaming in Week 7
The New England Patriots D/ST has been a top-10 unit in fantasy football this season, but they can be avoided in most leagues ahead of Week 7 against the Chicago Bears. New England is significantly banged up on the defensive side of the ball, with cornerbacks Carlton Davis (neck), Channing Canada (hamstring), and Karon Prunty (hamstring) all ruled out. Meanwhile, talented safeties Kevin Byard (chest) and Craig Woodson (shoulder) are both questionable, and the same goes for linebacker Christian Elliss (chest). A banged-up Patriots defense could certainly prevail in a softer matchup, but the unit will have a tougher test this week in the form of the Bears, who are led by MVP candidate Caleb Williams and most recently dropped 31 points on the Falcons. Managers who already have the Patriots D/ST on their roster should feel okay about deploying them this week, since the gap between New England and the top streaming defense won't be too large. However, if the Patriots are currently on waivers, they're probably not worth picking up to stream for this week. As it stands, the Patriots D/ST ranks #14 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 7.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
New England Patriots Defense Limps Into Week 5 Against Raiders
The New England Patriots D/ST is dealing with numerous key injuries ahead of Sunday's Week 5 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Vegas has played significantly better than expected this season, starting the year 3-1 with the seventh-most points per game in the NFL. Even last week's loss against the Chiefs showed that Vegas could put up a fight, as the Raiders scored 27 points. Their offense has been playing at a high level, led by Kirk Cousins, who has a whopping 11 passing touchdowns through just four games. Star tight end Brock Bowers has consistently proven challenging to slow down, and that task could be even more difficult for the Patriots, who will enter Week 5 without cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez (shoulder) and Carlton Davis III (neck). The unit is at risk of losing even more players with linebacker Christian Elliss (chest), linebacker Dre'Mont Jones (shoulder), and defensive tackle Christian Barmore (shoulder) all listed as questionable. This is not the week to start the Patriots D/ST. Managers should look to stream a different unit in Week 5.
Source: New England Patriots
Source: New England Patriots
Patriots D/ST a Borderline Fantasy Option in Week 3
The New England Patriots D/ST has enjoyed a very strong start to the 2026 season, but a tougher test awaits them in the form of the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3. On one hand, momentum is on their side after recording four sacks, two turnovers, and one touchdown last Sunday against the Steelers. On the other hand, the Jaguars have been quite disciplined so far this season, allowing just three sacks and one interception while averaging 23.5 points per game. The Patriots D/ST is too strong to drop to waivers, so managers rostering the unit should start New England with the understanding that their upside is likely capped this week. As it stands, the Patriots rank #12 among D/ST units in RotoBaller's Week 3 fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Patriots Defense Looking to Bounce Back in Week 2
The New England Patriots D/ST will look for an opportunity to get back on track in fantasy football during Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots had a frustrating showing in Week 1 against the Seahawks and Drew Lock, allowing 285 yards and 13 points with two sacks and zero turnovers. The unit kept the Patriots in the contest, but from a fantasy perspective, they have plenty of room for improvement. A matchup with the Steelers' mid-level offense could help the Patriots get back on track, but it's also worth noting that the turnover odds are relatively low against Aaron Rodgers, who threw just seven interceptions last season. As it stands, the Patriots rank as the #11 D/ST in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 2.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Patriots D/ST Gets a Tough Test in Week 1
The New England Patriots D/ST projects as a top-10 unit in fantasy football this year, but Week 1 might not be the time to start them. The Patriots run into a very strong Seattle Seahawks offense, kicking off the season with a rematch of last February's Super Bowl. For what it's worth, New England's defense did a good job of slowing down quarterback Sam Darnold in that game, and their biggest challenge -- running back Kenneth Walker -- has since departed for Kansas City. Nevertheless, the Patriots will face a well-coached Seahawks offense that is expected to get plenty of contributions from reigning Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba once again this season. The star wideout will be covered by Christian Gonzalez, who recently became the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. There's a lot of talent in this showdown between the Patriots defense and the Seahawks offense, but there are other D/ST units that offer a safer floor for Week 1. As it stands, the Patriots are a fringe top-12 fantasy D/ST this week.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Patriots Sign Christian Gonzalez to a Four-Year Extension
The New England Patriots have signed star cornerback Christian Gonzalez to a four-year, $135 million contract extension, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The deal includes $102 million guaranteed. By signing this new contract, Gonzalez earns $33.75 million per season, and he officially becomes the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. The Pro Bowler's contract had been a topic of discussion all offseason, and the two sides were able to reach an agreement less than 48 hours before the Patriots' regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. It's a well-deserved payday for the 24-year-old, who made 69 tackles, defended 10 passes, and earned a 65.8 PFF defense grade last season. Now that he has his new nine-figure deal, Gonzalez will turn around and be tasked with covering Seahawks star wide receiver (and reigning Offensive Player of the Year) Jaxon Smith-Njigba on primetime television.
Source: Jordan Schultz
Source: Jordan Schultz
Mike Vrabel Avoids Question Regarding Offseason Scandal
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel sidestepped a question at training camp practice on Tuesday when asked about the counseling session that caused him to miss the third day of the 2026 NFL draft in April, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "I think we always look at improvement," Vrabel said. "As we talk about getting ready for the next season, we always look at improvement and ways that we can improve individually and how we can improve as a team. It's really critical that we continue to do that on and off the field. I believe in that." It's one of the few questions directed at Vrabel this summer that deals with the aftermath of the offseason controversy involving him and former ESPN/The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini. Florio suggests that the controversy is still hovering over Vrabel, and it could move back to the front burner if the Patriots struggle out of the gates in 2026 after reaching the Super Bowl last season.
Source: Pro Football Talk - Mike Florio
Source: Pro Football Talk - Mike Florio
