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    Drake, AJB struggle with downfield connection

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    NE Wide Receiver #11
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    The Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan said A.J. Brown’s downfield “struggles” have been “noteworthy” during Patriots training camp.

    It has not been an easy transition into the New England offense for Brown, per Callahan, who said Drake Maye — the league’s most efficient deep ball passer in 2025 — continues to connect with Kayshon Boutte for highlight plays in training camp. Boutte, Maye’s primary deep ball option in 2025, “has unquestionably been the most dangerous receiver in camp,” according to Callahan, while Drake and Brown have connected in just three or ten targets during camp. Miscommunication, Callahan said, may be a factor in Brown’s early struggles. It’s not a reason to panic for fantasy drafters, though Boutte’s chemistry with Maye could make Boutte an interesting late-round pick, especially if the Patriots are slightly more pass heavy in 2026.
Explaining Garrett's slow start to Rams tenure
Nate Atkins, Rams senior writer for The Athletic, joins Andrew Perloff and Paul Pabst to explain how both the Rams and Myles Garrett downplaying his training camp injury has led to the slow start to his time in LA.

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  • NE Wide Receiver #1
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    Schefter added Brown will miss four to six weeks with the high ankle sprain he sustained on Wednesday night against the Seahawks. It could be much longer than that before Brown is back to full health and operating as the Patriots’ alpha WR1. For now, Mack Hollins will slide into three-receiver sets and Romeo Doubs — who didn’t catch any of his three targets against Seattle — will likely function as Drake Maye’s top option. Demario Douglas could be an interesting add in deeper formats after leading the team with seven targets in Week 1.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    This doesn’t come as much of a surprise after it was reported on Thursday that Brown could miss at least the next four games. Now that he finds himself on injured reserve, the star receiver won’t be able to return until at least Week 6 when the Patriots play host to the Jets. Brown caught just three passes for 26 yards in his debut with the Patriots before exiting the game. After running just four routes in the first half of Wednesday’s game, Mack Hollins ran 22 routes in the second half and should see an increase in snaps in the coming weeks. Brown’s absence should also pave the way for Romeo Doubs to see more looks in the passing game after he saw just three targets in Week 1.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    NFL insider Jordan Schultz puts Brown’s return timeline between 3 and 6 weeks. Both reports make Brown a candidate to be placed on short-term injured reserve. The rest of the Patriots’ wide receiver corps failed to step up in Week 1. Newcomer WR Romeo Doubs will undoubtedly be given a chance to earn his hefty contract in Week 2.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    Garafolo added, “MRI today after X-rays were negative.” That’s a good sign, but there is currently no timeline for Brown’s return. It will ultimately be a multi-week injury that could linger well into the season. Demario Douglas led the Pats with seven targets last night, though his looks are generally low-value check-downs. Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs will serve as the team’s primary outside receivers until Brown is healthy. Hollins led the Pats in receiving yards at a modest 51. Hollins is worth adding in deeper leagues, but it’s hard to imagine him putting up anything more than WR4 numbers while Brown is sidelined. Doubs should improve in Week 2 after failing to catch any of his three targets versus the Seahawks. He will get another shot at WR3 numbers against Pittsburgh next week.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    Romeo Doubs said to reporters after the game that Brown told teammates, “Everything was going to be alright.” He added that Brown was doing really well. Brown had his ankle rolled on while going to the ground in the third quarter of last night’s game. He immediately grabbed his ankle in pain and eventually limped off the field. New England ruled him out after a trip to the locker room. It sounds like a high-ankle sprain, which would sideline Brown for at least a few weeks. Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs will both play more in his absence. Demario Douglas, who led the team with seven targets in Week 1, will also see more work.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    A Seattle defender landed on Brown’s leg in the third quarter and the former Eagle clutched at his ankle as soon as he hit the ground. Brown eventually made his way off the field and limped to the locker room. He was listed as questionable for roughly a quarter, but the team has now ruled him out. The immediate worry will be that Brown suffered a dreaded high ankle sprain. That would sideline him for multiple weeks, though it’s too early to say much about the injury. Mack Hollins, Romeo Doubs, and Demario Douglas will all see some extra routes sans Brown.
  • NE Wide Receiver #1
    Brown had his ankle rolled on while attempting to corral a low pass in the third quarter. He limped off the field and went directly into the blue medical tent. He eventually walked into the locker room under his own power. Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs will serve as New England’s primary outside wideouts while Brown is sidelined. Demario Douglas could also see some extra run out of the slot.
  • NE Wide Receiver #9
    Boutte, according to Patriots beat writers and coaches, has functioned as Drake Maye’s favorite target, especially downfield, while A.J. Brown struggles to connect with Maye while dealing with consistent coverage from all-pro CB Christian Gonzalez. “If [Boutte] keeps this up, he’s either increasing his value on the trade market or playing his way into a meaningful role with the Pats,” Graff said. Boutte had been rumored as a trade candidate after the Patriots acquired Brown and Romeo Doubs this offseason. He should be drafted in all 12-team fantasy formats in the coming weeks.
  • NE Wide Receiver #11
    Speaking with the media on Monday, Vrabel said he thinks “a lot of things get fabricated, and people tell stories,” when asked about Brown’s knee. Patriots executive VP of player personnel Elliot Wolf said last month that Brown has managed a degenerative knee condition in one of his knees since he first entered the league, and he has appeared in 15 or more games in three of his last four seasons. Vrabel acknowledged that Brown won’t do “every single thing” in camp/practice, but the team doesn’t appear overly concerned about the recently acquired receiver. Brown has posted four straight 1,000-yard campaigns and has scored seven or more touchdowns in each of those seasons. He profiles as a fringe WR1/WR2 for fantasy purposes in his first season with Drake Maye.
  • NE Wide Receiver #11
    Maye and Brown have already begun generating highlight plays together against Patriots defenders. Coaches and players from both sides of the ball are highly complimentary of the new receiver, and Brown has taken on a leadership role within the offense. It sounds like things are coming together for Brown and the Patriots. Treat him as a WR2 with upside.

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  • NYG Quarterback #6
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    ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Jaxson Dart’s knee injury is “worse than initially thought” and the team is now “facing the possibility of season-ending knee surgery.”

    Obviously we’re looking for a follow up from the team, but this is absolutely brutal news for the Giants. Jameis Winston looked abysmal in his fill-in action against the Rams in Week 2 and, if he played like that going forward, would lower expectations for all Giants skill position players. More importantly for Dart, he’ll miss most of his second season and enter the third year of his rookie contract trying to rehab and prove to the Giants that he’s going to be their quarterback of the future. It’s a rough, rough break for the 23-year-old quarterback.
  • DEN Running Back #20
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    The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider believes Jonah Coleman “figures to have a growing role in Denver’s offense, even when the backfield is at full strength.”

    It’s worth noting that Sean Payton intimated that both RJ Harvey and JK Dobbins could be available for Week 3 at a Monday presser. The rookie back looked good in his first extended action in Week 2 with both runners out; that does not mean he’s going to have a major role in the backfield in Week 3. We’ll see how the week plays out. Coleman is still worth a speculative waiver add, especially in 12- and 14-team leagues.
  • GB Offensive Lineman #50
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    Zach Bako-Bewele said he fully tore his patellar tendon and will undergo surgery.

    He faces a nine-month recovery; it was the same patellar tendon he partially tore last season. This is a brutal run-out for the 27-year-old. He’ll enter the 2027 season on a $17.9 million cap figure that the Packers could save money on if they wanted to invoke Post-June 1 designations.
  • CHI Quarterback #17
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Tyson Bagent is in concussion protocol.

    In Week 1, the Bears scored 59 points. In Week 3, they will potentially be starting Case Keenum against the Eagles. Life comes at you fast. Bagent will have an extra day to clear protocol because the Bears play on Monday night, but we’ve seen teams be very cautious with concussions over the past few years and it should probably be regarded as more likely than not that Bagent misses Week 3.
  • PHI Cornerback #23
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    Eagles signed CB Kenny Moore to their practice squad.

    Rare for a practice-squad cornerback to have incentives up to $3 million, but that’s what happened for Moore here. He’ll likely be elevated a few times, then brought up to the active roster for the duration of the season.
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    Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) returned to practice on Tuesday.

    With Michael Penix already named the starter, Tagovailoa will be aiming to back him up in Week 3’s TNF clash with the Packers.
  • ATL Cornerback #24
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    Falcons placed CB A.J. Terrell (groin) on injured reserve.

    He’ll miss at least the next four games. CJ Henderson will take over at cornerback. The Falcons used Terrell’s roster spot to re-sign Zach Harrison to the active roster from their practice squad.
  • NYJ Quarterback #8
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    Jets signed QB Will Levis, formerly of the Titans, to their practice squad.

    The Jets signed Levis after hosting a workout with the former Titan. Levis will likely start as the team’s QB3 and could have a chance to compete with Cade Klubnik for backup duties behind Geno Smith at some point. Levis was one of the NFL’s most inefficient quarterbacks during his time as Tennessee starter.
  • LA Wide Receiver #12
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    Rams head coach Sean McVay said he’s “not sure” if Puka Nacua (groin) will play in Week 3.

    McVay said he’s “hopeful” Nacua, who missed Monday night’s game against the Giants, will be able to suit up against Denver next week. The Rams offense was fine without Nacua on Monday against an injury-ravaged Giants team. LA had the week’s fourth highest EPA per play on the way to a 28-6 win. Another game with Nacua sidelined will mean more target domination for Davante Adams and more involvement for Terrance Ferguson, who caught 6-of-9 targets for 54 yards and a touchdown against New York.
  • SF Wide Receiver #4
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    The Athletic’s Matt Barrows believes Jacob Cowing could be the primary replacement for Demarcus Robinson (ankle).

    Robinson suffered a severe ankle sprain in Sunday’s win against the Dolphins and could miss significant time. Cowing ran seven pass routes after Robinson’s exit from the game — the most among all Niners receivers besides Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans. Cowing was not targeted against Miami. If he gets a bump on snaps and routes this week against the Cardinals, Cowing would be nothing more than a deep league flex play who would likely be a boom-bust option.