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    Pats ‘stretching’ Douglas’ usage, route tree

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    NE Wide Receiver #3
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    The Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan said the Patriots are “stretching DeMario Douglas’ usage and route tree more than in recent years.”

    Douglas appears set to function as a mainstay of the New England passing attack in 2026 after the team used him in a rotational role in 2025. Douglas last season had a lowly 36 percent route rate and was targeted on just 20 percent of his pass routes. He was second among Pats pass catchers in yards per route run, trailing Stefon Diggs. Callahan said so far in training camp the Patriots have “featured every possible pairing” from the trio of Douglas, A.J. Brown, and Romeo Doubs, “at various times within two-back or two-tight end personnel, meaning Douglas is not always in the slot. Douglas is, however, the most consistently available of those three. The Patriots are stretching his usage and route tree more than in recent years.” Douglas could be worth monitoring in deeper fantasy formats this summer if he’s going to see a marked increase in playing time and involvement in Drake Maye’s passing attack.
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  • NE Wide Receiver #3
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    Douglas made the first catch of the game for the Patriots, but was silent the rest of the day. The 25-year-old is a low-yardage slot receiver who tends to get schemed targets when he is on the field. Douglas tallied the third-most snaps of all Patriots wide receivers on the day but will find it hard to achieve fantasy relevancy in an offense that utilizes multiple receivers in several different ways. Second-year receiver Kyle Williams also saw a pair of targets, catching one for 10 yards. Neither Williams or Douglas are anything more than deep league dart throws for Week 3 against the Jaguars.
  • 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 #3
    Seattle shut down the Patriots’ deep passing game, forcing Drake Maye to pepper Douglas with low-value check-downs. Douglas wound up leading the Pats in targets and catches. He finished fifth in receiving yards. With A.J. Brown banged up, Douglas could be in line for another smattering of targets next week versus the Steelers. Even with Brown out, Douglas would barely register as a PPR WR5.
  • 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 #3
    Douglas was, in no way, the Patriots’ No. 1 wide receiver last year. In fact, his productivity was limited by his slot-bound, No. 3 deployment. We suspect Douglas is most likely competing for the No. 3 role again, behind WR Romeo Doubs and wind-sprinter WR Mack Hollins, as the roster currently stands. Do not rush to conclusions about a breakout year from Douglas. For now, just file this one away and check back to see what Douglas is doing in the coming weeks. He has a long way to go before we can view him as more than a boom-bust FLEX.
  • NE Wide Receiver #3
    A third-year sixth-rounder, Douglas’ production fell off even as the Patriots’ offense ascended. His 31 grabs were a new career low by 18. This, as the “target competition” was Stefon Diggs, Hunter Henry, etc. MVP runner-up Drake Maye likes to throw deep, and Douglas’ game is middle-of-the-field chess play. The pint-sized slot man has managed to stay healthy in back-to-back seasons, no small feat as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. However, a career that once looked like it could turn into a “Wan’Dale Robinson situation” is now little more than a small guy playing a smaller role.
  • NE Wide Receiver #3
    Douglas’ 28-yard score on the Patriots’ second series was his first since November 2. He shed a tackle on a 4th-and-1 crosser and was off to the house. Douglas is just a role player in Josh McDaniels’ offense, but one who gets weekly looks. Considering the Broncos’ elite perimeter coverage, Douglas could be something of an AFC Championship Game X-factor over the middle of the field.
  • NE Wide Receiver #3
    Douglas played through the hamstring injury without suffering a setback last week. He was only on the field for eight snaps, though. The Patriots currently hold the AFC’s No. 2 playoff seed, but could finish anywhere from the No. 1 seed to the No. 3 seed, depending on various outcomes. Expect them to have their healthy starters and rotational players on the field for as long as is needed.
  • NE Wide Receiver #3
    Douglas could see an uptick in snaps with Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins out. Kyle Williams is the primary option to fill their roles, but Stefon Diggs will likely have to kick outside more often this week, freeing up some extra slot routes for Douglas. Inactive for the Pats are LB Harold Landry, WR Kayshon Boutte, LB Robert Spillane, OT Marcus Bryant, OG Jared Wilson, DT Khyiris Tonga, and QB Tommy DeVito.
  • NE Wide Receiver #3
    If Douglas doesn’t play, New England’s only three healthy wideouts on the roster will be Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism. Chism would fit best in the slot, so he may get a chance to have a moment against the Jets if Douglas is ruled out.

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    Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett (hip) was a full practice participant on Wednesday.

    Brissett seemingly dealt with an injury in the Cardinals’ Week 2 loss against the Seahawks, but played through it. He opens the week listed with a hip injury but was a full practice participant. Though Brissett seems to have a hip issue ailing him, it does not seem like it will keep him from playing. The veteran remains in the low-end QB2 conversation for Week 3 against the 49ers.
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    49ers WR Demarcus Robinson (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.

    Robinson suffered an ankle injury in the 49ers’ Week 2 win over the Dolphins. The initial diagnosis was that the veteran would miss some time and his DNP designation Wednesday indicates just that. With Mike Evans (hip) also not practicing, the 49ers’ receiving corps is getting thinner than it already was.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #10
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    Seahawks WR Cooper Kupp (back) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

    Kupp also opened last week with a limited practice due to the back injury before getting in two full practices and playing in Week 2. His limited designation Wednesday is likely a continuation of veteran workload management for his back; fantasy managers should not be surprised to see the 33-year-old limited on Wednesdays this season.
  • WAS Running Back #31
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    Commanders RB Kaytron Allen (hip) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

    Allen popped up on the injury report as a limited participant due to a hip injury. The rookie has seen limited touches as the Commanders’ third-string back and is still buried in the depth chart. Also limited was WR Jaylin Lane (groin). Lane is likely to play as he played through the injury in Week 2. Allen’s status is up in the air; practice reports from later in the week will paint a clearer picture.
  • WAS Tight End #85
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    Commanders TE Chig Okonkwo (hamstring) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.

    Okonkwo did not play in Week 2 due to a hamstring injury and now opens this week not practicing. The 27-year-old suffered the injury in Week 1 and has yet to return to practice since then. The Commanders’ tight end depth chart is thin and neither John Bates or Ben Sinnott are worth rostering with Jayden Daniels out.
  • WAS Defensive Tackle #99
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    Commanders DT Javon Kinlaw (back/shoulder) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.

    Kinlaw dealt with a back injury last week but played in Week 2. He came out of the loss against the Cowboys with an additional injury to the shoulder. Kinlaw’s status for Week 3 is in question as he sits out of practice with back and shoulder issues.
  • SEA Running Back #8
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    Seahawks RB Jadarian Price (chest) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

    Price entered Wednesday expected to practice and officially received a limited designation due to a chest injury he suffered in Week 2. Also limited was George Holani (knee). With both backs starting out limited, their Week 3 statuses are up in the air. If one or both can’t go, Emanuel Wilson is the primary beneficiary for fantasy purposes against the Commanders.
  • SEA Quarterback #14
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    Seahawks QB Sam Darnold (glute) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

    Darnold was officially listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday, returning to practice for the first time since his opening day injury. He split first-team reps with Drew Lock and did some throwing off to the side. The Seahawks will make a decision Friday on Darnold’s game status for Week 3 but the 29-year-old has an outside chance of returning against the Commanders.
  • BUF Defensive Lineman #91
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    Bills DT Ed Oliver (hip) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.

    Oliver suffered a hip injury during warmups of the Bills’ Week 2 win over the Lions. He did not play in the game and now starts out Week 3 not practice. Oliver could certainly still go this week against the Chargers but he will likely need at least a limited practice to be in consideration to play.
  • BUF Wide Receiver #0
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    Bills WR Keon Coleman (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.

    Coleman pops up on the injury report with an ankle injury and did not practice on Wednesday. He briefly left the Bills’ Week 2 game against the Lions due to the ankle, but returned and finished the game. Coleman’s status for Week 3 is now in jeopardy; with DJ Moore (shoulder) also on the injury report, the Bills’ wide receiver groups may look slim come Sunday against the Chargers.