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    Henderson still struggling with pass protection

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    The Athletic’s Chad Graff reports Tre’Veyon Henderson has struggled with pass blocking in training camp.

    It’s a concerning development since pass protection cost Henderson major snaps and reps during his disappointing 2025 rookie campaign. Graff said Henderson during training camp has “looked a bit like last season: big, explosive plays, but just enough mistakes in pass protection that it feels like a risk to use him on third downs.” Without serious improvement in his blocking, Henderson’s role likely won’t change all that much in 2026. Meanwhile, Rhamondre Stevenson, per Graff, “has done enough to keep the Patriots’ backfield workload at 50-50.” New England’s backfield is once again shaping up to be frustrating for fantasy purposes in 2026.
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  • NE Running Back #32
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    Henderson continues to play second, or third, fiddle behind Rhamondre Stevenson when the Patriots are forced into “gotta have it” mode, with Stevenson the back most trusted in key situations. The Patriots fell into an early hole and were playing catch-up throughout against the Bears, something that could help to explain the lowly opportunity total for the back widely considered the more explosive of the two. Furthermore, the team continued to rotate Corey Kiner through the opportunity pecking order, placing another sizable dent in the weekly floor of Henderson. Although he could find more opportunities in a softer matchup in Week 8, he’ll be a difficult click to insert into fantasy lineups against the Dolphins.
  • NE Running Back #38
    Stevenson scored one of the more improbable touchdowns you will see late in the second quarter. After taking possession with just 14 seconds remaining on the clock, Drake Maye completed an 18-yard pass to A.J. Brown to place the ball near midfield with three seconds remaining before the half. Instead of heaving the ball deep on a Hail Mary, Maye dumped the ball off to Stevenson in the flat with blockers out front. Stevenson would do the rest on his way to a 48-yard score as time expired in the second frame on a score that never really should have happened. The six carries go down as a season-low for the veteran back, although 11 opportunities handily led the team. Stevenson has not seen more than 14 carries since Week 1 and is not finding paint frequently enough to remain a consistent RB2, making him a shaky weekly start moving forward. That holds true ahead of a Week 8 meeting with the Dolphins.
  • NE Running Back #32
    Henderson will be active for the Patriots’ Thursday Night Football game, but his usage is up in the air. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel got RB Corey Kiner going late last week after Henderson fumbled. The Patriots won’t simply discard their former second-round pick, so he remains FLEX-viable, but he may be playing with a very limited touch count.
  • NE Running Back #32
    It’s been a stunningly quick recovery from what looked to be a high-ankle sprain that could sideline him. Henderson has practiced in full both days this week. We’re not concerned that he won’t play, but after fumble problems struck last week and Corey Kiner closed out the Jets in the fourth quarter, we do have slightly lowered expectations for his Thursday night stat line.
  • NE Running Back #32
    Surprisingly active, Henderson was unsurprisingly disappointing. Although his lost third quarter fumble was his first of the season, it predictably landed him in the doghouse. He touched the ball just two times thereafter, and the Patriots decided to ride No. 3 running back Corey Kiner is closeout mode. Kiner took 11 carries in the final 16:30 of game time. We know Henderson has big-play ability, but now playing at less than 100 percent in a backfield that is beginning to look like a three-man ordeal, he’s not a particularly appealing RB3/FLEX heading into Thursday’s short-week date with the Bears.
  • NE Running Back #38
    Stevenson was not targeted in the passing game. He didn’t make any big mistakes — that would be TreVeyon Henderson with his third quarter fumble — but like Hendo, Stevenson found himself mostly on the bench late as the Pats surprisingly rode No. 3 back Corey Kiner in closeout mode. Kiner received 11 carries in the game’s final 16:30. Speaking afterward, coach Mike Vrabel literally called it a hot-hand situation. The “hot hand” is something Stevenson rarely develops, so he can ill afford this backfield becoming a three-man committee. For now, Stevenson is still the Pats’ No. 1 running back. but things just got a little dicier heading into Thursday’s short-week matchup with the Bears.
  • NE Running Back #32
    As are A.J. Brown (ankle) and LT Will Campbell (knee). It’s a rare day where all the injury news went right for a team. We can’t imagine Henderson will be in large for a particularly big backup role behind Rhamondre Stevenson, but the fact that a player the Pats didn’t even really “need” for Week 6 is giving it a go suggests he is close to regular health. Henderson is a boom/bust FLEX option. Inactive for the Patriots are CB Carlton Davis, CB Karon Prunty, QB Behren Morton, CB Channing Canada, OT Dametrious Crownover and TE Tanner Arkin.
  • NE Running Back #32
    The same is true of left tackle Will Campbell, who also went down with an ankle injury in Week 5. It’s a remarkable turnaround for Henderson, who was initially expected to miss multiple weeks with a high-ankle sprain. He was limited in practice throughout the week before being listed as questionable on Friday. We expect Henderson to be on a pitch count this week, but he’s still capable of breaking a long run on just a few touches. Henderson is a high-risk FLEX play for Week 6.
  • NE Running Back #32
    The Patriots’ No. 2 running back was limited all week after being diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain. He told reporters today that he was surprised he could practice this week, and is feeling “pretty good.” If active, he will be a FLEX starter, but Rhamondre Stevenson should lead the backfield in touches.
  • NE Running Back #32
    Unlike yesterday, Henderson was spotted at the open portion of practice and appears to be making a real run to play in Week 6. If not for the report that he’d miss multiple weeks with a high-ankle sprain, this would be a pretty clear trend towards Henderson playing. As is, we’ll see what happens on Friday. It sure seems like he’ll hit the questionable line one way or another, but how it looks will be important as far as figuring out his Week 6 status.

Rotoworld

  • SEA Wide Receiver #10
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    Cooper Kupp caught both targets for 20 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs.

    Kupp saw sparse usage as Jaxon Smith-Njigba went off in the first half and the team transitioned to a run-heavy approach while playing with a lead after the break. Fellow receiver Rashid Shaheed departed with a knee injury following a collision with Smith-Njigba in the end zone at the end of the second quarter, which is something gamers will want to monitor ahead of a Week 8 meeting with the Bears on Monday Night Football. Kupp could work his way into the FLEX discussion if Shaheed missing time.
  • SEA Tight End #88
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    AJ Barner caught 4-of-5 targets for 42 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs, adding four yards on three carries.

    All three carries for Barner were tush push plays that resulted in first downs in key situations, while his five targets tied his second most of the young season. Even so, that was not enough to return a usable fantasy week outside of tight end premium leagues, keeping Barner best left on the bench of returned to the waiver wire, regardless of the severity of Rashid Shaheed’s injury.
  • SEA Wide Receiver #11
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    Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught 9-of-12 targets for 150 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs.

    Is there anyone in the league doing it better than Smith-Njigba at the moment? The reigning receiving leader put on an absolute show in this one, making two nearly identical bread basket catches down the left sideline in the second quarter, the first of which he snuck inside the pylon for his touchdown. He was forced out at the two on the second, resulting in an end zone interception from Sam Darnold two plays later. Those two long receptions before the break helped push Smith-Njigba to 126 yards and a touchdown before halftime, adding an additional 24 yards on three more receptions in the final two frames as the Seahawks transitioned to a more ground-heavy attack while playing with the lead. Fantasy’s early-season cheat code has now gone over 100 yards in six of seven games while notching a league-leading eight receiving touchdowns. It goes without saying, but Smith-Njigba remains the overall WR1 in a solid matchup against the Bears in Week 8.
  • SEA Running Back #23
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    Emanuel Wilson rushed 24 times for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ Week 7 win over the Chiefs, adding 15 yard son one reception.

    Wilson handily outperformed former Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker in the latter’s return to Seattle, spiking his fantasy production with a 21-yard touchdown scamper late in the fourth quarter with the Seahawks in ice mode. The outburst went down as the second time in Wilson’s career in which he hit the century mark in rushing, pleasing fantasy managers that were forced into his services in Week 7 through both byes and injuries. Wilson’s days as the lead back in Seattle are likely numbered with veteran Zach Charbonnet reportedly nearing a return from his 2025 torn ACL. That could occur as early as Week 8 when the Seahawks face the Bears.
  • SEA Quarterback #14
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    Sam Darnold completed 20-of-28 passes for 257 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the Seahawks’ 20-3, Week 7 win over the Chiefs, adding 17 yards on two carries.

    Darnold continued to flaunt his connection with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba with zero regard to the naysayers, feeding his alpha 12 targets on 28 pass attempts, the latter of whom accounted for 157 of the 257 pass yards for Darnold. As you probably guessed, Smith-Njigba was also the recipient of Darnold’s lone touchdown throw, which was a dime down the left sideline on a corner route that the veteran signal caller dropped into the bread basket. The two would connect on another similar play later in the the same quarter in which Smith-Njigba was forced out at the two, with the result of that drive Darnold’s interception in the end zone. Darnold continues to do just enough for his team and not enough for fantasy managers that thought they could grab cheap production late in drafts, better sent back to the waiver wire than inserted into starting lineups. The Seahawks next face the Bears on the second half of back-to-back Monday Night Football games, where Darnold remains a shaky fantasy option.
  • KC Wide Receiver #1
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    Xavier Worthy caught 3-of-6 targets for 11 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    Worthy struggled to separate from primary coverage of the Seahawks throughout, also committing a drop in a crucial situation in the second half. The Chiefs continue to show hesitancy in utilizing Worthy in a downfield role, which is of particular concern for his fantasy managers considering the absence of Tyquan Thornton. Worthy is better left on fantasy benches ahead of a Week 8 meeting with the stingy Broncos, particularly if Rashee Rice returns from injury.
  • KC Wide Receiver #13
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    Cyrus Allen caught 1-of-2 targets for 18 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    Allen was the recipient of Patrick Mahomes’ first target of the game, which he took down the right sideline for a tidy 18-yard gain. He would disappear into oblivion the rest of the way as he continued to play behind Andrew Armstrong and Jalen Royals, with Justin Watson also worked into the game plan in this one. Head coach Andy Reid has a long history of taking his time to develop rookies, meaning fantasy managers are likely forced to be patient. In other words, keep Allen on fantasy benches, for the time being.
  • KC Tight End #83
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    Noah Gray caught all three targets for 44 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    The fact that the team’s top two tight ends tied for the most production through the air at a modest 44 yards tells the story of how the game went against the Seahawks, who limited the Chiefs to just 213 yards of total offense. The absences of the team’s top two receivers continues to place stress on an offense with no true vertical threat, although their primary downfield option was lost for the season prior to their bye. Gray remains unlikely to return weekly fantasy value for as long as Kelce remains healthy.
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    Travis Kelce caught 4-of-8 targets for 44 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

    While Kelce moved into sole possession of the No. 5 spot on the NFL’s all-time receptions list, the Chiefs suffered their first defeat of the season as they struggled to the move the football against the tenacious Seattle defense. Their offense lacked any downfield threat in the absence of their top two receivers, while Xavier Worthy drew primary coverage. Much of Kelce’s aerial work remains tethered to the short areas of the field in his age-37 season, lacking the burst and YAC ability that once defined his game. Even so, achieving such a lofty accomplishment is a testament to his lasting and standout career. That said, fantasy managers are sure to be disappointed with the early-season as the veteran tight end has surpassed a modest four receptions just once through six games. He gets another difficult matchup on the interior against the swarming Broncos defense in Week 8, where fantasy managers are likely best off leaving him on the bench.
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    Kenneth Walker rushed 14 times for 36 yards in the Chiefs’ Week 7 loss to the Seahawks, adding 21 yards on four receptions.

    Walker was held to below 4.9 yards per carry for only the second time this season while also failing to find the end zone for the second time through six games, with his longest rush going for a meager seven yards. Seattle had all the answers on the defensive side of the ball as they held the Chiefs to just 213 yards of total offense on just over 24 minutes in time of possession. One of fantasy’s breakout stars in the early going of the 2026 season will face another difficult matchup on the road against the Broncos in Week 8, where he remains an elite RB1.