TreVeyon, A.J. Brown officially active vs. Jets

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.

Brown practiced in full on Friday. It is his first time doing so since returning from injured reserve last week. This is great news for his Week 7 outlook. The Bears field a beatable pass defense, setting up Brown for a bounce-back performance after last week’s disappointing showing.

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.

Brown spoke with the media today and there’s no reason to believe he’ll actually miss this game, but he was regarded as “limited” in both sessions this week and it’s fair to wonder if he’s 100 percent just yet after his drop-filled, rough Week 6. He’s best-treated as a WR2 this week — you’re still probably starting him regardless of what the ranking is.

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.

Active for the first time since Week 1, Brown had an even more disastrous outing than that inefficient box score would indicate, as he was charged with at least three official drops and could end up with 4-5 when it is all said and done. One was a potential long score where the ball literally went through his hands. It was unbecoming of a highly-paid No. 1 wideout. Brown also looked stiff moving side to side, and might not be particularly close to 100 percent health returning from his high-ankle sprain. We assume things can only get better from here, but they absolutely have to in Thursday evening’s short-week potential shootout with the Bears’ leaky defense.

Brown was activated from injured reserve this week and will suit up versus the Jets. It was reasonable to expect some sort of snap count in his first game back, but it sounds like Brown will be a full-go after looking great in practice this week. In desperate need of a true WR1 to step up, the Pats should pepper Brown with targets this week. He is back in the fantasy WR2 ranks after the lengthy absence.

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.

Brown makes his return from a four-game absence following a Week 1 injury to his ankle, reintegrating into an offense that has found their stride in recent weeks. After leading the league in turnovers through the first three games, quarterback Drake Maye has accounted for a league-leading eight touchdowns since Week 4. Although Brown could be on a snap count in his first game back, fantasy managers have to be feeling ecstatic to get their second round pick back on the field.

Brown returned to practice this week after going on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain. While nothing is official yet, it’s a great sign that Rapoport is anticipating a return for the 29-year-old wide receiver in Week 6 against the Jets. Brown may not play a full complement of snaps in his first game back, but is still essentially a must-start for fantasy managers.