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McPhearson (6'0/180) is a former four-star corner and top-300 ESPN recruit, but he hasn’t been playing for the Nittany Lions. As a redshirt sophomore, McPhearson only had 8 total tackles. Teammates Brandon Polk and Lamont Wade are also in the transfer portal.

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.

Hollins was the only Pat to post an above-average box score in a title tilt where their offensive line got utterly dominated. Battling with Kayshon Boutte for the Patriots’ primary down-field role, 32-year-old Hollins posted the second highest yardage total of his career (550) despite missing two games with injury. Playing on his fifth time in five years, his 46 receptions were also his second most. Excellent stuff, though Hollins’ most notable contribution remains his blocking. Signed for $2.9 million in 2026, Hollins should be back with the Pats, though his salary is not guaranteed. Although the Patriots had success with this year’s motley receiving crew, upgrading the corps figures to be an offseason priority.

The down-field opportunities just weren’t there for a Patriots offense that got dominated whistle to whistle. Boutte’s 33/551/6 statline mostly repeated his 2024 marks, though he doubled his touchdowns and added three yards to his YPC (16.7). Boutte was a legit role-playing weapon down the field for the Pats’ rotational receiver corps. That’s despite Mack Hollins serving much the same role. Hollins is signed for 2026 but is going on 33 and is more known for his blocking than pass catching. There should be an opportunity for 24-year-old (in May) Boutte to take another step forward in the final year of his rookie deal, though he seems to be maxing out as a situational deep threat. He should be rostered in dynasty, but is not the highest-upside option despite his relative youth and elite quarterback play.

It was a Super Bowl night to forget for Diggs, with the only silver lining being the same was true for every other Patriot. Officially in the mercenary stage of his career, 32-year-old Diggs signed a three-year deal with the Pats as he completed his recovery from a torn ACL. In reality playing on more of a one-year contract — Diggs can be cut loose with relatively little pain for the Pats — he was the No. 1 wideout in an offense where that didn’t mean as much as it might elsewhere. Diggs was just 71st in Pro Football Focus’ “route percentage,” with Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte both playing more snaps when healthy. Diggs did squeak by 1,000 yards, but he contributed only four touchdowns. He did manage a strong 2.42 yards per route run. Nevertheless, Diggs is getting up in age and becoming an increasing off-the-field distraction. It’s quite possible the Pats decide to make his Boston tenure one-and-done.

Shaheed also lost five yards on a rush and was bottled up on special teams. Thankfully, his X-factor play-making wasn’t needed with the defense truly dominating. One of the NFL’s premier big-play specialists, Shaheed came over in a mid-season trade from New Orleans, making exactly nine appearances for both the Seahawks and Saints. He was more productive on offense in Louisiana but remained a diabolical special teams weapon in the Great Northwest. Shaheed’s lack of offensive involvement for the ‘Hawks — he caught more than two passes twice in 12 games if you include the playoffs — was extremely curious, but likely a function of arriving mid-year in an attack that already had Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Headed for free agency as he prepares for his age-28 campaign, Shaheed will be a fascinating open market case, likely turning heads with his contract. Regardless of the deal and winning bidder, however, Shaheed is ultimately unlikely to become a consistent WR3 for 2026.

WIth Jaxon Smith-Njigba gutting through injury and tough coverage, Kupp was actually the Seahawks’ leading wideout as he hoisted the second Lombardi Trophy of his sterling career. Outside the Sean McVay cocoon for the first time during his nine-year career — and not by choice — Kupp chose the ascending Seahawks in free agency even though he would clearly be the No. 2 wideout. “Clearly” became a chasm, with Smith-Njigba out-gaining his veteran teammate 1,793-593. Kupp did manage to stay largely healthy for the first time in four years, and saw a modest usage spike during the postseason. Four months shy of his 33th birthday, Kupp has no guaranteed salary for 2026, but cutting him would create as much dead money as cap savings. He could be in for a restructure, but Kupp will likely be back with the Seahawks. Where he is unlikely to be is in the top 40 in fantasy after this season’s WR52 finish by total PPR points.

The Seahawks finally went down to a one-man backfield for the biggest game of the year, with Kenneth Walker III out-touching his new caddy 29-3. On the season, second-year UDFA Holani was a distant No. 3 option behind KWIII and Zach Charbonnet. That changed following Charbonnet’s Divisional Round ACL tear, though Holani’s late postseason work was obviously borne of necessity. Already 26 years old, Holani does not project as a meaningful future piece of Seattle’s backfield even if Walker departs in free agency.

Henderson needed to be a Super Bowl X-factor, but it turned out no Pat was capable of changing the game vs. the Seahawks’ defensive onslaught. The No. 38 overall pick of the draft, Henderson struggled to overtake Rhamondre Stevenson as starter even though he eventually led the team in rushing and totaled 10 touchdowns. As explosive as advertised — he cleared 5.0 yards per carry as the Patriots’ “lightning back,” and finished top 10 in rush yards over expected — Henderson was nevertheless disfavored by the playoffs, where Stevenson was the runaway “1A” option. It was still an ultimately promising rookie season, but Stevenson remains under contract for 2026, and there’s little reason to expect the Pats to abandon their two-back approach following a Super Bowl run. Henderson offers plenty of offseason upside as an RB2 option, but would need something to happen to Stevenson to make a run at RB1 status.

Stevenson qualified as a rare bright spot as one of only two Pats to find the end zone in a 29-13 defeat. Given a new backfield running mate in No. 38 overall back TreVeyon Henderson, Stevenson finished the year as the Pats’ second leading rusher. That, of course, doesn’t tell the full story, as Stevenson survived an early season deluge of fumbles to end up the most trusted back for the stretch run, including the playoffs, where he out-touched Henderson 68-35. Curious, but the Pats’ sharp coaching staff preferred Stevenson’s tough running to Hendo’s home run ability, while the veteran was a (far) superior pass blocker. Stunningly, Stevenson actually led the league in average rush yards over expected. Turning 28 later this month, Stevenson has one season left of guaranteed money. He’s guaranteed to remain a thorn in the side of Henderson partisans, but it stands to reason Hendo will get a longer 2026 runway than he did as a rookie. Stevenson is best treated as a lower-ceiling RB3 in offseason best ball drafts.

It was a rare off night for JSN on an evening where almost every other Seahawk was flying around the field and on their A game. It’s a credit to the Patriots, though their only credit in a blowout defeat. JSN also survived a foot issue and concussion evaluation as he posted his second lowest yardage total of the year. Switching quarterbacks, coordinators and offensive philosophies, it was an open question whether JSN could build off his breakout 2024. He ended up posting the eighth most receiving yards in NFL history, with his 1,793 tallies built off the back of stunning consistency. JSN posted fewer than 70 yards only one time all season, and more than 100 nine times. Smith-Njigba was a true inside-out threat, with “just” 27.9 percent of his targets coming out of the slot. Still somehow only 24 years old next week, JSN now heads into the offseason the candidate for a mega extension as he enters the final two years of his rookie deal. This is probably a situation the Seahawks will get out in front of. Regardless of his contract status, JSN is firmly in the mix for No. 1 overall status in 2026 fantasy drafts.