Josh

Boyce

Boyce broke a bone in his foot at the Combine and was forced to miss rookie minicamp. He’s a field-stretching burner, and will compete for snaps at X receiver with fellow rookie Aaron Dobson and veteran Michael Jenkins.

A vertical stretcher who averaged 15.7 YPR on 161 career catches at TCU, Boyce blazed a 4.38 forty at the Combine despite fracturing a bone in his foot. He’s been a full participant in OTAs. Boyce projects as a sub-package receiver in the NFL, testing defenses down the field. We don’t expect big rookie stats.

Boyce (5-foot-11, 206) is a burner who averaged 15.7 YPR on 161 career catches and scored 22 touchdowns for the Horned Frogs. Despite nursing a broken pinkie toe, Boyce ran a 4.38 forty at the Combine with an explosive 10-foot-11 broad jump. Boyce underwent surgery and is questionable for rookie minicamps. The Horned Frogs’ production dipped due to poor quarterback play, but he could ultimately be a better receiver the Aaron Dobson, who was picked earlier by the Patriots.

He suffered the injury at the Combine and had surgery. Boyce called himself “day to day,” and it sounds like he’ll be fine for training camp. A potential vertical field stretcher out of TCU, Boyce will compete for snaps at X receiver. Danny Amendola is the Z, leaving New England’s X job is wide open to competition.

The Dolphins ended up settling for LB Jelani Jenkins. It’s interesting on the heels of all the moves the Dolphins have made at receiver this offseason, but highlights the fact that they have little young talent behind their top trio of Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson. The race for the Dolphins’ No. 4 and 5 receiver spots is wide open.

Boyce’s snaps were extremely limited even though Danny Amendola missed time with a groin issue, and Kenbrell Thompkins struggled. He should fall back behind Aaron Dobson (hamstring) on the depth chart once Dobson returns.

ESPN Boston charted Boyce with one first-half snap, but we didn’t see him after that. It says a lot about where the Pats believe Boyce is in his development, as they received remarkably poor receiver play on Thursday. Boyce isn’t going to make a rookie impact.

Thompkins will likely get the start, and we’d expect him to get the most playing time of the four. All four are going to play. The only receiver locked into an every-down role is Danny Amendola. We like Thompkins as a low-end WR3 this week, but year-long expectations should be tempered. Dobson and Boyce are currently off the re-draft radar, though one could emerge at some point.

Another week, another infinitesimal role four the fourth-round rookie. He’s well off the fantasy radar.

Boyce finished with three targets. Even with Aaron Dobson dealing with a neck injury, he isn’t a candidate for an expanded role. Danny Amendola (groin) is tentatively expected to return in Week 5.