DeMario

Douglas

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.