DeMario

Douglas

The diminutive receiver made the most of the opportunities he received but remains unlikely to see significant weekly volume, keeping him from legitimate consideration in fantasy circles for the time being. That said, he could be busier against the nickel-heavy Bills defense in Week 15 following the team’s Week 14 bye.

Douglas’ three targets were good for fifth-most on the team, as both Hunter Henry and TreVeyon Henderson out-targeted him in this one. The third-year slot receiver converted a key fourth-and-short early in the game, but saw his longest gain of 26 yards come on a third-down catch after a defender failed to touch him once he fell to the ground. Douglas is a reliable, sure-handed slot receiver who is on pace for his worst statistical season since entering the league in 2023. There’s just not enough consistent production to make him a reliable option, meaning fantasy managers can continue to fade him in Week 12 against the Bengals.

The two targets were a disappointment on an afternoon where Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) didn’t play, but Douglas has still been more involved of late. Just not enough for him to be a viable WR4 in fantasy, PPR or otherwise. He’s not going to be commanding boffo looks for Thursday’s short-week game against the Jets.

Douglas took his turn as the Patriots’ top pass-catcher this game, leading the team in receiving yards and tying Hunter Henry and TreVeyon Henderson for the team lead in targets. He caught a 17-yard pass from Drake Maye for a first half score and later caught a 58-yard pass downfield for the longest reception of the game. Douglas saw just 16 snaps, but was targeted on 37.5 percent of them. The Pats passing game is fantasy viable but it is difficult to predict who will be the top receiver on a week-to-week basis. Douglas is a boom-or-bust WR4 for Week 10 against the Buccaneers.

Douglas saw just three touches against the Browns, but converted his only target into a 44-yard reception. It came in the two-minute drill at the end of the first half, with Douglas shaking his defensive back, making the catch, and falling in Browns territory. The shifty slot receiver is mostly off fantasy radars for Week 9 against the Falcons.

As suspected, Douglas’ 71-yard Week 6 outburst is looking like an outlier, as today was the sixth time in seven games be finished below 20 yards receiving. Failing to even enter the WR5 mix, Douglas will be mostly out of sight, out of mind for Week 8 against the Browns.

Douglas got the party started early with a 53-yard score on New England’s opening drive. He then went for the jugular on the next drive with a 61-yard score on a busted coverage by New Orleans. The play was inexplicably called back via a phantom pass interference on Stefon Diggs. The penalty cost Douglas a career day, though the Patriots would go on to score later in the drive. Douglas was averaging a dreadful 1.9 yards per target entering Week 6. He averaged 17.8 versus the Saints despite the second long score being wiped out. The downfield usage was likely an anomaly for the slot wideout, but it’s a step in the right direction. He will stick in the WR5 ranks for his Week 7 date with the Titans.

We didn’t blurb it over the weekend, but with Stefon Diggs being unchained early in the game, Douglas’ role in New England’s offense was all but kaput. This may be rock bottom and we’d anticipate Douglas being out there more in a game script where the Patriots are actually trying to pass, but Douglas is very droppable in most leagues if Diggs is going to be New England’s main slot receiver.

Douglas somehow finished second on the team in targets. He was dead last in receiving yards among all Pats with at least one target. Douglas is averaging a miserable one yard per target this year. He also made a critical error at the end of this game by catching the ball and stepping backward on fourth down. He might not have been guaranteed to pick up the first down after the catch, but his backtracking guaranteed a turnover on downs, ending the game. Douglas was already on the fantasy periphery heading into Week 3. Fantasy managers can officially cut ties with him after this dismal showing.

Douglas had a quiet day against the Dolphins, seeing just one target in the second half. The Patriots’ slot receiver is hardly reaching fantasy relevancy in an offense that spreads the ball around frequently. He has some WR5 value in PPR leagues for Week 3 against the Steelers.