DeMario

Douglas

Douglas finished third among the team’s wideouts in targets behind A.J. Brown and Mack Hollins. Brown left the game with a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter and did not return. His absence could open up more work for Douglas, but the Pats are on bye after their trip to Germany. Fantasy managers don’t need to hold Douglas through their week off.

Despite his uncertain status, Brown, who was limited in all three practices during the week, made the trip across the Atlantic Ocean with the Pats before their game in Munich, Germany. The veteran has missed two straight contests, and New England may decide to rest him once again before the team’s Week 11 bye. Should Brown suit up, he would sit in the WR2/WR3 tiers against a Detroit secondary that’s improved lately but has been generally friendly to receivers most of the season. If Brown can’t go, DeMario Douglas would take that baton as the top target; Mack Hollins, Efton Chism, and Kyle Williams would see a boost into stronger Flex territory, and tight end Hunter Henry would slot into a more stream-worthy status.

The Patriots trailed throughout this one, which resulted in Drake Maye airing it out a season-high 38 times. The nine targets Douglas saw in this one also set a new season-high for the 25-year-old receiver, who reeled in two passes for 30-plus yards. Douglas has had a productive few games as of late, topping 60 receiving yards in four of his last five outings while also finding the end zone four times. He’ll be in the WR4/Flex range in Week 10 in what could be a high-scoring game against the Lions in Munich.

Hollins has been on injured reserve for a month with a calf injury. With a full practice today he’ll have a good chance of suiting up in Week 9 against the Packers. Hollins will likely function as Drake Maye’s primary downfield option if A.J. Brown remains sidelined. Hollins’ return dings the fantasy prospects of DeMario Douglas, who has an 18 percent target share and a 19 percent air yards share over the team’s past three games. Hollins will be flex viable in deeper formats.

The Patriots rolled with 12 personnel on their first play from scrimmage, so Douglas began his day on the sideline. Hunter Henry suffered an apparent foot injury early on, which likely afforded Douglas extra snaps via 11 personnel. He made his opportunities count. Douglas critically picked up a first down, powering through contact on 4th-and-2 on the Patriots’ eighth drive. He showed up again on the Patriots’ ninth drive, securing a play-action pass along the right sideline before juking a Dolphins safety and slipping a shoestring tackle attempt from JuJu Brents before racing into the end zone for a 48-yard touchdown. Douglas is a FLEX option against the Patriots next week.

The magic of the previous two games quickly evaporated for the diminutive slot receiver as Hunter Henry and Rhamondre Stevenson stepped into the primary security blanket role for Drake Maye, the latter of whom faced consistent pressure from the aggressive Dennis Allen Bears defense. Starting Douglas on a weekly basis is akin to reaching your hand into a brown paper bag found on the side of the road. It feels exhilarating at the time but you never know what you’re going to get.

Douglas followed up his best game of the season with another best game of the season, as well as the third most receiving yards of his career. His touchdown was a nine-yarder in the second quarter where the Jets’ defense simply afforded Drake Maye too much time. Things could not have been going better for “Pop” until his fourth quarter fumble at the end of a 39-yard catch-and-run. He was the victim of a classic “Peanut punch” from behind. Rather ominously, he was not targeted thereafter, though the Patriots were also in ball-control mode as they worked on draining the clock. That today’s effort came as A.J. Brown was returning from a five-week absence was promising, but the reality is that Douglas’ big box scores are likely to remain pop-up efforts rather predictable and/or weekly occurrences. He’s a shaky WR4 even with byes and injuries in full swing.

Douglas had his first two touchdown grabs of the season as Drake Maye sliced and diced a lifeless Vegas defense from start to finish. Douglas was wide open standing in the end zone by himself for his first score, and broke out of a bunch formation inside the ten yard line for his second score. Douglas has run significant routes in the New England offense since A.J. Brown (ankle) went down to injury. When Brown returns — perhaps this week — Douglas will take on a smaller role in the Pats pass game. He should remain on waiver wires in most formats.

Douglas was second on the team in targets behind only Mack Hollins, who saw nine looks from Drake Maye. Douglas got open and made a nice grab for his 38-yard gain — one of the only big plays for the struggling New England offense on Sunday. Though Douglas is playing a decent snap share, he should remain on waivers in most formats ahead of the Patriots’ Week 4 game against Buffalo.

Schefter and other reporters previously called it a 4-6 week injury, which now seems unlikely. Schefter did add that Brown is moving “pretty well” and could come back on the faster side of his updated timeline. Still, it looks like Brown will miss at least half of the regular season. Romeo Doubs will operate as the team’s No. 1 receiver until he returns, though it will likely be a group effort to replace Browns’ production. Mack Hollins and Demario Douglas will also be more involved.