The Patriots are signing TE Austin Hooper to a one-year deal worth "up to" $4.5 million, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Hooper is reuniting with OC Alex Van Pelt, who was Cleveland's OC when Hooper was there in 2020 and 2021. Hooper finished 22nd and 30th among TEs in PPR points per game those years and was even less productive the last two in Tennessee and then Las Vegas. The 29-year-old will slot in behind TE Hunter Henry in New England and is not worth rostering in fantasy football.
The Patriots have agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal with QB Jacoby Brissett, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That's about the same money Brissett got last offseason in Washington, where he backed up QB Sam Howell. New England has no better QB on the roster right now but holds the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft. That certainly puts them in position to grab one of the top three QBs -- if they like that guy enough. Brissett arrives as a potential backup or bridge starter, though not much of a fantasy factor in any case.
The Patriots are signing RB Antonio Gibson, according to multiple reports. Gibson primarily served as a receiving back for the Commanders the past two years, averaging 3.0 receptions across 31 games while sharing the backfield with Brian Robinson Jr. He arrives as a potential threat to RB Rhamondre Stevenson's upside. But Gibson's signing might sneakily be good news for the incumbent. Everyone should have expected New England to address a backfield that found Stevenson missing five games last year and Ezekiel Elliott leading the squad in carries and receptions. Gibson opened his career as Washington's lead back before steadily losing work over the past three years. We're not downgrading Stevenson for this addition. He might even turn into a sleeper for 2024 redraft and dynasty leagues, depending on how the market reacts to Gibson. As for Gibson himself, the former Commander remains a late option as a low RB3 to RB5.
The Patriots and WR Kendrick Bourne have agreed to a new three-year deal ahead of free agency. It's a $19.5 million contract with a maximum value of $33 million, according to The Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan. Bourne is working his way back from a torn right ACL suffered this past October but should be ready for the start of the 2024 campaign. He averaged a career-best 50.8 receiving yards per game before going down last year, finishing 35th among WRs in PPR points per game. That feels like Bourne's ultimate fantasy upside this year. We'll see what else the Patriots do at WR this offseason, but Bourne is just a late-round option in early fantasy drafts.
The Patriots and TE Hunter Henry have agreed to a new three-year contract, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports. Henry was scheduled to hit free agency next week but will now remain in New England under new HC Jerod Mayo and OC Alex Van Pelt. Henry posted a 42-419-6 line across 14 games last year, finishing 15th among TEs in PPR points per game. He ranked 14th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and 26th in yards per route run among 33 qualifying TEs. The 29-year-old could still be a fantasy asset in 2024. His value will largely depend on what New England does at QB and WR this offseason.
UNC QB Drake Maye measured in at nearly 6'5, 223 pounds at the NFL Combine. He declined to throw or complete athletic testing. Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Maye "impressed" in team interviews. There was certainly a lot to show off in 2022, when the now-21-year-old burst on the national stage. He showed NFL-caliber arm talent en route to a 4,321-38-7 passing line. His play plateaued last fall when WR Josh Downs jumped to the NFL. Still, Maye’s 2023 tape showed enough to keep us interested in him as a future top-12 fantasy QB. See where he lands in the pre-draft dynasty QB rankings.
UCF WR Javon Baker clocked a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the Combine on Saturday. It's not a bad time for the 6'1, 202-pounder, but it was slower than we expected to see from a guy who averaged 17.5 yards per catch for his college career and 21.9 yards per catch last year. There are, of course, other ways to win downfield besides pure speed. Baker's downfield ability should still be respected -- and we still have him highlighted as a potential sleeper. We'll see if the 40 time impacts his draft stock.
The Patriots named Alex Van Pelt their new OC under HC Jerod Mayo. Van Pelt spent the last four seasons as Cleveland's OC, although he didn't call plays for the Browns. Van Pelt did call plays for the Bills way back in 2009. That team finished 30th in total yards and 28th in points under QBs Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards. Van Pelt worked as QBs coach for the Bucs, Packers, and Bengals in between his OC stints and is expected to bring a West Coast offense to New England. We'll see what the Patriots do at QB this offseason. They hold the third overall pick and will have a crack at USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye, and/or LSU's Jayden Daniels.
Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte was arrested for allegedly placing more than 8,900 bets while underaged with a fake account, according to NOLA.com's Wilson Alexander. At least six of those bets were placed on the LSU team Boutte played on. We'll see how the Patriots and the NFL respond to these allegations, but Boutte had very little dynasty value to begin with. He fell to the sixth round of the 2023 draft and caught just two balls as a rookie.
The Patriots are set to hire Jerod Mayo as their new HC, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Mayo has been a lifelong Patriot. He was drafted by the team in 2008, played all eight seasons of his career in New England, and then spent the last five years as their inside LBs coach. The team had reportedly been planning for Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick for a while. We'll see what changes Mayo makes to the rest of the coaching staff, particularly whether he keeps OC Bill O'Brien.
The Patriots and HC Bill Belichick are mutually parting ways, according to multiple reports. That will end a run of 24 seasons, nine Super Bowl trips, and six titles. Of course, none of those championships came without QB Tom Brady on the field. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Belichick wants to continue coaching and that there will be interest. He singles out Atlanta as a potential landing spot. Washington has also been mentioned as a possibility for Belichick. We'd just like to see any team that hires Belichick give someone else control over player personnel. The Patriots' roster deteriorated post-Brady, especially on the offensive side. And the offensive skill-position players were often limited even throughout the glory years. As for what's left in New England, the Patriots should be looking for a new QB this offseason after benching Mac Jones for Bailey Zappe late in the year. The Pats could use pass-catching upgrades as well, though we'll see how much the salary cap and draft picks allow them to do. This isn't likely to be an offense that excites anyone in 2024, regardless of who arrives as the next coach.
Patriots TE Hunter Henry (knee) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Jets. Mike Gesicki will get another game as New England’s lead TE. He’s caught six of eight targets for 50 yards and 1 TD with Henry out the past two weeks.
Patriots S Kyle Dugger (illness) is active for today's game against the Bills. None of the other questionable defenders turned up inactive, either. Use Patriots defenders as planned in your IDP lineups.
Patriots TE Hunter Henry (knee) is inactive for today’s game vs. the Bills. That again leaves New England with TEs Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown. Neither is a viable fantasy play.
Commanders QB Jacoby Brissett is inactive for today’s game vs. the 49ers. QB Sam Howell will be back under center but would be tough to trust in fantasy lineups after getting benched the past two weeks.
Commanders QB Jacoby Brissett (hamstring) is "unlikely" to play vs. the 49ers today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. "But the team wants to see how he feels in pre-game warmups before making any decisions," Schefter adds. We'll get Washington's inactives around 11:30 am ET, but it sounds like it'll be QB Sam Howell back under center today. He's been so bad the past two weeks that he's been benched for Brissett. Howell would be tough to trust even as a QB2 in Week 17 fantasy lineups.
Patriots TE Hunter Henry (knee) was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Bills. We’re projecting Henry to play, but the knee issue adds risk to his fantasy profile.
Commanders QB Jacoby Brissett hurt a hamstring in Friday's practice and is now questionable for Sunday's game against the 49ers. We'll have to watch his status through the weekend. No Brissett would mean another start for Sam Howell. The San Francisco matchup hasn't been awful for QB scoring but has certainly been negative. Howell, meanwhile, has been awful over his past three games. He has finished three straight weeks with 127 passing yards or less, getting pulled in each of the past two games. He doesn't belong in any fantasy lineups, and his recent performance would mean bad news for Washington pass-catchers vs. Brissett starting. Watch for rankings updates as the situation becomes clearer.
The Patriots placed RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) on IR. He'll end up missing the final five games of the season. Stevenson got off to a brutally slow start this year, averaging just 60 total yards over his first eight games. He got rolling over his final three healthy games, though, averaging 91 rushing yards per game on 5.5 yards per carry plus 4.0 catches and 21.7 receiving yards per game. We'll see what New England adds to the backfield this offseason, but Stevenson figures to play a significant role again in 2024. Ezekiel Elliott will finish out this season as the Patriots' lead back. See where he sits in the Week 17 RB Rankings.
Patriots TE Hunter Henry (knee) got in a limited practice on Wednesday. That gives him a shot to return for this weekend's game vs. the Bills, although Henry would be just an emergency fantasy play. We'll keep you updated on his progress.
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