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FFL: Week 6 | NFL: Week 6

RB Strength of Schedule

Tue May 28 9:03am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Robinson setup for big season


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the running back position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to running backs last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the running backs with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the running backs that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  RB SOS  
1. Green Bay Packers 356.01
2. Houston Texans 361.46
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 361.46
4. Las Vegas Raiders 361.48
5. Seattle Seahawks 362.28
6. Buffalo Bills 363.19
7. Arizona Cardinals 363.76
8. Dallas Cowboys 363.9
9. Jacksonville Jaguars 364.51
10. Washington Commanders 364.86
11. Chicago Bears 364.89
12. Indianapolis Colts 365.41
13. San Francisco 49ers 365.86
14. New Orleans Saints 366.49
15. New York Jets 368.23
16. Detroit Lions 368.49
17. Philadelphia Eagles 369.05
18. Minnesota Vikings 369.06
19. Carolina Panthers 369.88
20. Cleveland Browns 370.34
21. Kansas City Chiefs 371.71
22. New York Giants 372.21
23. Los Angeles Chargers 373.19
24. Denver Broncos 373.32
25. Cincinnati Bengals 373.66
26. Los Angeles Rams 374.09
27. Baltimore Ravens 374.16
28. New England Patriots 375.60
29. Atlanta Falcons 376.19
30. Miami Dolphins 377.49
31. Tennessee Titans 378.2
32. Pittsburgh Steelers 378.72


The two teams with the easiest fantasy schedules for running backs are the Steelers and Titans, which is interesting because both teams could platoon running backs. The Steelers split the work between Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. And the Titans are likely to use both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. All four backs could be setup for solid seasons with favorable schedules. It is always scary to take a back that might split work but seeing these positive schedules could make pulling the trigger on them a little easier come draft day. All four could be top flex plays for fantasy teams.

The Dolphins had huge success running the ball last year and could have similar solid production this season with the third easiest fantasy schedule for running backs. Devon Achane is really looking good in year two. He is expected to get more work and likely lead the backfield in touches. Raheem Mostert had a career season last year and a great schedule but he carries a little more risk. He is 32 years old and now has rookie Jaylen Wright pushing him for playing time. Just something to keep in mind come draft day.

The Falcons are another team with a top-five favorable running back schedule, making Bijan Robinson a very intriguing pick this year. Robinson had a bit of a disappointing rookie season, but a new coaching staff and really favorable schedule make Robinson a huge breakout candidate. He is moving up draft rankings in a hurry and is capable of finishing first overall in fantasy running back scoring because of his skill set.

Rhamondre Stevenson is a possible rebound candidate. He was slowed by injury last year but is back healthy and with the fifth easiest schedule for running backs. Stevenson has shown in the past he can be a big-time fantasy back. Things are looking up for him this year, making him a good buy-low candidate.

The Packers had the easiest fantasy schedule for quarterbacks but get the toughest for running backs. This isn’t great news for new back Josh Jacobs. It is hard to bet against the productive back, though. You just might want to temper expectations for him this coming year. Jacobs could have a few down weeks, especially for his standards.

The Texans signed Joe Mixon to shore up their running back spot, but he carries some concerns. He wasn’t highly productive the last few seasons besides all his scores and now gets the second toughest schedule for running backs. Plus, the Texans are likely to be a pass heavy team, which could limit his workload a little. Mixon could end up being a boom or bust player.

Tampa also has a unfavorable fantasy schedule for running backs. Rachaad White had a big season last year but padded his numbers because of all his work in the passing game. That might be a similar scenario for him, having a tough time to run with this schedule. The positive for White is he is very good in the passing game. You have to worry about his rushing totals, though.

The Raiders haven’t really settled on a starting running back, but Zamir White is likely to get first shot at the job. That is great news for his fantasy value but the not so great news is his tough fantasy schedule. This could limit the ceiling of White a little. He has risk to begin with because it isn’t 100 percent certain he wins the job. This makes him a bit of a scary pick for fantasy teams.

Kenneth Walker didn’t have quite the breakout second season many hoped but was fairly productive with his work. And the good news is Zach Charbonnet didn’t really put a big dent in his workload. The Seahawks seem happy with Walker as the lead back. The unfortunate news for Walker is he has the fifth toughest fantasy running back schedule. Walker might fail to reach his lofty expectations once again in year three.

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy running backs. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the running backs with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.

  RB PLAYOFF SOS  
1. San Francisco 49ers 291.43
2. Washington Commanders 325.2
3. Houston Texans 327.8
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 332.03
5. New York Jets 337.57
6. Cleveland Browns 340.8
7. Las Vegas Raiders 341.1
8. Miami Dolphins 348.27
9. Chicago Bears 350.37
10. Buffalo Bills 350.53
11. Arizona Cardinals 352.8
12. Dallas Cowboys 358.87
13. Detroit Lions 359.7
14. New York Giants 365.67
15. Kansas City Chiefs 366.53
16. Green Bay Packers 368.97
17. Seattle Seahawks 370.23
18. Carolina Panthers 377.15
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 378.37
20. Los Angeles Chargers 380.73
21. Jacksonville Jaguars 381
22. Baltimore Ravens 381.43
23. Cincinnati Bengals 383.50
24. Philadelphia Eagles 391.07
25. New England Patriots 397.95
26. Indianapolis Colts 398.40
27. Denver Broncos 399.53
28. Tennessee Titans 401.63
29. Los Angeles Rams 403.92
30. New Orleans Saints 406.33
31. Minnesota Vikings 407.87
32. Atlanta Falcons 422.4

 

There are two teams with a top-five favorable schedule for fantasy running backs for both the regular season and playoffs. Those teams are the Falcons and Titans. Atlanta actually has the easiest fantasy playoff schedule for running backs. Robinson was looking good even before hearing this news but looks even better now. He is making a strong case to be the second running back off the board come draft day.

And Pollard and Spears are intriguing running back options with schedules that could produce big for both during the regular season and playoffs. You just have to worry about one back emerging to grab most of the work. If that happens, one of these backs could end up being a bust.

Minnesota has the second easiest playoff schedule for running backs. Aaron Jones has some injury concerns after the last few seasons, but he could be setup for a big workload with an unsettled quarterback situation in Minnesota. Jones has some good upside with his new team, especially during the playoffs.

One other team to mention for the playoff is New Orleans. Alvin Kamara isn’t getting any younger but remains the lead back and still productive. He still seems to have something left in the tank and could be a big fantasy factor for at least one more season, especially when it matters most in the playoffs. He could be a difference maker, having the third easiest fantasy schedule for running backs.

Houston is the lone team in both the top five for the toughest regular season and playoff fantasy running back schedules. This is an obvious concern for Mixon. He is looking more and more like a player you might to avoid come draft day. He might have some big games along the way in this great offense, but you have to wonder about his consistency and playoff performance.

So the top rated fantasy back, Christian McCaffrey, also has the toughest fantasy playoff schedule for running backs. You aren’t fading McCaffrey because of this. He is one of those rare backs that it doesn’t really matter who he plays. McCaffrey will produce. We still think he is the clear No. 1 fantasy back. He can still get it done in the playoffs.

Washington has Brian Robinson and Austin Ekekler likely splitting the work at running back, which hurts both their fantasy values. They also get the second most difficult playoff schedule for running backs. We wouldn’t reach too early for either back because of this.

The Steelers have the easiest fantasy running back schedule during the playoffs but fourth toughest for the playoffs. This is a tough one. Both backs have potential for good things, showing they can co-exist last year and produce well for fantasy teams. You just have to wonder if fading in the playoffs will make all that good work during the regular season all for nothing.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 6

Player Notes
Bub Means Oct 14 4:30am ET
Bub Means

Wide receiver Bub Means scored his first touchdown as a pro in the Saints' 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The rookie out of Pitt snagged a ten-yard toss from fellow fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler as Means was heading out of the side of the end zone and got both feet down before his momentum carried him out of bounds. Means stepped into the game to replace Chris Olave (concussion) who left after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit on the Saints' third play of the game. Means ended up with 45 receiving yards and tied Alvin Kamara for the team lead in targets (eight) and receptions (five). With the Saints next playing on Thursday night, it is unlikely that Olave will be ready to go which would allow Means to continue where he left off. Before fantasy managers rush to the waiver wire, consider Rattler's inconsistent performance and that New Orleans will be facing the Denver Broncos who have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers.

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Rashid Shaheed Oct 14 4:20am ET
Rashid Shaheed

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed scored a 54-yard punt return touchdown in the team's 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A combination of poor angles, good blocking, and Shaheed's speed allowed the receiver to make his path to the end zone easy. Things did not go as smoothly as part of the offense, though. Shaheed was targeted seven times but had just one reception for 11 yards with rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler filling in for the injured Derek Carr (oblique). Rattler showed the ability to make deeper passes intermittently throughout the game but his accuracy was maddingly inconsistent and Shaheed wound up paying the price. New Orleans will face the Denver Broncos' stingy secondary in Week 7. Rattler will draw another start but Shaheed will serve as the team's primary receiver as it is unlikely that Chris Olave (concussion) will clear the league's concussion protocol before the Thursday night matchup.

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Spencer Rattler Oct 14 4:10am ET
Spencer Rattler

Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler was dealt a loss in his professional debut as the New Orleans Saints fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 51-27. Rattler went 22-for-40 for 243 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions and gained 27 yards on four carries. Rattler started the game with a 27-yard strike to Juwan Johnson but followed it up with a fumbled snap (which he recovered) on the next play. So it went for the fifth-round pick, alternating between impressive displays of arm strength (often while on the run) and wildly inaccurate throws. Rattler was surprisingly efficient to start, completing 11 of his first 14 attempts, though as Tampa turned up the pressure as the game went on Rattler found it harder and harder to remain effective. It is worth noting that Rattler was without Chris Olave (concussion) for much of the game after the receiver took a helmet-to-helmet hit just three plays into the Saints' first possession. New Orleans kicks off Week 7 when they face the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. Rattler should draw another start but he will be hard to trust on a short week.

From RotoBaller

Alvin Kamara Oct 14 4:10am ET
Alvin Kamara

Running back Alvin Kamara took 13 carries for 40 yards on the ground and caught five of his eight targets for another 24 in the Saints' 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kamara also found the end zone in the second quarter for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season (seventh overall). With Tampa seemingly scoring at will, New Orleans was playing catch-up for much of the game and subsequently abandoned the run. Similar to Week 5's showing against Kansas City, Kamara was hard-pressed to find room to run as the Saints' offensive line could not open up any lanes for the back against a dominating defensive front. New Orleans gets a few days' rest before opening up Week 7 against the Broncos on Thursday Night Football. Considering the short week and the opponent, the Saints will probably be best served to get the NFL's touch leader more involved again, especially since receiver Chris Olave (concussion) is unlikely to clear the concussion protocol in time to be active.

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Darius Slayton Oct 14 3:40am ET
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton led the team with six receptions for 57 yards in Sunday's 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals but couldn't find the end zone. Slayton averaged 9.5 yards per catch, with his longest reception going for 15 yards, and he was targeted 11 times, including a key pass interference penalty drawn in the end zone that set up a touchdown at the one-yard line. Despite his involvement, the Giants' offensive woes limited his fantasy impact to 8.7 points. While Malik Nabers is out, Slayton remains a solid deep-league flex option due to his target share, but his upside will depend on better red-zone execution from the Giants' offense.

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Wan'Dale Robinson Oct 14 3:30am ET
Wan'Dale Robinson

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson was a consistent target in Sunday's 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, though he couldn't find the end zone. Robinson caught five of his 11 targets for 50 yards, averaging 10 yards per reception, with a longest catch of 15 yards. Despite his solid involvement, the Giants' overall offensive struggles capped his fantasy output at 7.5 points, leaving managers wanting more. As a reliable short-to-intermediate option, Robinson's target volume makes him an option as a flex in PPR, but his ceiling remains limited without more scoring opportunities.

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Tyrone Tracy Jr. Oct 14 3:20am ET
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. provided a spark in Sunday's 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, contributing both as a rusher and a receiver. Tracy hauled in six receptions for 57 yards while adding 50 yards on the ground, including a one-yard scamper for his lone rushing touchdown. His versatility was key, but his 2.9 yards per carry highlights some inefficiency in the running game. Despite not finding the end zone as a receiver, Tracy's dual-threat performance netted 19.7 fantasy points, making him an intriguing flex option for fantasy managers with Devin Singletary injured.

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Daniel Jones Oct 14 3:10am ET
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones struggled in Sunday's 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, failing to find the end zone through the air or on the ground. Jones completed 22 of 41 passes for just 190 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception, averaging a meager 5.0 yards per attempt. He added 56 rushing yards, which helped pad his fantasy output, but two sacks and an overall lack of offensive efficiency limited his impact to just 12.8 fantasy points. Despite his mobility, Jones' poor passing performance continues to hold back his fantasy value, making him a risky QB option moving forward, especially against stronger defenses.

From RotoBaller

Alec Pierce Oct 14 1:30am ET
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce saw four targets in the team's 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans but could not reel any of them in. Despite the nonexistent production, Pierce saw the highest snap share of any WR, playing 62 snaps and running 33 routes. Despite his high snap share, Pierce has kept a low target share in the offense through the first six weeks, with his production coming primarily from deep shot passes from QBs Joe Flacco and Anthony Richardson. While none of those four targets materialized in Sunday's win, Pierce's usage makes him a viable option moving forward. All that in mind, Pierce can be viewed as a WR4/5 in the team's Week 7 game against the Miami Dolphins.

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Adonai Mitchell Oct 14 1:20am ET
Adonai Mitchell

Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell caught two of his four targets for nine yards in the team's 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. Mitchell once again saw a limited snap share in the matchup, playing just 15 snaps and running a total of 11 routes. Mitchell appears to be the WR4 option in this offense, which will translate into little fantasy relevancy should he stay in that role. Unless there is an injury to Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, or Mitchell earns additional playing time otherwise, he does not make for a viable fantasy option. The rookie is better left on the bench in Week 7 when the Colts take on the Miami Dolphins.

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Hunter Henry Oct 14 1:10am ET
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry caught three of five targets for 41 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans. The veteran pass-catcher served as a solid security blanket for rookie quarterback Drake Maye in his first career start, and the two continue to form a solid rapport in the passing attack. This was just Henry's second game of the season with at least three catches, five targets, or 33 yards. The touchdown reception was also his first since Week 15 of the 2023 season. Heading into Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Henry ranks as a mid-to-low TE2 for fantasy football.

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Joe Flacco Oct 14 1:10am ET
Joe Flacco

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco was named the starter on Sunday morning and completed 22 of his 38 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. Flacco also threw one interception in the matchup. Flacco hit Josh Downs on a 22-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and the Colts didn't score another touchdown until the fourth quarter when he found Michael Pittman Jr. on a ten-yard touchdown grab. The 39-year-old didn't jump off the box score with just 189 yards through the air, but that shouldn't be much of a cause for panic given the Titans' secondary has allowed the fewest passing yards so far this season. It's unclear who the starter will be moving forward, but Flacco would make for a solid streaming option once again in Week 7 should he get the start against the Miami Dolphins.

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Antonio Gibson Oct 14 1:10am ET
Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson registered 19 rushing yards on 13 carries during Sunday's Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans. He also caught three of four targets for an additional 24 yards through the air. Gibson earned his second consecutive start this week with Rhamondre Stevenson (foot) sidelined. Despite setting a new season-high in both rushes and touches, Gibson struggled to produce and was significantly inefficient on the ground. Through the air, he was merely a modest contributor. All in all, we'd like to see more production from Gibson before we can trust him in fantasy football, even with Stevenson out. It's too early to tell what the Patriots' backfield dynamic will look like for Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

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Kayshon Boutte Oct 14 1:00am ET
Kayshon Boutte

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte caught all three of his targets for 59 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans. The highlight of his performance was a 40-yard catch that represented not only Boutte's first career touchdown reception but also rookie quarterback Drake Maye's first career touchdown pass. It was promising to see the second-year receiver demonstrate a quick rapport with Maye as the quarterback made his first NFL start. Boutte ended up playing a career-high 83 percent of offensive snaps and ran 32 routes; both of those marks were the highest among Patriots pass-catchers in Week 6. Going forward, Boutte, who was previously off the fantasy radar in all leagues, may start to generate some speculative buzz in dynasty formats.

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Ja'Lynn Polk Oct 14 1:00am ET
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk converted four targets into just one catch for four yards during Sunday's Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans. It was an underwhelming showing from Polk, who had started to generate significant buzz after playing 100 percent of offensive snaps last Sunday and commanding 13 targets over his previous two games. Instead, Polk took a step back this week, registering just the one catch while falling behind Kayshon Boutte in terms of both snap share (65 percent) and routes run (29). Interestingly, he operated ahead of Douglas in terms of snaps and routes but was drastically out-produced by him, too. Going forward, fantasy managers should view Polk as an inconsistent wide receiver option in fantasy football. He is worth stashing in dynasty leagues but can probably be dropped in most 12-team redraft formats.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Goodson Oct 14 1:00am ET
Tyler Goodson

Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson carried the ball eight times for 51 yards in the team's 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. He also caught four of his five targets for another 14 yards through the air. Goodson once again played a secondary role to running back Trey Sermon, getting out-carried 18-to-eight. That being said, Goodson was the much more efficient and productive back in the matchup and was the only back to see any work in the receiving game. Goodson could make for a decent start in Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins if Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is inactive, but likely won't see much action if Taylor is a go.

From RotoBaller

Troy Franklin Oct 14 12:50am ET
Troy Franklin

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin finished Denver's 23-16 Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday with two catches on three targets for 31 yards and his first career NFL touchdown. He added one carry for a five-yard pickup. Franklin came into the contest with just five catches on 12 targets for 29 yards in his first five games. The 21-year-old only saw three targets and had a very modest three grabs and 31 yards, but his touchdown is a reminder that both he and fellow rookie pass-catcher Devaughn Vele, who led the Broncos with 78 receiving yards, will see more opportunities with Josh Reynolds (finger) on Injured Reserve and missing at least three more games. The best thing that Franklin has going for him as a dynasty/keeper stash is his chemistry with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, dating back to their days playing together for the Oregon Ducks in college.

From RotoBaller

Trey Sermon Oct 14 12:50am ET
Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon carried the ball 18 times for just 29 yards in the team's 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. He was also not targeted at all in the receiving game. Sermon once again saw the bulk of the work in Jonathan Taylor's (ankle) absence but was inefficient with the opportunities, averaging just 1.6 yards per carry. Sermon out-touched running back Tyler Goodson 18-to-eight, but Goodson was able to turn his eight carries into 51 total yards. It's unclear when Taylor will return from his injury, but with Tyler Goodson having another strong outing, fantasy managers can expect him to continue to eat into the workload between these two backs. Sermon is off the radar in Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins if Taylor is a go, and is at best an RB3/4 option if Taylor is once again inactive.

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Drake Maye Oct 14 12:50am ET
Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 20 of 33 passes for 243 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions during his first career start in Week 6 against the Houston Texans. He also rushed for 38 yards, took four sacks, and lost a fumble. The No. 3 overall pick played far from perfect football on Sunday, but he showed numerous flashes of potential while leading scoring drives and converting down-and-distance opportunities against a relentless Texans pass rush. He also showed confidence and touch when throwing his deep ball as he connected with Kayshon Boutte for a 40-yard score. Going forward, Maye has the arm talent and rushing ability needed to survive both as an NFL starter and in fantasy football. He'll jump into the low-end QB2 tier ahead of next week's clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

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Demario Douglas Oct 14 12:50am ET
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas caught six of nine targets for 92 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans. The touchdown reception was the first of Douglas' career and came on a fourth-quarter catch-and-run thrown to him by rookie quarterback Drake Maye. While Douglas' large role within the Patriots' offense isn't necessarily anything new, it's very promising to see him lead the unit in targets, catches, and receiving yards even after the Patriots switched quarterbacks from Jacoby Brissett to Maye. Evidently, Douglas is a central piece of the Patriots' offensive game plan week in and week out. With his high-volume role and an apparent quarterback upgrade, Douglas has suddenly become a solid WR3 option in fantasy football. He's worth starting in many 12-team leagues next week versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

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