New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (shoulder) did not practice at all this week and has been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, fellow wideout Kayshon Boutte (illness) was cleared to play. The 22-year-old Polk will finish off what has been a bad rookie season early due to a shoulder injury. The second-round selection just never had much of a chance to excel in 2024 in a bad offense with rookie quarterback Drake Maye struggling to find his footing with limited weapons around him. Polk will finish his first year in the NFL with only 12 catches on 33 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games (seven starts). The Patriots will surely look to bring in upgraded receiving options this offseason, giving Polk and others even more competition.
Kayshon Boutte Returns, Ja'Lynn Polk Still Not Practicing
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (illness) returned to practice on Thursday, but rookie wideout Ja'Lynn Polk (shoulder) is still not on the practice field as the team continues preparing to face the division-rival Buffalo Bills in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday. None of New England's receivers have been reliable fantasy contributors in one of the league's lowest-scoring offenses in 2024. The Patriots can secure the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft if they lose on Sunday, so they probably won't rush any injured skill players onto the field this weekend. In his second year in the NFL, Boutte has improved with a 36-472-2 line on 61 targets over 14 games (12 starts). Polk, meanwhile, has been much less involved as a rookie, catching 12 of 33 targets for only 87 yards and two TDs in 15 games (seven starts).
Kayshon Boutte, Ja'Lynn Polk Absent From Practice Wednesday
New England Patriots wide receivers Kayshon Boutte (illness) and Ja'Lynn Polk (shoulder) did not participate in practice on Wednesday. Boutte has been heavily involved lately, commanding 23 targets over his last four games. His absence from practice is concerning, but the good news is that players are typically able to recover from illnesses within a few days, so Boutte has a real chance to recover in time for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Polk's status is a little more murky after he injured his shoulder in the middle of last week's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The rookie has been quite underwhelming, catching just 12 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns while struggling with drops. Fantasy managers invested in the statuses of either Boutte or Polk should check back Thursday to see if either receiver can improve to limited or full.
New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk saw the field on Sunday but didn't show up in the box score. During the 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Polk saw 41% of the offensive snaps but didn't see a single target. This marks his first game with zero targets and his third with zero receptions. He came into his rookie season with some higher expectations but currently sits behind Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, and Kayshon Boutte in terms of priority in the passing game. The Patriots head to Miami to take on the Dolphins in Week 12.
New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (concussion) has been removed from the final injury report and will play against the Tennessee Titans in Week 9. The rookie returns from an absence that ultimately lasted just one game. This week, he could be catching passes from either Drake Maye (concussion) or Jacoby Brissett, and we likely won't get confirmation on the quarterback position until Sunday. In the meantime, fantasy managers should make sure Polk is on their bench against a Titans defense allowing the third-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers who play out wide.
New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (concussion) was listed as limited for Wednesday's practice. The rookie wideout was unavailable for this past Sunday's win over the New York Jets after picking up a concussion the week prior, but he's started on the right foot this week. He'll have a few more days to ramp up his activity ahead of Week 9's road tilt against the Tennessee Titans. However, Polk will still need to be cleared by an independent neurologist before he's eligible to suit up. Despite it not showing up in the 22-year-old's on-field production, he's the second-leading receiver on the roster regarding snap share, behind only DeMario Douglas. Still, it is worth noting that second-year WR Kayshon Boutte has led all Pats pass-catchers in that regard over the last three weeks.
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (concussion) will not suit up in Week 8 when the Patriots face the New York Jets. Polk remained sidelined during practice the entire week and will now set his sights on returning in Week 9 to face the Tennessee Titans. The Washington product has had a rough start to his professional career as he has caught just ten passes through his first seven games with 78 yards and one score. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte to lead the New England passing attack against the New York secondary who has allowed the fifth-fewest points to opposing wideouts.
New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (concussion) remains out of practice on Thursday as he works through concussion protocol. The rookie second-round pick out of Washington is looking less likely to play in Week 8 as the week moves forward after suffering a concussion in Week 7. That said, Polk should not be in starting fantasy football lineups even if he does play against a New York Jets defense that has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Polk has hauled in just 10 of his 26 targets for 78 yards and one touchdown through Week 7. Demario Douglas and Hunter Henry are the early favorites to be Drake Maye's favorite targets in 2024.
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (concussion) is in the league's concussion protocol, according to head coach Jerod Mayo. Polk was diagnosed with a concussion in the Week 7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday and is now in danger of missing a Week 8 divisional clash against the New York Jets this weekend. The 22-year-old second-round selection will eventually need to be cleared by an independent neurologist later this week if he wants to suit up on Sunday. In his first seven NFL games in 2024, Polk has been inconsistent with drops and has just 10 catches on 26 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown, so he's been completely unreliable in fantasy. If Polk is inactive against the Jets, it will open up more snaps for Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn behind Demario Douglas.
New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (head) exited during the second half of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was officially listed as questionable but ultimately did not return to the contest. He finished Week 7 with zero catches on three targets. He continues to be plagued by drops and also fell down while being targeted on a two-point conversion attempt on Sunday. The Patriots are struggling to stay healthy on the offensive side of the ball with Polk off the field and Demario Douglas (illness) playing a reduced role. Douglas should be good to go for Week 8 against the New York Jets, but Polk is less of a sure thing. He'll presumably be evaluated for a potential concussion and closely monitored ahead of next week's contest. For the time being, Polk is off the fantasy radar.
Ja'Lynn Polk
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Patriots
