New England Patriots News

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (calf) has been activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Green Bay Packers, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. The 33-year-old remains listed as questionable to play, but his activation would seem to indicate that he'll suit up. Hollins isn't a very flashy name in fantasy football, but his ability to operate as a reliable target for Drake Maye will give him some WR3/flex appeal in 12+ team leagues. After all, Hollins posted a solid stat line of 15 catches and 209 yards from Weeks 1-4 before being placed on IR. His return comes at a perfect time for the Patriots, who recently placed Romeo Doubs (shoulder) on IR and will also be without A.J. Brown (knee) this week. Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and Efton Chism III should be the team's top three wide receivers on Sunday, and they all have varying levels of WR3/flex intrigue in deeper formats.

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) will miss a second straight game in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers due to a knee injury that has hampered him during his career, but the Patriots are optimistic that the star wideout will return after their bye in Week 11, according to Kinnu Singh of Bleacher Report. It has been a disappointing year for Brown, as he landed on Injured Reserve after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. After returning in Week 6, Brown played two games before popping up on the injury report with a knee issue that has knocked him out of the last two games. The quick turnaround may have put additional stress on his troublesome knee. Singh points out that the Los Angeles Rams were interested in acquiring Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles in the offseason as well, but they were scared off by medical concerns about his knee. In just three games played in 2026, Brown has caught only nine passes for 101 yards and no touchdowns, while averaging just 8.3 yards per catch. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler should remain stashed in most fantasy football leagues, but managers are beginning to run out of patience.

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (foot) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Week 9 contest against the Green Bay Packers, and with a tough matchup on paper, he'll be a risky fantasy football option even if he does suit up. Henry has been a pleasant surprise with 22 catches, 255 yards, and two touchdowns over his last five games, and he could be in the mix for a larger workload than usual this week with A.J. Brown (knee) and Romeo Doubs (shoulder) both sidelined. However, he will also have to overcome a very tricky matchup, as Green Bay has allowed the fourth-fewest catches, third-fewest yards, and third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends in Week 9. We also have to consider Henry's health, because even if he plays, that doesn't mean he'll be at 100%. After all, he missed two consecutive practices before returning in a limited capacity on Friday. We're intrigued about Henry's fantasy outlook for the second half of the season, but between the tough matchup and the injury factor, we'd feel inclined to sit him in Week 9, even if he does end up playing. The experts tend to agree, as Henry has fallen to TE19 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 9.

New England Patriots tight end Eli Raridon can remain on the bench in fantasy football if teammate Hunter Henry (foot) ends up playing in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. Henry is listed as questionable to play Sunday, and it's fair to have some concerns about his status after he missed two practices and then logged a limited session on Friday. Still, the Patriots are leaving the door open for him to suit up, which means Raridon is an unreliable fantasy option for the time being. He had just one catch in Week 8 despite handling four targets and a 92% snap share, and a similarly uncertain volume share could await him in Week 9. However, if Henry does get ruled out, Raridon would presumably take on most of his vacated targets and jump to the mid-range TE2 tier in fantasy football. This week's matchup is another factor to consider, as the Packers have been remarkable against tight ends. Green Bay has allowed the fourth-fewest catches, third-fewest yards, and third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends in Week 9. Raridon is an iffy low-end TE2 if Henry is ruled out, and he's off the Week 9 fantasy radar entirely if Henry ends up playing.

New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins (calf) could immediately return to the WR3/flex range in fantasy football if he is activated from injured reserve ahead of Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. Hollins was limited all week long, so even though he's listed as questionable, he is not a lock to return from IR and suit up this Sunday. Hollins played in four games before getting injured, posting 8+ PPR points in three of those four contests. He also handled at least a 70% snap share in every game, excluding the Week 4 game in which he exited early. The veteran receiver has established himself as one of Drake Maye's favorite targets, as the quarterback has repeatedly shown that he trusts Hollins as a safe outlet even when he's in trouble. That should help Hollins' Week 9 outlook, especially in a weaker wide receiver room with A.J. Brown (knee) and Romeo Doubs (shoulder) sidelined. He should also benefit from this particular matchup against the Packers, who have allowed the second-most catches and 12th-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2026. Now, the big question is whether Hollins will be activated this week. We'll gain some clarity by 4 p.m. Saturday, which is the deadline for teams playing Sunday to make their IR moves. If he does play, he can be deployed as a WR3/flex in 14+ team leagues and even some deeper 12-team formats.

New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III is a candidate to handle a large workload in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. The Patriots have dealt with numerous wide receiver injuries over the last five weeks, and Chism has capitalized on the opportunity to get more involved. Last week, he handled a career-high 88% snap share while catching five passes for 37 yards with A.J. Brown (knee) and Romeo Doubs (shoulder) sidelined. He's not a huge deep threat, but he's still capable of making big plays with his reliable hands and ability to battle through contact. He's back on the fantasy radar this week, but his outlook could depend on the status of Mack Hollins (calf), as the two receivers have very similar styles of play. As it stands, Hollins is questionable for Week 9 and has not yet been activated from injured reserve. If Hollins doesn't suit up, we'd feel a little better about rolling out Chism as a WR3/flex in 12+ team leagues. He should benefit in a decent matchup against the Packers, who have allowed the second-most catches and 12th-most fantasy points to wide receivers so far in 2026. As it stands, Chism ranks as the overall WR51 in RotoBaller's latest Week 9 fantasy football rankings.

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas could step up as the No. 1 target for quarterback Drake Maye in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. The Patriots will be without A.J. Brown (knee) and Romeo Doubs (shoulder) again this week, and it's too early to tell whether Mack Hollins (calf) will suit up. Similar to previous weeks, Douglas finds himself in a substantially larger role as the potential top option in the pecking order. The 25-year-old has never shied away from more volume, producing to the tune of 17 catches, 250 yards, and four touchdowns over his last four games. He has posted 17.5+ PPR points in three of those four contests, and he ranked as the overall WR9 in PPR leagues from Weeks 5-8. In addition to his prominent role, Douglas is headed for a decent matchup against the Packers, who have allowed the second-most receptions and 12th-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2026. Managers should feel confident starting Douglas, who ranks as the overall WR43 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 9.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye won't have his top two targets available against the Green Bay Packers in Week 9, but that hasn't stopped him from producing as a mid-to-high fantasy QB1 in the past. With A.J. Brown (knee) ruled out and Romeo Doubs (shoulder) on injured reserve, Maye will once again find himself throwing to a combination of DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, Kyle Williams, Rhamondre Stevenson, Hunter Henry (foot), and Eli Raridon. There's also a chance that Mack Hollins (calf) return from injured reserve. Those aren't the flashiest names, but Maye prevailed with 199 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown while throwing to the same group of receivers in Miami last week. Since the start of Week 4, he is the highest-scoring player in fantasy football, and he earned that ranking despite completing just six passes to Brown. The point is that Maye has a strong track record of high-end QB1 production without his top receiver available, so managers shouldn't feel concerned about starting him in Week 9. We're also not very concerned about the matchup; the Packers have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, but that ranking is driven by their 10 interceptions, which ranks third-highest in the NFL. Maye has just one turnover over his last four games, so we're not concerned about the Packers' defense. The 24-year-old MVP runner-up ranks as the overall QB4 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 9.

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (foot) will carry a questionable designation into Sunday's Week 9 matchup with the Packers, according to senior team reporter Evan Lazar. Henry exited the Patriots' Week 8 win over the Dolphins with a foot injury and was held out of the first two practices of the week before returning to the practice field on Friday. With the Patriots' receiving room hit hard by injury, Henry leads the team with 29 receptions through eight games. His absence could create a meaningful opportunity for rookie tight end Eli Raridon, who ran his most routes of the season with Henry sidelined for most of Sunday's win and who has already developed a connection with quarterback Drake Maye, recent recipient of the AFC Offensive Player of October.

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness) has been ruled out for the team's Week 9 matchup with the Packers, according to senior team reporter Evan Lazar. Henderson released an official statement on Friday, chronicling "a series of unexplained neurological symptoms that required hospitalization for several days," and he will now miss his second consecutive game. Henderson continues to work with specialists and physical therapists, and there is no timeline for his return. In his absence, the Patriots will continue to lean on veteran Rhamondre Stevenson, who has handled exactly 50% of the team's running back rush share through eight weeks and is third on the team with 23 receptions.

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) has been ruled out for the team's Week 9 matchup with the Packers, according to senior team reporter Evan Lazar. Following a four-game stint on Injured Reserve due to a high-ankle sprain suffered in the season opener, the veteran was able to return for two games before reappearing on the injury report with knee and ankle concerns, and he will now miss his second straight game. Reports of a degenerative knee condition were believed to have thinned Brown's pool of suitors before an eventual offseason trade to the Patriots, and in his first year with the team, the three-time Pro Bowler has appeared in three contests, catching nine of his 20 targets for 101 yards and no touchdowns.

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness) was absent from Friday's practice, according to Evan Lazar, after officially missing Wednesday and Thursday's sessions. The second-year back also sat out New England's Week 8 victory over the Miami Dolphins because of the illness, putting his availability for Sunday's matchup against the Green Bay Packers in question. Henderson has struggled to build on his productive rookie campaign, rushing for 203 yards and one touchdown on 52 carries across six appearances this season. He has also contributed just five receptions for 45 yards. Rhamondre Stevenson handled 19 carries for 82 yards against Miami, while Corey Kiner added 38 yards on seven attempts. Stevenson has already established himself as New England's primary rusher, so another Henderson absence would primarily preserve Kiner's opportunity for complementary work.

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) was absent from Friday's practice, according to Evan Lazar, following consecutive non-participation designations on Wednesday and Thursday. Brown missed last week's victory over the Miami Dolphins after a knee flare-up complicated his recovery from a high-ankle sprain. The 29-year-old has appeared in just three games this season, catching nine passes for 101 yards without a touchdown. His continued absence raises serious concerns about his availability for Sunday's Week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams handled much of the receiving work without Brown in Week 8. Chism caught five passes for 37 yards, while Douglas recorded 76 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. Williams also contributed a 43-yard touchdown catch. Those three receivers would likely remain heavily involved if Brown misses another game.

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (foot) was present during the media-access portion of Friday's practice after missing Wednesday and Thursday's sessions, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. Henry suffered the injury during New England's Week 8 victory over the Miami Dolphins, catching three passes for 30 yards before exiting after playing just eight offensive snaps. The veteran leads the Patriots with 29 receptions and has recorded 326 receiving yards and two touchdowns through eight games, making his availability significant ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Rookie Eli Raridon, who has caught 13 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns this season, would be a candidate for additional receiving opportunities if Henry cannot play. Friday's appearance is encouraging after two consecutive absences, although his official participation level and game designation had not been announced at the time of Reiss' report.

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (head) released a statement revealing that he recently suffered a medical emergency that required him to be hospitalized due to unexplained neurological symptoms, per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. In the statement, Henderson says that the symptoms have affected his "strength, coordination, and some of my physical functions." This is obviously quite a concerning development for the 24-year-old, who has been listed on the Patriots injury report as a non-participant in practice due to an illness so far this week. It seems unlikely that Henderson will return to the field anytime soon, as his long-term health clearly takes priority. In his absence, Patriots running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Corey Kiner will likely handle the majority of New England's backfield work.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has been a serviceable RB2 in his lead-back role this season, and he should continue to be a borderline must-start fantasy running back in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. He has shouldered the workload in New England this season with TreVeyon Henderson (illness) battling injuries, poor performance, and now an illness. Stevenson ranks as the overall RB17 so far in PPR leagues with 367 rushing yards, 212 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. This week, he gets a very enticing matchup against the Packers, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points and the second-most rushing touchdowns to running backs in 2026. Stevenson, who had 19 carries and three receptions last week, should continue to be heavily involved on the ground and through the air, especially if Henderson, who has missed back-to-back practices, isn't able to play in Week 9. He ranks as the overall RB17 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for this week.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has surpassed his fantasy expectations so far this year, being drafted as the RB28 before the season, while returning RB20 value in fantasy points per game so far. He has gained 367 yards on the ground, 212 yards on 23 receptions through the air, and has scored three touchdowns in eight games. His running back mate, Treyveon Henderson, suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 5 but returned in Week 6 and has continued to be an afterthought in the Patriots' offense. Henderson may be inactive (illness) in Week 9, which would put Stevenson in line for even more work. Stevenson has rushed 39 times, averaging 3.59 yards per carry, and caught eight passes on eight targets over the previous three weeks. While he hasn't been the most efficient, Stevenson has maintained a solid workload. This should continue even with second-year RB Corey Kiner getting some work and the eventual return of Henderson, giving Stevenson mid-to-low-end RB2 value. The Patriots trust Stevenson on passing downs and in the red zone, so he should have plenty of opportunity there in their Week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, which could result in a substantial point total.

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (foot) is absent for a second straight day of practice on Thursday, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. Henry injured his foot in the second quarter of Sunday's Week 8 victory over the division-rival Miami Dolphins and did not return, and with two DNPs under his belt so far this week, he is trending in the wrong direction to play this weekend against the visiting Green Bay Packers on Sunday. He will most likely need to practice in some capacity on Friday to avoid being officially ruled out for the Week 9 contest this weekend. Top receiver A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) has also not practiced yet this week and could miss a second straight game, so quarterback Drake Maye could be without two of his top targets against Green Bay. If Henry is officially inactive on Sunday, rookie Eli Raridon would become an attractive TE2 streamer with more fantasy upside with more targets coming his way. The 31-year-old Henry has caught 29 passes through eight games so far in 2026 for 326 yards and two touchdowns.

New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness) is absent for a second straight day of practice on Thursday, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. Henderson is trending toward missing a second straight contest after he was unavailable to play in the Week 8 win over the division-rival Miami Dolphins while being under the weather. The 24-year-old former second-rounder last year from Ohio State will be a tough sell for starting fantasy lineups this weekend against the Green Bay Packers, even if he returns to practice on Friday and is given the green light to suit up in Week 9. Henderson has had a rough sophomore season with the Patriots so far in 2026, carrying the ball 52 times for 203 yards (3.9 yards per attempt) and one touchdown in six games, operating as the clear RB2 behind Rhamondre Stevenson when healthy. If Henderson misses a second straight game, Stevenson will maintain a higher fantasy ceiling and will be a must-start RB, with Corey Kiner serving as his change-of-pace backup yet again.

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) remains absent from the team's practice on Thursday, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. Brown is trending toward missing a second straight practice this week after not being able to play in Sunday's Week 8 win over the division-rival Miami Dolphins due to ankle and knee issues. The 29-year-old suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and landed on Injured Reserve. Brown was not 100% when he returned for two games against the New York Jets and Chicago Bears, catching six of his 12 targets for 75 yards and no touchdowns, and now he is in danger of missing a second straight game this weekend when the Green Bay Packers come to town in Week 9. Brown will most likely need to practice in some capacity on Friday to avoid being officially ruled out for a second straight game, but even if he somehow gets cleared to play against the Packers, he will be a volatile starting fantasy receiver. With Romeo Doubs still on IR, DeMario Douglas has been the biggest beneficiary of Brown's ailments, finding the end zone four times in the last four games as New England's top pass-catcher.