New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson told reporters on Monday he thinks he's "pretty close" to signing a contract extension with the organization. This could be good news for dynasty fantasy managers with the 26-year-old on their rosters, especially after a down year in 2023. The former fourth-round pick entered last year's campaign as the clear starting running back for the first time in his career, but he was limited to just 12 games due to injury. Overall, he tallied 156 rushes for 619 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 38 receptions (51 targets) for 238 yards. If New England re-signs him before Week 1, it'll likely mean he's further ahead of Antonio Gibson on the depth chart than many realize. Gibson, who has shown promise in his career but has failed to produce over the last few seasons, could eat into his receiving workload, but Stevenson remains the RB1 as things stand. The New England offense will likely be one of the worst units in the NFL, so his upside is likely capped in 2024.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker (undisclosed) was a limited participant in Monday's offseason practice, according to Patriots reporter Mike Kadlick. It's unclear why the rookie isn't practicing in full, but he is not wearing gloves or getting the ball thrown to him in drills. For now, this shouldn't be much of a concern, but it's a situation worth monitoring. The 2024 fourth-round pick enters his rookie season with a chance to compete for snaps and targets right away. The New England wideout room consisting of Kendrick Bourne, Ja'Lynn Polk, Demario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, K.J. Osborn, and Tyquan Thornton is one of the worst units in the NFL, so the 2023 First-Team All-Big-12 selection and 1,100-yard receiver could make a fantasy impact in 2024. That said, the ceiling of the entire offense will likely be limited under veteran Jacoby Brissett or rookie Drake Maye.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett continued working as the starter ahead of rookie Drake Maye at minicamp Monday, June 10.

Fantasy Spin: Maye is still very much expected to be the starter at some point during the 2024 season, but managers may need to wait until training camp to get a better idea of the pecking order in New England. Brissett would be a low-end QB2 for fantasy if he remained the starter.

From TheHuddle

New England Patriots WRs Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, K.J. Osborn and Ja'Lynn Polk appear to be locks to make the team's 53-man roster at the beginning of the regular season, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. A handful of other receivers, such as Kayshon Boutte, Jalen Reagor, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton are battling for one or two roster spots.

Fantasy Spin: Another roster spot could open up for a wide receiver if Bourne, who is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, begins the 2024 season on the Physically Unable to Perform List. Douglas, Osborn and Baker are worthy of consideration as late-round fliers in fantasy drafts but none should be viewed as a weekly starting option.

From TheHuddle

New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the third overall pick of this year's NFL draft, has been impressing offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt this offseason. "He's been impressive," Van Pelt said. Maye took snaps as the top backup in Tuesday's organized team activities after previously working as the No. 3 option. While Van Pelt has praised Maye early on, he's also preaching patience with the rookie. Maye has quickly adapted the footwork chances the coaches have taught him, allowing him to play more in rhythm. Van Pelt reiterated that veteran Jacoby Brissett remains the starter and has had an "exceptional spring" by showing "great command of the offense." The Pats are hoping Maye is the starter of the future, but all indications are that he'll begin the year holding a clipboard for Brissett on the sideline. "There is no timetable" for Maye to be the starter, Van Pelt said.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett is currently the leading candidate for the starting quarterback job, according to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

Fantasy Spin: Brissett will be competing with Drake Maye for the starting job during training camp but probably will not keep the job long even if he starts Week 1. Fantasy players probably should avoid Brissett this upcoming season.

From TheHuddle

New England Patriots wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, a second-round pick in 2022, is putting together a productive stretch of offseason practices during voluntary organized team activities. Thornton has impressed before during offseason workouts, although it has yet to translate to regular-season production. He was arguably the most active receiver on the field in the practice open to the media on Wednesday. The 23-year-old so far has been labeled a bust, and things won't get easier in 2024 with a new regime in town and after the Patriots took rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in this year's draft. Thornton entered the offseason as a potential roster cut, but if he continues to show out during offseason practices, he should stick around as receiver depth in New England. Thornton has been limited with injuries in his first two seasons and has only 35 catches in 22 games.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who spent a year running offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt's offense with the Cleveland Browns, is definitely ahead of the other QBs on the team during offseason workouts. Brissett has run the offense smoothly and is smart about distributing the football. So far, he's gotten all the No. 1 QB reps in practices open to the media, and it's clear the other QBs, including first-round rookie Drake Maye, look to Brissett for advice and tips on the offense. Maye, the No. 3 overall pick, will likely still make his NFL debut in 2024, but at this point, it would be a surprise if Brissett isn't starting in the Week 1 regular season opener. Maye, who will surely benefit from some time learning from Brissett, should only be drafted in dynasty/keeper leagues this fall.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett received all of the No. 1 quarterback reps in practices open to the media, and it 'seems clear' he'll enter training camp as the starting quarterback, in the opinion of The Athletic's Chad Graff.

Fantasy Spin: Brissett is a capable veteran, but even if he starts in Week 1 he's only keeping the position warm until they turn things over to Drake Maye. Brissett did have a few big games running offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt's offense with the Browns in 2022, but he'd be more of a plug-and-play option to cover a bye than someone you'd actually want to carry on your roster.

From TheHuddle

The New England Patriots have agreed to terms with quarterback Drake Maye on his rookie deal on Tuesday, according to a source. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft is now under contract and ready to compete with veteran signal-caller Jacoby Brissett in training camp and the preseason for the starting job under center in New England. The 21-year-old former Tar Heel has plenty of high-end, long-term upside in fantasy at the QB position, but he wasn't quite seen as NFL-ready as much as Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, who went one and two, respectively, in the draft to the Bears and Commanders. Maye had only 26 starts in college and could benefit from sitting and learning for a year, and he doesn't turn 22 until August. Especially given the lack of standout weapons on the Patriots offense, Maye is much more of a dynasty asset than a redraft one in 2024 fantasy circles.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) said he feels 100% heading into his second season with the team. 'Last year at this time, I was probably at 60%, so it's a big difference,' Smith-Schuster said. 'It's not easy coming off a knee injury having a long season and coming back with a quick turnaround the next year. I feel great. I've never felt better.'

Fantasy Spin: Smith-Schuster's first season in New England was a forgettable one, and now the Patriots are hitting the reset button at quarterback with Drake Maye. Smith-Schuster could be an afterthought if the Patriots decide to turn to their young receivers.

From TheHuddle

The New England Patriots signed fourth-round rookie wide receiver Javon Baker to his rookie contract on Friday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. Baker, the 110th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft was rumored to potentially come off the board on Day 2, but New England, a team that needed pass-catching help, stopped his fall. Baker earned first-team All-Big-12 honors in his final season at UCF after hauling in 52 passes for 1,139 yards and seven touchdowns. The Patriots have a wide-open wide receiver depth chart consisting of Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn, Demario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, and second-round rookie Ja'Lynn Polk. It's difficult to predict who will start in three-wide sets in 2024, but the passing offense will likely offer limited fantasy upside under rookie quarterback Drake Maye when he takes over for Jacoby Brissett.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett received the first snaps during drills at the voluntary workout Monday, May 20.

Fantasy Spin: Brissett will be competing with Drake Maye for the starting job during training camp. Brissett could win the competition, but Maye likely will take over the job at some point during the 2024 season. Brissett can be avoided in fantasy leagues even if he opens the season as the starter.

From TheHuddle

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson signed a three-year contract to join the organization this offseason, and early reviews from Patriots beat writer Brian Hines are encouraging. "Antonio Gibson's speed was evident in the no-contact setting, as well as his wide receiver background," Hines wrote for PatsPulpit.com. "Gibson should have a role for himself in this offense." It's the first day of organized team activities, and fantasy managers shouldn't be too high on the former Washington Commander yet, but he has a path to fantasy relevance as a pass-catcher behind or alongside Rhamondre Stevenson. The 25-year-old played wideout in his college career at Memphis and posted 172 receptions for 1,283 yards and seven receiving touchdowns through his first 61 NFL games. He's a solid late-round flyer in PPR leagues, as veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett or rookie Drake Maye could utilize him as a checkdown option often given the lack of high-end pass-catchers on the New England roster. Gibson's 13 fumbles since entering the league rank third-most since 2020, but if he can clean that part of his game up, he should be worthwhile on fantasy rosters.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle, knee) said he was around 60 percent healthy this time last year from his knee injury and was never fully healthy in 2023. However, he said he's at 100 percent now after resting this offseason. It's nice to hear that the 27-year-old is feeling better this offseason, but his role is a bit up in the air in 2024 after the Patriots added Ja'Lynn Polk in the second round and Javon Baker in the fourth round of this year's NFL draft. New England also signed K.J. Osborn in free agency, giving Smith-Schuster much more competition in the first year without Bill Belichick in Boston. Smith-Schuster had only 29 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown in 11 games in his first year with the team in 2023. With Kendrick Bourne (knee) coming back from a torn ACL this year, Smith-Schuster's role is in question.

From RotoBaller

At the New England Patriots' first organized team activity practice on Monday, quarterback Jacoby Brissett took the first repetitions at the position, followed by Bailey Zappe, rookie first-rounder Drake Maye and Joe Milton III. The Patriots took Maye third overall out of North Carolina in last month's NFL draft, but Maye won't be guaranteed the starting gig from Day 1 in his first NFL season this fall. The expectation is that Brissett and Maye will compete for the job in training camp this summer and the preseason, but the Patriots aren't going to rush Maye into the starting role under new head coach Jerod Mayo right away, even though the team has been impressed with the work that Maye has put in so far in trying to learn a new offense. In the bigger picture in 2024, it would be a mild surprise if Maye doesn't at least get some playing time at some point if he opens the year as a backup to Brissett.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (knee) will not be on the field this spring with the rest of the team, according to new head coach Jerod Mayo. It shouldn't come as a huge surprise after a torn right ACL forced Bourne to miss the final nine games of the 2023 season. The 28-year-old said that he expects to be full-go for the start of training camp this summer, though, but he's going to miss valuable time working with new quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and rookie first-rounder Drake Maye during organized team activities. As long as Bourne doesn't suffer a setback during training camp or the preseason, he should be ready for the Week 1 season opener. Bourne had a career-high 800 receiving yards and five touchdowns in his first year with the Pats in 2021 before regressing to 434 yards and one score in 16 games (two starts) in 2022.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots wide receiver Tyquan Thornton has not gotten out to a great start since being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Through his first 22 regular season games, he's racked up just 35 receptions for 338 yards and two touchdowns and rushed six times for 67 yards and a score. This offseason, the Baylor product is focused on adding muscle in hopes of turning his career around and staying healthy. "I'm putting in work. I feel like I've put on a lot of muscle in a lot of areas that need it. I'm just continuing to get bigger," Thornton said. "It's just so I can take more impacts. I feel like all my injuries came from the ground -; me hitting the ground. So, it's so I can be able to bounce back up when I do hit the ground." The 23-year-old weighed in at just 181 pounds at the 2022 NFL Combine and has missed 12 games in just two seasons due to injury. Although this could be promising for his future outlook, he could be a cut or trade candidate this offseason after New England re-signed Kendrick Bourne, signed K.J. Osborn, and selected Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the 2024 NFL Draft.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Javon Baker flashed significant promise during his first NFL practice this week, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Howe notes that Baker made several impressive plays. He reached to save a sailing throw, utilized "nifty footwork" to get out of his break on a crossing route, and generally demonstrated smooth route-running." There will be growing pains in 2024 as head coach Jerod Mayo, quarterback Drake Maye, and receivers Ja'Lynn Polk and Baker embark on their rookie seasons. However, early indications suggest that Baker could make an immediate impact in New England, earning opportunities over the likes of Polk, Kendrick Bourne, and Demario Douglas. He's a fringe top-30 rookie in fantasy football dynasty leagues.

From RotoBaller

New England Patriots first-year head coach Jerod Mayo said that rookie quarterback Drake May, who was taken third overall in last month's NFL draft, "has a lot to work on." Saturday's practice featured a heavy emphasis on footwork fundamentals, with Maye spending the first few periods of practice taking snaps directly under center instead of the shotgun, which he mostly used the last two years at North Carolina. "The guy can sling it, man," said wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, the second-round pick from the University of Washington. "He's very confident. He's a leader, very vocal; he's setting the tone in practice, trying to get guys moving around and operating at a high level." Maye is expected to compete with veteran Jacoby Brissett for starting duties in 2024. The Patriots aren't going to rush Maye's development, so he's more of a dynasty/keeper asset in fantasy this year than a redraft one.

From RotoBaller