New England Patriots

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye only saw six plays in his preseason debut and sat out for the rest of the game. The rookie is taking things day by day as he continues to get plenty of reps in practice. Head coach Jerod Mayo said that there are still two more preseason games to get him some more game speed reps, but he's not going to force Maye to play with backup offensive linemen or put him in any tough situations. This all seems to be a way to protect Maye, so he'll likely be the top quarterback on the depth chart this season, but how safe the Patriots are willing to be is to be determined. Dynasty managers will want to check for updates as the preseason rolls on.

New England Patriots wide receiver JaQuae Jackson turned his lone target into a 38-yard touchdown reception during Thursday's preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. The 24-year-old was on the receiving end of a deep strike delivered by fellow rookie Joe Milton III. Jackson made a nice adjustment in open space, ultimately hauling in the pass and taking off for the end zone. It was a solid play but perhaps not enough to put him into heavy consideration for a 53-man roster spot. The undrafted rookie out of Rutgers faces an uphill battle to make the team, and he remains off the radar in all fantasy formats.

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte caught three of his six targets for a total of 53 yards during Thursday's preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. The former LSU receiver saw his snaps alongside quarterbacks Joe Milton and Bailey Zappe, who are competing for the third-string role ahead of the 2024 season. Boutte himself is competing for a roster spot after an uninspiring rookie campaign in which he was active for just five games, catching two of the seven passes thrown his way. A misdemeanor underage gambling charge and felony computer fraud charge also made his status a bit murky, but he's been cleared of those charges as of mid-July. Boutte has one month (and two more preseason games) to show the new Patriots coaching staff why he's worthy of a roster spot. Even if he does make the team, he'll be buried on the depth chart, keeping him off the fantasy radar in most formats.

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III completed four of six passes for 54 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's preseason win over the Carolina Panthers. He was also effective on the ground, rushing five times for 22 additional yards. The Tennessee product is believed to be competing for the No. 3 quarterback job, given that it would take an enormous turn of events for him to surpass Jacoby Brissett or rookie Drake Maye on the depth chart. New England should carry three quarterbacks into the season, though, and a strong preseason could give him the edge over Bailey Zappe. Nevertheless, he remains off the fantasy radar.

New England Patriots running back Kevin Harris rushed eight times for 22 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers. In the passing game, he hauled in one of three targets for an additional six yards through the air. Harris is heading into his third pro season, but he's still just 23 years old. Rumors out of Patriots training camp suggest that Harris has out-performed JaMycal Hasty, putting him in line to open 2024 as the No. 3 running back. Nevertheless, he won't be a reliable contributor during the regular season. He can be avoided in fantasy football.