New England Patriots

New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has emerged out of nowhere as a potential WR3/FLEX option in fantasy football ahead of this week's game against the Miami Dolphins. He didn't step foot on the field in Week 10, but last Sunday, he played nearly half of the offensive snaps and finished with five catches, 80 yards, and a touchdown. It's unclear which version of Bourne we'll get this week, but it seems likely that he has earned even more opportunities after last week's strong showing. Miami has allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this year, but that number is likely skewed from the four-game stretch for which Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined; during that span, opponents adopted a run-heavy approach against the Dolphins and did not have to develop an overly aggressive passing attack. This Miami team allowed Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp to combine for 16 catches and 178 yards just two weeks ago. Bourne isn't on the same level as either Rams receiver, but the bottom line is that the Dolphins have shown they aren't going to shut down every pass-catcher they face. Bourne is a viable WR3/FLEX option in fantasy leagues with at least 14 teams.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has posted mixed results this season, ranking inside the top-10 fantasy running backs in half of his games but also turning in three performances outside the top 40. Stevenson has struggled with efficiency this year, tallying a career-low 3.8 yards per carry. On the other hand, he has developed a nose for the end zone, posting a career-high seven touchdowns through just 10 contests. In addition to his touchdown tally so far, Stevenson's previous matchup against Miami resulted in an overall RB5 finish -- he rushed for 89 yards, caught four passes, and scored a touchdown in his last time facing the Dolphins. Miami has been strong against the pass, but they're softer against the run, surrendering the 10th-most fantasy points and fifth-most total touchdowns to opposing running backs. The 26-year-old has a good chance to find the end zone, and he boasts legitimate top-12 upside once again.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye remains a low-end QB1 option heading into Week 12 against the Miami Dolphins. Outside of an elevated turnover rate, Maye has been everything the Patriots hoped he would be so far. The No. 3 overall pick has been a top-14 fantasy quarterback in three of his six starts, and he has finished within the top 18 in each of the five games that he's played in full. He threw for a career-high 282 yards and two touchdowns last week, and he has continued to produce solid rushing production in each of his appearances so far. This week, he faces the Dolphins, who have statistically fared well against opposing quarterbacks this year, but some of those numbers are skewed from when Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined and opposing teams were able to adopt a run-heavy approach against Miami. Between Weeks 9 and 10, they surrendered a total of 528 passing yards and three touchdowns to opposing signal-callers. If Maye can exceed 250 yards and tally a couple of scores, he'll crack the top 12 for fantasy quarterbacks.

The New England Patriots removed tight end Austin Hooper (neck) from the Week 12 injury report on Thursday, which means he was a full practice participant. Hooper was limited in Wednesday's session but is now ready to roll for a divisional clash this Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Dolphins. The 30-year-old veteran has become more intriguing as a TE2 sleeper play in deeper leagues and DFS contests now that rookie quarterback Drake Maye is leading the offense. However, the fantasy ceiling and floor remain pretty low as he works behind Hunter Henry. Most of Hooper's production has come in the last two games, as he's caught seven of his eight targets for 99 yards and no touchdowns. Hooper's lone score of the season came back in the loss to the San Francisco 49ers back on Sept. 29. He should be on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues.

New England Patriots tight end Austin Hooper (neck) was listed as limited on the team's practice report on Wednesday. Hooper apparently picked up a neck injury in the Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but the fact that he practiced at all on Wednesday means he has a good shot of playing this Sunday when the team takes on the division-rival Miami Dolphins. The 30-year-old has seen an uptick in production the last two weeks with rookie quarterback Drake Maye now leading the offense -- he's caught seven of eight targets for 99 yards -- although he's still nothing more than a low-end TE2 for fantasy purposes while ceding most of the tight end pass-catching work to Hunter Henry. In his first year in New England, Hooper has just one trip to paydirt and has 23 receptions (34 targets) for 236 yards in 11 games.