New England Patriots DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas caught four of his five targets for 49 yards and one touchdown during Saturday's Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in blowout fashion. It was a peculiar game for Douglas, who had one catch for one yard and another catch for a loss of two yards along the way. Nevertheless, he salvaged and even boosted his fantasy value with a big 39-yard touchdown reception. The score came on a free play after a Los Angeles defender had jumped offside. Douglas, who has at least three catches in each of his last eight games, will rank as a low-end WR3 option for Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for one yard on two carries during Saturday's Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in blowout fashion. He also failed to catch his lone target. Stevenson had operated as the Patriots' primary running back for the entire season, but he was relegated to the backup role this Saturday after a costly fumble back in Week 16. It's unclear if the 26-year-old's benching is a one-time, temporary matter or if he'll remain the No. 2 option behind Antonio Gibson for next week's season finale against the Buffalo Bills, too. Until we get more clarity on the Patriots' backfield situation, Stevenson should be viewed as a mid-to-low RB4 option in fantasy football.

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson rushed for 63 yards on 12 carries during Saturday's Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in blowout fashion. He was unable to convert his lone target into a reception. Gibson had just six carries for 10 yards midway through the fourth quarter, but he padded his stats with some big runs during garbage time, including a 20-yard gain. The 26-year-old operated as the Patriots' lead back over Rhamondre Stevenson, who rushed just two times for one yard. Stevenson found himself relegated to the backup role after a costly fumble in Week 16, which led to an increase in volume for Gibson. The 26-year-old boasts a solid 4.6 yards per carry this year, but he's nothing more than a low-end RB3 heading into Week 18 against the Buffalo Bills.

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 12 of 22 passes for 117 yards, one touchdown, and one lost fumble during Saturday's Week 17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in blowout fashion. He also took four sacks and rushed six times for 32 yards on the ground. The rookie quarterback missed one drive as he was evaluated for a head injury, but he was able to return. However, he didn't play very well upon re-entering the game. He did take advantage of a free play by throwing a deep touchdown strike to DeMario Douglas, but other than that big play, his passing performance was uneventful. He now has five lost fumbles over his last eight games, and a total of 13 turnovers during that span. The UNC product continues to impress as a runner, but he needs to clean up the turnovers before fantasy managers can legitimately consider starting him in single-quarterback leagues.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins won't be on the fantasy radar for his meeting with the division-rival New York Jets in Week 17. The veteran wideout has broken free for a few big plays in 2024 but has generally been an unreliable option regarding fantasy. Despite participating on the most snaps for a Bills WR, Hollins clocks in at fourth in total receptions on the squad (26) -- averaging just 1.73 catches and 21.3 yards per reception in 15 appearances. Additionally, the Jets have been one of the worst matchups for wideouts this season, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points per game to the position (29.9). Outside of a dart-throw DFS shot, the 31-year-old holds little lineup appeal as RotoBaller's PPR WR85 in this week's rankings.