New England Patriots DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (knee) is expected to practice in Week 5 as he gets closer to returning from the PUP list, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Bourne is recovering from an ACL tear that abruptly ended his promising 2023 season. Through just eight games, he had caught 37 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns. That type of production put him on the fantasy radar as a FLEX play, but we're not sure he'll be able to replicate it when he returns this year given the state of New England's run-heavy offense led by Jacoby Brissett. Still, we can't discount the reliable, veteran presence he offers when on the field.

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry should be avoided in most fantasy leagues ahead of Week 4 versus the San Francisco 49ers. Henry's production has been inconsistent through three games this year. He did catch eight passes for 109 yards in Week 2, but outside of that contest, he's averaging just two catches and 14 yards per week. Fantasy managers can't bank on Henry exploding again this Sunday and should instead prepare for a lower-volume performance. A very unfavorable matchup also awaits Henry as the Niners have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends. They've also surrendered the fewest receptions, fewest touchdowns, and second-fewest receiving yards to the position. Needless to say, the stars are not aligning for Henry this week. With several key factors working against him, the veteran tight end can be benched in most leagues.

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas has emerged as one of the team's more sought-after waiver wire additions ahead of his Week 4 clash with the San Francisco 49ers. The second-year pass-catcher was not involved nearly as much as expected through the first two games, but veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett made it up to him with seven completions for 69 yards in Week 3 this year. The Patriots enter Sunday's game as 10.5-point underdogs, which means they may need to adopt a pass-heavy approach so that they can keep pace with the 49ers and focus on their own time of possession. Douglas figures to be one of Brissett's preferred options in the passing game going forward. He ranks as a WR3/FLEX in leagues with at least 14 teams.

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson has earned additional attention in fantasy football leagues ahead of his Week 4 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Gibson is coming off an intriguing Week 3 in which he had two more touches and 14 more scrimmage yards than Rhamondre Stevenson. He also offers ball security, which Stevenson can't necessarily echo given that he has three fumbles in 2024, lost a fumble last week, and was in the previous coaching staff's dog house for ball security issues. While Stevenson did play more snaps than Gibson last week, neither hit 50 percent. Reduced volume in an unproductive offense like the Patriots' makes it tough to trust Gibson in fantasy football this week, but he's absolutely worth monitoring as a potential low-end RB3 in case he continues to carve out opportunities.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is suddenly difficult to trust in fantasy football following his quiet outing against the New York Jets in Week 3. The Patriots' lead back tallied just 23 yards in the contest, and his job doesn't get any easier ahead of Week 4 versus the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners' defense has merely ranked near the middle of the league in opportunities, yards, and fantasy points allowed to running backs, but even the pure game script alone could be enough to keep Stevenson from having a solid fantasy performance. San Francisco is currently favored by 10.5 points. If they get an early lead, they will run the ball to drain the clock and reduce opportunities for the Patriots' playmakers. Similarly, in that scenario, New England would feel more pressure to pass the football and take the ball out of their running back's hands. All of these factors ultimately lead to Stevenson ranking just inside the top 24 fantasy running backs with a low floor and a high ceiling.