A.J.Brown

News: 4 days agoBrown dislocated his thumb during Monday's practice, but he continued to work through the session afterward, Mark Daniels of MassLive.com reports.

Spin: Per Daniels, the wideout finished the session with with four catches, as his chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye continues to grow. Given that he was able to work through his thumb issue Monday, Brown's practice participation isn't expected to be affected going forward. The Patriots' preseason opener is Aug. 13 against the Colts, and it remains to be seen whether key starters like Brown will see action in the contest.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Brown was traded to the Patriots in June. The veteran receiver enters 2026 looking to continue his streak of finishing in the top 15 in fantasy points per game during each of the four seasons he was with the Eagles. That includes an 11th-place finish in 2025 in which Brown reached the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth time in his seven NFL seasons while finding the end zone exactly seven times for the third year in a row. Brown continues to benefit from elite usage (he has finished no lower than seventh among WRs in target share each of the past seven seasons) and elite efficiency (he has finished 80th percentile or better in yards per route run all seven years). He could use more end zone targets in New England (he had a career-low four last season), but Brown, 29, is set to work as Drake Maye's top target in a good Patriots' offense. He is a fringe fantasy WR1.