KayshonBoutte

News: 6 days agoBoutte logged 16 snaps in Thursday's preseason opener against the Colts.

Spin: Boutte wasn't targeted in the contest. However, what's more notable is that he suited up while A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs and slot man DeMario Douglas, who are listed as first-teamers on New England's unofficial depth chart, were held held out of the game along with a number of other skill players, while Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism all saw action in the contest. As long as Boutte -- who has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate -- stays with the Patriots, his path to targets looks murky, at least as long as Brown and Doubs are healthy.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Reportedly a cut/trade candidate throughout most of the 2025 offseason, Boutte went on to lead the AFC champion Patriots' wide receiver room in routes and touchdowns while playing 67% of the offensive snaps when active. Despite the generous usage in a good offense, Boutte wasn't a reliable fantasy option, averaging 8.9 fantasy PPG. After seeing a career-high nine targets in Week 1, Boutte didn't clear five in a game the rest of the regular season. The 2023 sixth-round pick has finished in the range of 500-600 yards each of the last two seasons and has yet to produce a top-50 fantasy campaign. His 2026 role figures to decrease, with Romeo Doubs and likely A.J. Brown taking over atop the depth chart, and second-year wideout Kyle Williams likely to get more run. Boutte, 24, will only be worth late-round consideration if he is traded.