KayshonBoutte

News: 2 days agoBoutte (shoulder) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Steelers.

Spin: Boutte has been active for the Patriots' last two games and recorded two catches for 19 yards on three targets, but he's nursing the shoulder injury coming out of this past Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Chargers. Though he was listed as a limited participant on practice reports issued Tuesday and Wednesday, Boutte ultimately wasn't able to overcome the shoulder issue on a short week and will be in street clothes Thursday. Fellow wideout Demario Douglas (concussion) has also been ruled out for Week 14, while DeVante Parker (knee) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) are both listed as questionable.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Boutte was selected in the sixth round of April's draft. The LSU product was in the midst of a huge breakout in 2021 (38-509-9 receiving line with a 27% target share in six games prior to injury), but wasn't used as often in 2022 (20% share) and regressed to 48-538-2 in 11 games. He has decent size and speed, but raised some red flags with ugly showings in the vertical (29 inches) and broad jump (118 inches) at the combine. Drops were also an issue at LSU, but he can align all over the field (57% slot in career) and has room to grow as one of the youngest receivers (21) in this year's rookie class. Boutte will open his career buried on the New England depth chart and should only be rostered in dynasty.