The 2022 season was a tough one for the New England Patriots, both overall and from a fantasy football perspective. The Patriots went just 8-9 and missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons after making the playoffs in all but two seasons from 2001 through 2019. Bill Belichick’s team struggled offensively but was held afloat by one of the league’s top defenses. Things have changed quite drastically since Tom Brady left the Patriots, as the franchise has now struggled to find its footing without the all time great.
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Let’s take a look at the top fantasy performers for the Patriots this past season and what we can expect from New England heading into 2023.
Top performers in the 2022-23 season:
New England Patriots defense:
The Patriots top daily fantasy scorer last season in terms of total points was their defense/special teams. The Patriots totaled 186 points over the course of the season and averaged 10.9 points per game. It shouldn't be all too surprising that the Patriots defense was one of the higher scoring defenses in the league after posting 54 sacks, 19 interceptions, and 12 forced fumbles. They allowed just 20.4 points per game. While the Patriots offense hasn’t been the same without Tom Brady, the Patriots still continue to have one of the league’s best teams defensively on a yearly basis. That shouldn’t change in the 2023-24 season. Expect the Patriots to continue to trot out one of the best defenses in the league.
Quarterback Mac Jones:
(source:https://www.patspulpit.com/2023/2/20/23606234/new-england-patriots-news-links-2-20-23)
Next up is Quarterback Mac Jones, who was the highest scoring individual player for the Patriots averaging 12.9 points per contest and 181.1 total points over 14 games. It was a tough second season for the former Alabama quarterback going just 6-8 in his 14 games started. He completed 65.2% of his passes for just under 3,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also threw 11 interceptions on the season. After a solid rookie season that saw him finish second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and a Pro Bowl selection, his future with the Patriots is now much more uncertain. While it seems unlikely that Bill Belichick decides to move on from Jones this offseason, his 2023-24 season will be pivotal in deciding his future.
One player that could push Jones for playing time is former Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe. In four games for the Patriots in his rookie season, Zappe completed 70.7% of his passes for 781 yards and five touchdowns while throwing three interceptions. In two starts, he led the Patriots to wins over the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns. Jones should get the opportunity to bounce back from his tough 2022-23 season but it could be tough for either quarterback to find a great deal of success with the Patriots rather underwhelming wide receiver core. Both QBs will be tough to trust as fantasy contributors.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson:
(source:https://bdc2020.o0bc.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2021/08/20/rhamondre-stevenson-fantasy-football-patriots-running-backs/)
Rhamondre Stevenson played in all 17 games for the Patriots in 2022, making seven starts en route to a breakout season. The former Oklahoma Sooners running back totaled 180.1 standard points on the season including 10.6 points per game. On the season, he totaled 1,040 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns with 69 receptions for 421 yards and one receiving touchdown.
Damien Harris is an unrestricted free agent and has an uncertain future in New England. If the Patriots decide not to bring back Harris and lean on Stevenson this coming season, it would not be shocking to see him finish as the Patriots highest scoring individual player next season.
Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers:
(source:https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliverthomas/2022/03/13/new-england-patriots-place-second-round-tender-on-receiving-leader-jakobi-meyers/?sh=31e65d46684c)
Former North Carolina State Wide Receiver, Jakobi Meyers, averaged 8.1 fantasy points per game in 2022, totaling 113.3 standard points. The fourth-year wide receiver posted similar numbers to his breakout 2021 season, totaling 67 receptions for 804 yards and a career high six touchdowns.
As of now, Meyers has an uncertain future with New England as he is set to hit the free agent market. Should he return to New England to remain the top receiving option, he will once again have some solid appeal as a fantasy football asset. It will be interesting to see if the Patriots decide to pay Meyers and pair him with a young WR from the NFL draft.
Kicker Nick Folk:
38-year old veteran kicker Nick Folk totaled 146 fantasy points this season, an average of 8.6 points per game. Folk went 32-for-37 in field goal attempts including 4-for-5 from 50+ yards. He was also 32-for-35 kicking extra points.
Folk remains under contract with the Patriots for one more season which could be the last year of a 15-year old veteran's career. Folk should remain a viable fantasy option as he has made 82.4% or more of his kicks in each of the last four seasons, including back-to-back years of 92% in 2020 and 2021. That number dropped to 86.5% this season which still was one of the better averages across the league. A lot of Folk’s fantasy appeal will depend on the Patriots improving their offense this coming season.
What if the Patriots add an offensive piece with their first round pick?
It will be intriguing to see which direction the Patriots decide to go with their first round pick in this year’s NFL Draft. They are not expected to draft a Quarterback and do not need help in the RB room but the Patriots can definitely use a major boost to their WR corps.
If the Patriots are able to add one of the draft’s top wide receivers, such as USC’s Jordan Addison, we could see an immediate rookie impact on the field for the Patriots and for fantasy managers. The Patriots wide receiver room outside of Meyers is severely lacking and a game changer is desperately needed in New England. A wide receiver like Addison could be the boost the Patriots offense so desperately needs.
By Adrian Varona
For a second straight season, I am betting against Mahomes.