K.J.

Osborn

The Pats signed Osborn as a depth option in the offseason. The former Viking never found a role in the offense and the team eventually waived him after Week 14. Osborn went for 1,845 yards in three years as the Vikings’ No. 3 receiver, proving his worth as a depth option on a strong passing attack. With Noah Brown likely done for the year, he should see plenty of snaps for the Commanders once he gets up to speed with the offense.

Signed to a one-year, $4 million deal this offseason, Osborn was targeted just 18 times as Kendrick Bourne took over as the main third receiver once healthy and both Kayshon Boutte and Ja’Lynn Polk pushed Osborn out of the way for playing time. He’ll likely catch on with another team ahead of the playoffs.

No real surprises here. K.J. Osborn continues to be inactive despite putting together some solid stretches for the Vikings in previous seasons.

S Kyle Dugger (knee) is active. Even with the Pats shaking up their receiver corps, including cutting Tyquan Thornton, veteran Osborn can’t get on the field. The 27-year-old seems like he could be a backup slot asset in a more pass-heavy offense, but pass-heavy this attack is not.

The Patriots are seemingly prioritizing their younger wideouts forming a rapport with Drake Maye in what is all but a lost season. Bourne was active but did not see the field in Week 10 against the Bears. DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte were Maye’s most targeted receivers while Ja’Lynn Polk scored a touchdown. K.J. Osborn is the other veteran receiver on the squad and he saw just one target on the day. Fantasy managers can safely cut Osborn and Bourne from fantasy rosters unless in the deepest of leagues.

Both Osborn and Thornton are healthy scratches and are rumored to be trade candidates ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. That should mean more snaps/potential targets for Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, but the New England passing game is one to avoid right now.

Osborn missed Week 5 with a shoulder injury and was active but did not play any snaps in Week 6. With Demario Douglas sick and Ja’Lynn Polk struggling, he got back in the rotation this week and scored his first touchdown as a Patriot. Despite the score, Osborn won’t be on the fantasy radar for Week 8 as long as Douglas is back to full strength by then.

Fellow Patriots WR K.J. Osborn (shoulder) is also questionable this week. Injuries on the defensive side of the ball piled up last week. Starting safeties Kyle Dugger (ankle) and Jabrill Peppers (shoulder) are likewise questionable, as are LB Anfernee Jennings (shoulder) and CB Jonathan Jones (shoulder).

Osborn now has four grabs for 28 yards in two games. Osborn will undoubtedly pop up for the occasional five-catch game, but it’s not worth trying to predict when in this highly-limited offense.

Osborn played the most snaps (39) and had the most targets of the Patriots’ receivers, but the fact that four different receivers are splitting work keeps any of them from being fantasy relevant. It doesn’t help that Jacoby Brissett is throwing the passes for New England for the time being. Osborn isn’t usable outside of deep formats heading into Week 2 against the Seahawks at home.