Heading into Week 1, best ball and redraft fantasy managers were asking themselves the same question: Which Patriots wide receiver is actually worth rostering? With Stefon Diggs joining the team, Demario Douglas locked into the slot, and rookie Kyle Williams earning preseason hype, the competition for snaps looked like a messy rotation. But it turns out the Patriots’ WR1 wasn’t a shiny new addition at all; it was their forgotten X receiver, Kayshon Boutte.
And after back-to-back 100-yard games dating back to last season, Boutte is officially knocking on the fantasy football waiver wire door.
KAYSHON BOUTTE’S WEEK 1 STATEMENT
Boutte wasted no time reminding everyone how he finished last season with Drake Maye under center. In the Patriots’ Week 1 loss, he racked up six catches for 103 yards on eight targets, leading the team in both receiving yards and snaps played (58). Even more impressive? Five of those receptions went for first downs, showing that Maye trusts him in big moments.
Not only did Boutte get volume, he got quality volume. His average depth of target was 17.4 yards, meaning Maye looked for him down the field, not on check-downs or screens. He created separation on comeback routes, showed strength through contact, and looked like the reliable perimeter option this offense desperately needed.
For fantasy managers, that’s the kind of profile we drool over: heavy snaps, team-high targets, and usage in high-value areas of the field.
THE FIT IN THE PATRIOTS WR ROTATION
New England entered the season with a four-man wideout rotation: Boutte, Douglas, Diggs, and Mack Hollins, with Williams sprinkled in. The plan looked muddled on paper, but Week 1 gave us clarity. In three-wide receiver sets, the Patriots leaned on Boutte, Diggs, and Douglas. When they shifted to two-wide sets, it was Boutte and Hollins who handled most of the work.
That alignment tells us two things. First, Douglas is locked into the slot role. Second, Boutte has carved out a consistent role on the outside, even with Diggs in the picture. And when you’re leading the team in yards while logging the most snaps, it’s a strong indicator that this isn’t just a one-week fluke.
ANOTHER WIN FOR ANALYTICS
It’s easy to forget now, but the former five-star recruit was once a projected first-round pick. He broke out as a true freshman at LSU (98th percentile breakout age), flashed elite athleticism, and looked like the next big thing. But injuries, inconsistency, and some off-field concerns tanked his draft stock. The Patriots took a chance on him, and after a quiet start to his NFL career, it seems like their patience is finally paying off.
In many ways, Boutte’s story feels like a classic Patriots receiver arc, more Julian Edelman than Stefon Diggs. He’s worked his way into trust, taken his lumps, and now, in his third season, he’s starting to show why scouts once thought he could be a star.
KAYSHON BOUTTE FANTASY OUTLOOK
Anytime a wideout goes for 100 yards in Week 1, fantasy managers should take notice. But Boutte’s case is even stronger. He’s been consistent, topping 95 yards in three of his last four games stretching back to last season. His role also looks locked in, as he’s clearly the Patriots’ most trusted outside receiver and is getting valuable downfield looks. And most importantly, his chemistry with Maye is real, seeing eight targets, and many of them coming in high-leverage situations.
Of course, there are still questions about how Diggs and rookie Williams could impact his role as the season progresses. Both have the talent to eat into his opportunities. Still, for now, Boutte looks like a priority add in deeper leagues, and at the very least, he’s worth stashing in regular formats while we see how this Patriots offense develops under Maye and Josh McDaniels.
A CHANCE TO STAY HOT IN MIAMI
The Patriots head to Miami in Week 2, and it’s a matchup Boutte can take advantage of. The Dolphins just got torched by Danny Dimes and the Colts, allowing 272 passing yards and a 76% completion rate. With Maye growing more comfortable and the Patriots showing trust in Boutte, there’s a strong chance he keeps the momentum rolling.
On The Wolf’s Week 2 Rankings, Boutte checks in at WR53, still behind Diggs and Douglas, but notably eight spots ahead of the ECR. That’s a sign the fantasy community is still sleeping on him.
FINAL WORD: WEEK 2 WAIVER WIRE TARGET
Kayshon Boutte isn’t just a one-week wonder. His performance is backed by usage, talent, and a growing connection with his quarterback. While there’s still some risk with the other receivers lurking, Boutte’s 343 receiving yards over his last four games rank top-five among wideouts. That’s not just noise. It’s a trend.
If you’ve got room on your roster, Boutte deserves a spot. He may not be a plug-and-play starter every week yet, but he’s showing all the signs of being the Patriots wideout to roster in 2025 fantasy football.
