Tuesday, August 25, 2020

New England Patriots Fantasy Football Projections 2020

In addition to viewing our 2020 Fantasy Football Projections by position, we will post our preseason projections per team.

Below you will find our 2020 fantasy football projections for the New England Patriots.

MORE: Fantasy football projections for all 32 NFL teams

QUARTERBACKS


PlayerAtt.Comp.YardsTDINTRushYardsTDPoints
Cam Newton554.7341.13799.724.1313.8764.9298.52.92268.14
While not guaranteed to be the starter when a signed his one-year deal, all signs point to the one-time league MVP winning the competition for the starting gig. As ESPN's Mike Reiss notes, Jarrett Stidham is "fading out of the quarterback picture" and it's been "basically the Cam Newton Show." Playing only two games in 2019, the chip-on-his-shoulder version of Newton offers plenty of upside if he can stay healthy in 2020. In his first eight NFL seasons, Newton performed as a top-four fantasy quarterback five times.
Jarrett Stidham38.624.5256.71.60.875.520.90.1117.68

RUNNING BACKS


PlayerAtt.YardsTDRec.YardsTDPoints
James White67.12651.6859.4525.74.16114.11
Perennially undervalued in fantasy drafts, it was White, not Sony Michel, that has led the Patriots running backs in fantasy scoring in both of Michel's first two seasons. One of the league's best pass-catching backs, White has more than 70 catches in back-to-back seasons and that trend should continue in 2020.
Sony Michel1104292.754.534.20.1463.66
With Tom Brady now in Tampa, perhaps the Patriots rely more heavily on the ground game, but Michel's lack of involvement as a receiver make him a TD-or-bust weekly option. Ending the year as the RB28 in half-PPR formats, Michel finished as a weekly top-18 back only twice last year. In addition, Michel, who was placed on the active/PUP list, isn't a lock to be ready for Week 1, but RBs coach Ivan Fears hasn't ruled it out.
Rex Burkhead55225.51.6514.6128.50.7749.92
Burkhead averaged a little more than seven touches (7.08) per game and 44.7 scrimmage yards per game last season. When the backfield is at full strength, Burkhead's 2020 usage rate is unlikely to exceed his 2019 rate.
Lamar Miller37.41590.945.641.20.226.86
At a minimum, Miller, who missed all of 2019 with a torn ACL, provides insurance for Michel (foot), who may not be ready for Week 1. More than likely, however, it just adds more uncertainty to a backfield that is often difficult to project.
Damien Harris90.2351.81.85.6420.1751.2
A third-round pick in 2019, Harris managed only four carries for 12 yards in two games last season. Often difficult to decypher how the coaching staff will allocate touches to the team's running backs, Harris has some sleeper appeal as there is a chance that Michel lands on the PUP (and sits the first six weeks) and free-agent addition Lamar Miller is returning from a torn ACL.

MORE: New England Patriots 53-man roster projection

WIDE RECEIVERS


PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Julian Edelman82.5919.94.745.531.90.06123.98
Extremely consistent since becoming a prominent part of the Patriots offense in 2013, Edelman had 100 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns on 153 targets last season. It was the third time that Edelman has played a full 16-game slate over that span and the veteran slot receiver has a minimum of 150 targets, 98 catches and 1,056 yards in each of those three seasons. With Tom Brady now in Tampa, however, it's likely that Edelman fails to repeat those numbers even if he manages to play all 16 games in his age-34 season.
N'Keal Harry46.1610.83.924.4330.0488.14
Harry spent the first half of the year on IR and managed just 12/105/2 receiving over seven regular-season games to close the season. The 2019 first-round pick will obviously improve upon his rookie numbers, but it's unclear how quickly he will be able to develop a strong rapport with a new quarterback in an unusual offseason. Reports that Gunner Olszewski has outplayed Harry in training camp doesn't generate much excitement for a second-year breakout from last year's first-rounder.
Mohamed Sanu49.3534.93.8200076.41
Sanu spent half his season with Atlanta (33/313/1 in seven games) and half with New England (26/207/1 in eight games). Given the unusual offseason and change at quarterback, Sanu is nothing more than bench depth in the deepest of leagues.
Jakobi Meyers20.4268.31.3800035.11
Gunner Olszewski14.6167.20.9500022.42
Damiere Byrd10.9122.60.8200017.18

TIGHT ENDS


PlayerRec.YardsTDRushYardsTDPoints
Devin Asiasi30.6356.52.6800051.73
With Matt LaCosse deciding to opt out of the 2020 season, the Patriots have expressed some interest in Delanie Walker, who is still an unsigned free agent. While rookie tight ends often struggle to make a significant impact in their first season, Asiasi has been getting some rave reviews at camp.
Dalton Keene19.4217.31.6500031.63
Ryan Izzo5.659.90.460008.75

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