A.J. Brown
Wide Receiver #11
A.J. Brown News
A.J. Brown Ruled Out for Week 8
The New England Patriots have downgraded star wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle/knee) to out for Sunday's contest against the Miami Dolphins. The top wideout entered the weekend with a questionable tag but hasn't made enough progress to suit up. During the week, Brown was first listed as a limited participant on Wednesday but was eventually downgraded to non-participation on Thursday and Friday. The 29-year-old suffered an ankle injury in the season opener and was later placed on IR but is now dealing with a new knee injury as well. While he returned in Week 6, he has been unproductive in his limited stint, catching just six passes for 75 yards (on 16 targets) over his last two games. While he remains out, managers should expect Drake Maye to lean heavily on Rhamondre Stevenson, with tight end Hunter Henry and DeMario Douglas operating as the top pass-catchers.
Oct 31, 2026 9:14 AM EST
A.J. Brown's Injury Complicates His Week 8 Fantasy Outlook
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee) is listed as questionable for Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins, and while he's a must-start receiver in 12+ team leagues if active, he certainly has a lower floor in fantasy football. In two games since returning from an ankle injury, Brown has 16 targets but just six catches and 75 yards. These are very underwhelming results from the 29-year-old, who represented the biggest offseason acquisition for the Patriots. Now, not only is he coming off back-to-back poor box scores, but he is also dealing with a significant knee injury that complicates his outlook. He is questionable for Week 8 after missing practice on Friday, and even if he does play on Sunday, he'll be less than 100%. If Brown is active, he's still worth starting in 12+ team leagues. He does have a lower floor, but he should also benefit from being the undisputed No. 1 target, especially with Romeo Doubs (shoulder) and Mack Hollins (calf) sidelined. With that being said, managers might have better and more reliable options on their bench in leagues with 10 teams or fewer, especially because of the risk that Brown plays a limited snap count. On the other hand, if Brown isn't able to play this week, we'd see wide receiver DeMario Douglas and tight end Hunter Henry step into significantly larger roles.
Oct 31, 2026 8:20 AM EST
A.J. Brown Questionable to Play on Sunday
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) is questionable to play on Sunday against the division-rival Miami Dolphins in Week 8, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official website. The Patriots will see where Brown is at on Saturday before they travel to Miami. Brown is officially up in the air to play this weekend due to a chronic knee condition, but the good news is that fantasy managers should know by the end of Saturday whether he will be available for Week 8 fantasy lineups. The 29-year-old landed on Injured Reserve after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and the three-time Pro Bowler has not looked great in the two games since his return, catching six of 16 targets for 75 yards and no touchdowns. Now, his knee injury could cause him to miss more time. With Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins currently on IR for the Pats, quarterback Drake Maye is running out of reliable targets. If Brown is out in Week 8, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams will start in three-wide sets for New England.
Oct 30, 2026 9:36 AM EST
A.J. Brown Absent from Friday's practice
There was no sign of New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee, ankle) during the portion of practice open to the media on Friday, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Brown was limited in Wednesday's practice and was then downgraded to a DNP on Thursday as he manages a chronic condition in his knee. Additionally, the veteran wideout is still working his way back to 100% after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the season opener that landed him on Injured Reserve. The 29-year-old returned to the Patriots in Week 6, but he has not looked right in two games, catching six of 16 targets for 75 yards and no touchdowns, and his status is now in doubt for the Week 8 contest against the division-rival Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Fantasy managers need to check back on Brown's official designation for the weekend. If he is ruled out, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams would serve as the starters in three-wide sets, with Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins still on Injured Reserve.
Oct 30, 2026 8:12 AM EST
A.J. Brown Missing From Practice on Thursday
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle, knee) was not in attendance at the team's practice on Thursday, according to Sophie Weller of Patriots Wire. The knee injury for Brown was added to the injury report on Wednesday, so Weller wonders if something happened to him during the first practice of the week. It is not what Brown's fantasy managers want to hear as he works to regain his explosiveness following the high-ankle sprain that he suffered in his Patriots debut in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler has played in two games since being activated from Injured Reserve, but he has not looked like himself, catching six of 16 targets for 75 yards without finding the end zone. Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins both remain on IR for the Patriots, so if Brown is unavailable to play in Week 8 versus the division-rival Miami Dolphins, DeMario Douglas could serve as quarterback Drake Maye's top target in an excellent matchup alongside trusted tight end Hunter Henry. Brown has been a fantasy bust so far in 2026 in his first year in New England, playing in only three games while grabbing nine of his 20 targets for 101 yards and no touchdowns.
Oct 29, 2026 11:09 AM EST
A.J. Brown Limited in Practice on Wednesday with an Ankle Issue
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday's injury report, per Evan Lazar of Patriots.com. It's not clear whether Brown is dealing with a new ankle injury or simply managing lingering effects from the high-ankle sprain that he suffered in Week 1. Brown returned from that injury in Week 6 after missing four games. However, he's struggled upon his return, recording just six catches for 75 yards and zero touchdowns on 16 targets over his last two games. The veteran wideout also told reporters on Wednesday that he's had some trouble fully regaining his explosiveness while he recovers from the injury. If Brown is unable to play in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins, Patriots wide receivers DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams could be in line for larger workloads.
Oct 28, 2026 12:57 PM EST
A.J. Brown Still Trying to Get his Explosiveness Back?
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown has not looked the same since returning from a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. "Yeah, sometimes. Sometimes I see it, and sometimes I'm pushing through. But none of that stuff really matters. I'm out here, so...," Brown said when asked if he is still trying to get his explosiveness back, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler is still searching for his first touchdown in a Patriots uniform and has six receptions on 16 targets for 75 yards in two games since returning from Injured Reserve. He was slightly better in last Thursday night's loss to the Chicago Bears, catching three of his six targets for 48 yards, but fantasy managers are looking for more as we near the halfway point of the 2026 season. The good news for Brown's frustrated fantasy managers is that he should be more effective as he slowly gets back to 100% health. If Brown has another dud this Sunday against the one-win Miami Dolphins, the concerns will only grow for the veteran pass-catcher.
Oct 28, 2026 10:29 AM EST
Vrabel Not Concerned with A.J. Brown's Struggles
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has no concerns about wide receiver A.J. Brown and his early-season struggles. On Monday morning, Vrabel said, "I thought he dropped a few passes. I don't think anybody has to press here or anything else. I think we just have to get back into a rhythm offensively with the guys we have." In three games, Brown has caught nine of 20 targets for 101 yards and no touchdowns, with three drops. In his first game with New England, he suffered a high-ankle sprain that placed him on injured reserve, causing him to miss four games. Now healthy and with quarterback Drake Maye playing at a high level since Week 4, Brown should bounce back unless he continues to struggle. Fantasy managers should view Brown as a buy-low candidate, as he should produce WR2 numbers moving forward.
Oct 26, 2026 5:27 AM EST
A.J. Brown has Another Dud in Thursday's Loss in Chicago
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown was looking for a bounce-back game on Thursday night on the road against the Chicago Bears, but it did not come. Brown came off Injured Reserve last weekend for Sunday's 26-19 victory over the division-rival New York Jets, but he battled drops and finished with only three catches on 10 targets for 27 yards. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler was held in check again in Thursday's loss to the Bears, as he caught only three of his six targets on the night for 48 yards and no touchdowns. Brown's 48 receiving yards were fourth on the team, and his six targets were only one fewer than tight end Hunter Henry. He has not looked all that comfortable in two games since returning from a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. With more time to rest before the team's Week 8 game on the road against the division-rival Miami Dolphins, fantasy managers will be hoping that Brown can finally make some noise in 2026. He has been one of the biggest fantasy busts at the receiver position through the first seven games of the year.
Oct 22, 2026 7:44 PM EST
A.J. Brown Ready to Bounce Back on Thursday Night?
New England Patriots veteran wide receiver A.J. Brown returned from a high-ankle sprain that landed him on Injured Reserve in the Week 6 win over the division-rival New York Jets, but he struggled with drops and caught only three of his 10 targets for 27 yards in his second game with the Patriots. Brown also disappointed in his debut with New England in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, when he caught three of his four targets for 26 yards before injuring his ankle. Thursday Night Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit thinks Brown is primed to bounce back to form on Thursday night against the hosting Chicago Bears in Week 7. "I would be shocked if AJ Brown doesn't play incredibly well tonight. He was getting back into rhythm last week coming back from injury," Herbstreit said on The Pat McAfee Show. Brown is a difference-maker when healthy, and quarterback Drake Maye is expected to try to get his WR1 the ball early and often on Thursday night. Fantasy managers should be starting Brown this week, even after his lackluster return from injury in Week 6. Do not forget that receiver Romeo Doubs (shoulder) is on IR and will miss the next four games, which will raise Brown's fantasy ceiling.
Oct 22, 2026 8:58 AM EST
A.J. Brown Looks to Shake Off Major Drops Issue
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown has top-10 upside in fantasy football, but he'll first need to show a little more reliability in the passing game. Brown returned from a four-week injury-related absence last Sunday and had three dropped passes (plus a muffed onside kick recovery attempt) against the Jets. Drops have been a factor for Brown throughout his career, but this was easily one of the worst performances of his career in that regard. He will look to turn things around with a much more reliable performance against the Chicago Bears in Week 7. Fortunately for Brown, this is a relatively favorable matchup, as the Bears have allowed the 11th-most receiving yards, ninth-most receiving touchdowns, and 13th-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2026. Brown will also have a little less competition for targets after Romeo Doubs (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve, although volume was never really a major concern for the alpha receiver, especially after he was targeted 10 times in Week 6. Brown is a high-end WR2 for now, but his track record makes it clear that he has WR1 upside and could return to top-12 territory on a weekly basis if he strings together a couple of strong outings.
Oct 21, 2026 10:44 PM EST
A.J. Brown Cleared to Play on Thursday Night in Chicago
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) was removed from the final Week 7 injury report on Wednesday and will play on Thursday night against the hosting Chicago Bears. Brown was limited in practice on Monday and Tuesday before upgrading to full participation on Wednesday. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler returned from Injured Reserve to play in the Week 6 win over the division-rival New York Jets on Sunday. He played 76% of the offensive snaps, but he was rusty and battled crucial drops, ultimately finishing with only three catches on 10 targets for 27 yards. The positive takeaway is that quarterback Drake Maye targeted Brown double-digit times in his first game back. Another week removed from his high-ankle sprain, fantasy managers will be hoping he can finally produce in just his third game with the Patriots. Brown caught three of his four targets for 26 yards in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks before spraining his ankle. At worst, he should be considered a low-end WR2 for fantasy managers this week.
Oct 21, 2026 11:51 AM EST
A.J. Brown Seen Working on the Field on Tuesday
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) was seen working with the team in individual drills during Tuesday's practice, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Brown returned from his Week 1 high-ankle sprain in Sunday's divisional win against the New York Jets, but the 29-year-old is still on the Week 7 injury report and was estimated to be limited for Monday's session. He could be listed as limited again on Tuesday, but barring a setback with his ankle, he should be active to kick off Week 7 action on Thursday night on the road against the Chicago Bears. Brown was a bust for fantasy managers who started him in Week 6 in his return following a four-game absence, as he managed to catch only three of 10 targets for 27 yards in the 26-19 win. The veteran pass-catcher battled drops and looked rusty in his first game back. Hopefully, Brown will look better on Thursday night as he looks for his first touchdown of 2026. At the very least, Brown should be considered a low-end WR2 as he looks to get back in a groove as New England's WR1.
Oct 20, 2026 12:30 PM EST
A.J. Brown Struggles With Drops in Week 6 Return
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) endured a frustrating return to action in Sunday's 26-19 victory over the New York Jets. Playing for the first time since suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 1, Brown struggled to capitalize on his opportunities despite being involved in the passing game early. The veteran dropped several catchable passes, including an end-zone opportunity, as quarterback Drake Maye threw three touchdowns to Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, and Hunter Henry. Brown's inability to make the most of his chances was especially disappointing considering the Patriots lost Doubs to a shoulder injury in the first quarter. Some rust was understandable after four consecutive missed games, but the performance offered little encouragement to fantasy managers who started him. New England faces the Chicago Bears on Thursday night in Week 7, leaving Brown with a short turnaround to regain his rhythm.
Oct 18, 2026 12:34 PM EST
A.J. Brown Will Play a "Good Amount" in Week 6
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) will play a "good amount" of snaps in his return from injured reserve, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Although Brown isn't expected to be 100% on Sunday, it does sound like he'll be pretty close to a full workload. That's great news for fantasy managers, who should feel reassured about starting him as a WR1 in their Week 6 lineups. Brown is returning to this surging Patriots offense at just the right time. Quarterback Drake Maye has completed 48 passes over the last two weeks alone, so there should be plenty of targets and receptions headed Brown's way. New York has been stingier against wide receivers in fantasy football this year, but Brown is matchup-proof and should excel this week, especially with the Patriots projected to win by 7.5 points.
Oct 18, 2026 6:45 AM EST
A.J. Brown Officially Activated from Injured Reserve, Will Play in Week 6
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) has officially been activated from Injured Reserve and will play in his team's Week 6 matchup against the New York Jets, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Brown has been sidelined since suffering a high-ankle sprain in New England's Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 29-year-old is in his first season with the Patriots, but he has a long history of being a highly productive wideout and should immediately become the number one target for New England quarterback Drake Maye. Across 15 games with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025, Brown recorded 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns on 121 targets. Now that he's officially active, Brown profiles as a must-start wide receiver for fantasy managers in Week 6.
Oct 17, 2026 12:20 PM EST
A.J. Brown a Must-Start Receiver in Anticipated Return
New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) is expected to be activated from injured reserve ahead of Week 6 against the New York Jets. If confirmed as active for Sunday's divisional contest, Brown would immediately jump into must-start territory for fantasy football. The Patriots acquired Brown this past offseason to be their alpha receiver and Drake Maye's favorite target, and he re-joins the offense at a perfect time as the unit has been firing on all cylinders lately. Maye has completed 48 passes over the last two weeks alone, so there are likely plenty of targets and receptions headed Brown's way. New York has been stingier against wide receivers in fantasy football this year, but Brown is matchup-proof and should excel this week, especially with the Patriots projected to win by 7.5 points. As long as he's officially activated and cleared to play, Brown should rank as a low-end WR1 in fantasy football.
Oct 17, 2026 6:21 AM EST
A.J. Brown Likely to Be Active in Week 6
The New England Patriots are likely to activate wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) off Injured Reserve ahead of their Week 6 matchup against the New York Jets, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Brown has been sidelined since suffering a high-ankle sprain in New England's Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 29-year-old is in his first season with the Patriots after recording 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns on 121 targets across 15 games with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025. Once active, Brown profiles as the clear number-one option in the Patriots' passing game. Fantasy managers can view him as a low-end WR2 in his first game back.
Oct 17, 2026 5:11 AM EST
A.J. Brown Officially Questionable for Week 6
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) is questionable to play in Week 6 on Sunday at home against the division-rival New York Jets, according to Mark Daniels of MassLive.com. The Patriots want to see how Brown responds after Friday's practice. The 29-year-old is on the verge of returning from Injured Reserve after he suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. The former second-rounder from Mississippi is a question mark for Week 6, but fantasy managers will know one way or another if he will be active against the Jets if the Patriots officially activate him from IR by Saturday afternoon's deadline. If given the green light to return this weekend, Brown will be a volatile fantasy football option after a long layoff with the potential to see a reduced workload. Eventually, though, Brown will reprise his role as the No. 1 receiver for quarterback Drake Maye.
Oct 16, 2026 10:20 AM EST
A.J. Brown Loosening Up for Friday's Practice
New England Patriots star wide receiver A.J. Brown (ankle) was seen loosening up along the sidelines as the team's practice got underway on Friday, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Brown has practiced all week, albeit limited, as he potentially looks to come off Injured Reserve to play this weekend against the division-rival New York Jets. We will know whether Brown is going to play in Week 6 by Saturday, when the Patriots would have to officially activate him from IR if they plan on using him on Sunday. The 29-year-old big offseason acquisition suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and has been out since then. If Brown is activated and plays on Sunday, he will be volatile in starting fantasy lineups while potentially being at risk of having his snaps limited. The three-time Pro Bowler caught three passes for 26 yards in the season opener before his ankle injury. He will look to immediately re-establish a connection with quarterback Drake Maye as the team's No. 1 wideout when he returns.
Oct 16, 2026 9:04 AM EST
Latest Fantasy News
