Kyle Williams
Wide Receiver
Kyle Williams News
Kyle Williams' Stock Rising with His Upside on Display
With the benefit of time and film study to reflect on the New England Patriots' preseason opening tie with the Colts, ESPN's Mike Reiss has labeled second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams as one of his three offensive risers, along with third-string quarterback Behren Morton and potential third running back Jam Miller. Williams got into his deep bag of releases, showcasing a slick crossover move on his 12-yard touchdown grab and offering a glimpse of the upside he can provide when pairing the full package with his impressive straight-line speed. While Reiss points out that it wasn't all perfect for the 2025 third-round pick, Williams will have the opportunity to further hone his skills against one of the league's best secondaries when the Patriots meet up with the Eagles for joint practices later in the week. Quietly putting together an impressive camp of late, Williams is making a case for an expanded role in a receiver room not lacking talent.
Aug 16, 2026 6:25 AM EST
Kyle Williams Opens Second Preseason with a Touchdown
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams caught two of three targets for 37 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Williams is gearing up for a potential breakout campaign in his second NFL season, and scoring the first touchdown of the preseason is a step in the right direction. As a rookie last year, Williams caught 10 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns. Head coach Mike Vrabel has expressed a desire to get Williams more involved in 2026, and he could come out of this preseason as high as No. 3 on the depth chart. He won't surpass AJ Brown or Romeo Doubs, but Williams could make his presence felt more than players such as DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, and Mack Hollins. Williams is an intriguing low-cost target in dynasty leagues, but it's a bit too soon to snag him in most redraft formats.
Aug 14, 2026 3:42 AM EST
Mike Vrabel Says Kyle Williams Will be "Large Part" of Offense
New England Patriots second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams has seemingly been on the roster bubble during training camp this summer, but not if you ask head coach Mike Vrabel, according to Zack Cox of the Boston Herald. The former third-rounder has looked like the team's No. 7 wideout in camp and has seen limited reps with quarterback Drake Maye, but Vrabel, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and receivers coach Todd Downing are planning on finding ways to get the speedy pass-catcher the ball. "I really, really know that Kyle is going to help us," Vrabel said. "His speed is going to help us." Williams had some big plays in 2025 as a rookie, but he only caught 10 passes on 21 targets for 209 yards and three touchdowns. The 23-year-old from Washington State worked in the offseason to become more physical and versatile, and the Patriots have some more of a willingness to use him as a ball-carrier. "His release skills, his speed, his vertical speed, those are all things that we have to continue to take advantage of as we progress," Vrabel added. Time will tell if Vrabel's words hold up, but as things currently stand in New England's crowded WR room, it's hard to envision Williams having a big weekly role while competing for playing time with the likes of A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Kayson Boutte, Mack Hollins, and Efton Chism.
Aug 7, 2026 11:16 AM EST
Kyle Williams Not a Lock for 53-Man Roster
After a slow start to his second training camp, New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams made several notable plays during the team's first padded practice of the summer on Thursday. The obvious caveat is that those plays came with Tommy DeVito under center, as Williams continues to run primarily with the second-team offense, and in an early projection of the team's 53-man roster, The Athletic's Chad Graff has the 2025 third-round pick on the outside looking in. Graff acknowledges the unlikeliness of Williams being left off the roster despite an early lack of involvement and points to the team's upcoming preseason games as a crucial opportunity for him to show he belongs, potentially by earning a role in the return game. Williams caught only 10 passes as a rookie, and with wide receiver now representing the deepest position on the Patriots roster, it's unlikely he becomes a reliable fantasy contributor even if he does make the team, reflected by his fall to WR91 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.
Jul 31, 2026 6:27 AM EST
Kyle Williams at the Bottom of Patriots Depth Chart
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams currently looks like the team's WR7, behind A.J. Brown, Kayshon Boutte, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and Efton Chishm III, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. Williams was running with the second- and third-team offense during Monday's training camp practice. The 23-year-old former third-rounder in 2025 out of Washington State barely contributed in his first NFL season, catching 10 of 21 targets for 209 yards and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (zero starts), although he did flash some big-play ability deep down the field and averaged 20.9 yards per catch. It's still early in training camp, but fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues who are stashing Williams heading into his second NFL season can't like what they are hearing. If he's in danger of not making the active 53-man roster near the end of camp, the Patriots could consider trading him to a WR-needy team.
Jul 27, 2026 8:13 AM EST
Kyle Williams to Compete for Snaps in Three-Receiver Sets
New England Patriots second-year wide receiver Kyle Williams' path to consistent targets didn't get any easier heading into his sophomore campaign in 2026 after the Patriots added A.J. Brown via trade and Romeo Doubs in free agency, but Evan Lazar of Patriots.com writes that Williams is set to compete with Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, and DeMario Douglas for snaps in three-receiver sets in training camp this summer. Specifically, Williams and Douglas could be competing for a "speed" receiver role deep down the field. Hollins' versatility and willingness to do the dirty blocking work have endeared him to the coaching staff, and he gives the offense a more physical presence at the WR position. The 23-year-old Williams caught 10 of his 21 targets for 209 yards (20.9 yards per catch) and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games after he was taken in the third round in last year's draft out of Washington State. Williams' numbers didn't exactly stand out, but he has long-term appeal as a big-play wideout in dynasty/keeper leagues after averaging 20 yards a catch as a rookie. The volume probably won't be there again for him to matter much in 12-team fantasy leagues in 2026.
Jul 17, 2026 6:02 PM EST
Kyle Williams Faces an Uphill Climb to Fantasy Relevance
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams caught only 10 passes in a disappointing 2025 rookie season. While the elite speed that had fantasy managers excited about his spot on a somewhat pedestrian depth chart allowed him to convert three of those receptions into touchdowns while averaging more than 20 yards per catch, he will need to find more ways to stand out in his second season in a receiver room that suddenly ranks among the most loaded in the league. Trade and free agent acquisitions A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs are likely to see the majority of time in two-receiver sets. Behind them, Williams' speed is a standout quality among a diverse supporting group of Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and Kayshon Boutte, who remains on the roster despite being the subject of trade rumors for much of the offseason. However, without the play strength to regularly shift inside, the 2025 third-round pick could struggle to find consistent work in an offense that regularly asks its receivers to help out in the run game. Williams has the traits to make him a low-exposure late-round pick in best-ball drafts, but a lack of reliable usage will make him hard to trust in lineup leagues, and he's fallen to WR88 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.
Jul 4, 2026 5:25 AM EST
Kyle Williams Buried in a Suddenly Deep Receiver Room
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams showed some noteworthy flashes in his limited usage as a 2025 third-round rookie, and while he has reportedly worked hard to add play strength to his game-breaking speed and an elite release package, he now faces a new barrier to playing time in the form of a revamped and deep receiver room. In trading for three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown and adding Romeo Doubs in free agency, the Patriots have completely transformed a unit that started a season as recently as two years ago with K.J. Osborn, Ja'Lynn Polk, and Jalen Reagor atop the depth chart. Kayshon Boutte's future in New England remains uncertain, but with one of the team's leading receivers from 2025 reporting for mandatory minicamp and taking part in team drills, opportunities for Williams could be hard to come by. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has long operated one of the most adaptable systems in the league, so with receiver being a clear strength of the team, and tight end Julian Hill already placed on injured reserve with a serious knee injury, it's entirely possible the Patriots could deploy more three, or even four, receiver sets than initially expected. Even in that scenario, though, Williams would likely find himself in a rotation with Doubs, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and potentially still Boutte. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR88, it's difficult to envision any clear path to fantasy relevance in the near future.
Jun 11, 2026 6:37 AM EST
Kyle Williams' Dynasty Value Limited by Uncertain Role in New England
A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams struggled to carve out a consistent role in his team's offense as a rookie. Across 17 games, the 23-year-old recorded just 10 receptions for 209 yards and three touchdowns on 21 targets. Heading into 2026, Williams still projects to be behind Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, and Kayshon Boutte on the Patriots' wide receiver depth chart. Boutte's name has come up in trade rumors, which could clear a path for Williams to step in as New England's primary deep-ball threat. However, the Patriots are also widely considered the favorites to land current Philadelphia Eagles superstar wideout A.J. Brown. If Brown does eventually end up in New England, it's difficult to imagine a world where Williams sees a significant playing time increase in his second season. Williams retains some dynasty upside due to his big-play ability, but his overall value is limited by his uncertain role with the Patriots.
Apr 30, 2026 8:08 AM EST
Is Kyle Williams the Latest Patriots Draft Bust at Wide Receiver?
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams was an early third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and despite a history of draft misses at the position, a new regime in Foxborough, along with a far from insurmountable depth chart, helped to create considerable hype around the speedster out of Washington State. And yet, even as quarterback Drake Maye made a colossal year two leap into MVP candidacy, Williams caught only 10 passes as a rookie. In speaking at the NFL owners meeting, head coach Mike Vrabel touched on Williams' speed and release off the line, traits that helped him cash in on several big plays in 2025, but noted that he would need to increase his play strength to stay on the field. Romeo Doubs was added through free agency as a replacement for last season's top pass catcher, Stefon Diggs, and his superior run blocking should make him more of a staple in two-receiver sets, as Diggs was frequently used as part of a rotation, particularly early in the year as he recovered from a 2024 ACL tear. The Patriots are also still linked to Eagles receiver AJ Brown, who many executives believe will be made available for trade after June 1st. With Brown, Doubs, and Williams all profiling primarily as boundary receivers, such an addition could make it difficult for Williams to find the field with any regularity.
Apr 6, 2026 6:01 AM EST
Kyle Williams a Potential Year 2 Breakout Candidate in 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams struggled to emerge as a top pass-catching threat in 2025, but he flashed enough upside to spark significant optimism for his outlook going forward. Specifically, since Year 2 is a common time for wide receivers to break out, dynasty managers should be encouraged by Williams entering 2026. Stuck in a depth role for most of last year, Williams finished the 2025 campaign with 10 catches, 209 yards, and three touchdowns. However, over just the last three weeks of the season, he had eight targets, five catches, 66 yards, and a touchdown, so he was certainly trending in the right direction. New England released Stefon Diggs this offseason and replaced him with Romeo Doubs. Doubs shouldn't take all of Diggs' vacated targets; some of those will be spread around to the other receivers, including Williams. At this point, the third-round pick's biggest obstacle is playing time. New England lacks wide receiver starpower, but it does have a very balanced receiving corps that makes it difficult to command a high dose of targets every week. Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, and Mack Hollins are the biggest obstacles in Williams' way at this point. However, a strong preseason or training camp could push Williams into the mix to start games and carve out low-end WR3/flex appeal in 2026.
Mar 18, 2026 7:00 AM EST
Kyle Williams Struggles to Emerge as a Rookie
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams flew under the radar for most of his rookie season, catching just 10 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns. Williams' underproduction wasn't necessarily due to a lack of talent, as the third-round pick has made big plays throughout his college career and early in his NFL career. Rather, he was buried on the depth chart behind players like Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, and even DeMario Douglas. New England doesn't have any impending free agent wide receivers, but Williams still has the potential to climb up the depth chart entering his second season. Year 2 is a common time for young receivers to make a major leap, so we wouldn't be surprised if Williams contributes at a much higher rate in 2026. It's a bit too early to invest in the Washington State product in redraft leagues, but he's a solid, affordable dynasty buy heading into the offseason.
Feb 12, 2026 9:21 AM EST
Kyle Williams Remains a Risky Boom/Bust Wide Receiver Option
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams struggled to carve out a consistent role in his team's offense in 2025, recording 10 receptions for 209 yards and three touchdowns on 21 targets across 17 games. Williams saw more involvement over the second half of the season, with all but two of his receptions coming from Week 10 onward. However, he went without a target or a reception in New England's final game of the regular season in Week 18 against the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots will remain without veteran wideout Mack Hollins (abdomen) for their Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, which could mean continued playing time for Williams. The 23-year-old is averaging 20.9 yards per reception, so he offers clear big-play upside. Still, Williams' role as a downfield target will likely lead to some boom/bust variance for fantasy managers in playoff leagues to be aware of entering the postseason.
Jan 5, 2026 10:33 PM EST
Kyle Williams Is Finishing His Rookie Season Strong
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams is stepping into a larger role for the Patriots, as his first season in the NFL comes to a close this week against the Dolphins. The rookie led all Patriots' receivers by playing 85% of snaps in Week 17, which was his highest mark of the season. He stepped up with Kayshon Boutte (concussion) sidelined and Mack Hollins (abdomen) on IR. He hauled in three of his five targets (both season highs) and finished with 20 yards against the Jets. The Patriots still have a shot at the No. 1 seed with a win on Sunday, so the starters should at least begin the game, giving Williams a great chance to work with Drake Maye to put the finishing touches on his rookie year. As a big-play threat, Williams can be a flier flex play from the waiver wire for deep leagues in Week 18.
Dec 30, 2025 9:07 AM EST
Kyle Williams Headed for Larger Role in Week 17?
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams could be headed for an increased snap share and target share during Sunday's Week 17 contest against the New York Jets. New England is suddenly short-staffed at wide receiver with Kayshon Boutte (concussion) ruled out, Mack Hollins (abdomen) ruled out, and DeMario Douglas (hamstring) listed as questionable. Williams, Stefon Diggs, and Efton Chism are the team's only healthy receivers, with Williams and Diggs the early favorites to earn the start. The rookie has taken on a larger role during the back half of the season, and he impressed with two catches, 46 yards, and one touchdown last week. If he does operate as the No. 2 receiver alongside Diggs, Williams could emerge as a high-volume WR3/flex in deeper leagues. The matchup is certainly on his side, as New York allowed 10 catches, 148 yards, and two touchdowns to Chris Olave just last week.
Dec 27, 2025 8:28 AM EST
Kyle Williams Stuck Trying to Capitalize on Limited Opportunities
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams has struggled to emerge as a consistent fantasy threat in his first NFL campaign. He does have two touchdowns over his last four games, but he also has just three catches during that span and only five catches this entire season. With Kayshon Boutte healthy again, Williams has returned to a depth role. He played just 22% of the offensive snaps in New England's last game and is likely headed for a similar snap share in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills. Williams is a talented receiver who has shown that he is capable of making big plays, but in order to do so, he'll have to capitalize on limited playing time. The odds of Williams carving out a fantasy-relevant role are slim, so he should remain on waivers in all redraft leagues. He can be stashed on the bench in dynasty formats. As it stands, Williams ranks as the WR91 in RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings for this week.
Dec 12, 2025 11:12 PM EST
Kyle Williams Due for More Opportunities in Week 11
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams should continue to see more involvement during Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets in Week 11. Williams is coming off a strong outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which he posted a season-high (and, thus, career-high) 56 percent snap share. He caught one of two targets in the victory, breaking off an impressive 72-yard touchdown that wound up on numerous highlight reels. While we can't count on the rookie to break off a huge touchdown every week, last Sunday's big play should be enough to earn him more opportunities going forward. His volume will also continue to benefit from the absence of Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), who is headed for his second consecutive absence. Williams still has to compete with players like Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and DeMario Douglas for volume, but he's certainly starting to earn the trust of Drake Maye and New England's coaching staff. Williams is a WR5 with a low floor and high ceiling this week. Managers in most leagues can leave him on the bench until we see him consistently earn more targets.
Nov 13, 2025 12:38 AM EST
Kyle Williams Earning More Playing Time in New England
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams made the first big play of his career in Week 10, recording a 72-yard touchdown catch in his team's 28-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Patriots wideout Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) sidelined by a hamstring injury, Williams played a career-high 56% of New England's offensive snaps against Tampa Bay. If Boutte remains out for the Patriots' Week 11 matchup against the New York Jets on Thursday night, Williams could have another chance to make an impact. Boutte was listed as a limited practice participant on Monday's injury report. Even if Boutte returns, Williams could still be worth stashing off the waiver wire in deep fantasy leagues as a player on the rise.
Nov 11, 2025 11:41 AM EST
Kyle Williams Breaks Off 72-Yard Touchdown For First Career Score in Week 10 Win
New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams made one of the highlight plays of the week with a 72-yard catch and run touchdown, marking his first career score in a 28-23 Week 10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Williams had only one reception on two targets, but the rookie made it count as he showed off his blazing speed on the long score. The rookie third-rounder hit a max speed of 21.78 mph on the play, which was the seventh fastest top speed by any player in the NFL this season, per Next Gen Stats. It was the highest mark by a Patriot all season until fellow rookie TreVeyon Henderson one-upped him, hitting 22.01 mph on his 55-yard touchdown run. Williams was expected to see more action with Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) out, but he had just a 58% route share in the game. It will be interesting to see how the wide receiver rotation shakes out when Boutte returns, but Williams flashed his big-play ability and certainly warrants more snaps going forward.
Nov 10, 2025 1:17 AM EST
Kyle Williams a Candidate for More Opportunities with Teammate Sidelined
New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams could handle additional volume after Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) was ruled out for Sunday's Week 10 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We saw Williams get more involved last week after Boutte exited against the Atlanta Falcons. The rookie finished the game with a season-high (and, thus, career-high) 46 percent snap share, but he wasn't able to haul in his lone target. There's a strong chance that Williams plays more than half the snaps this week, but his exact volume is unclear. After all, he's still competing for targets with players like Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Hunter Henry, and Austin Hooper. Thus, while Williams should enjoy the greatest involvement of his young career, it's too early to lock him into fantasy lineups. He can be left on waivers in redraft leagues and stashed on the bench in dynasty formats.
Nov 8, 2025 7:38 PM EST
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