Who Should I Start? DeMario Douglas or Germie Bernard

Saturday, August 22, 9:31 AM

DeMario Douglas was barely involved for the New England Patriots last season, but his summer has put him back on the redraft radar. He finished 2025 with 31 catches for 447 yards and three touchdowns, playing only 26% of the offensive snaps after that number sat at 62% the year before. Douglas has been running as New England's primary slot receiver in camp and was held out of the preseason opener along with A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. The production has shown up, too. He caught two touchdowns in the team's August 7 Blue-White scrimmage and continued finding room underneath during joint practices with Philadelphia. Brown and Doubs are still going to lead this passing game, so Douglas suddenly becoming a major target hog is a stretch. That's not really what fantasy managers need from him at this price. RotoBaller currently has Douglas 294th overall in its PPR rankings. If the slot job sticks and Drake Maye keeps looking his way over the middle, Douglas has a much better chance of mattering in deeper leagues than he did a year ago.