The New England Patriots entered the offseason coming off a Super Bowl loss, never easy for any franchise. But while the loss stung, the future remains bright in New England with QB Drake Maye at the helm. Problem is, he needs someone to throw to.
NFL free agency has been fast and furious as players sign with new teams. Mike Evans, Alec Pierce and Wan’Dale Robinson all received substantional deals. And while the Patriots were in need of a wideout, it feels like they could have done better than former Packers WR Romeo Doubs, who agreed to a four-year, $80 million deal to join Maye and company in 2026.
Matt Harmon and Justin Boone discussed the addition of Doubs to the Pats offense and what it means for fantasy football this upcoming season on the latest Yahoo Fantasy Forecast.
Boone feels like the Patriots settled for Doubs as the only decent option remaining at wide receiver in free agency on Tuesday. The Yahoo analyst doesn’t see Doubs as a real “needle-mover” for fantasy landing in Foxboro. He was inconsistent week-to-week in Green Bay and Boone expects more of the same.
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2026 MLB season]
Last season, Doubs led the Packers in more receiving categories, including targets (85), receptions (55), yards (724) and catches of 20+ yards (12). He was tied for the lead in touchdowns with six and finished as the WR45 in fantasy points per game. Despite both Christian Watson and TE Tucker Kraft missing time at points in 2025, Doubs could never quite take advantage. He’s also never had more than 60 receptions, 800 yards or eight TDs in a season, still the Patriots are paying a premium.
Harmon doesn’t think the Pats are done adding WRs and the 2026 NFL Draft could be the answer their fans are looking for. He mentions that if you were expecting New England to go into free agency and find a No. 1 WR, you were setting yourself up for disappointment. Harmon didn’t view Evans as a strong fit and Pierce isn’t a No. 1.
This move could also be beneficial to WRs Kayshon Boutte and Kyle Williams, both of whom could have been used differently last season, per Harmon. But expect the Pats to address WR further, whether it’s on the open market or at the upcoming draft in April.
Boone has Doubs at 26th overall in his fantasy football rankings for NFL Free Agency this offseason.