Polk did not exactly have the rookie season he was hoping for with only 87 yards in 15 games. He was an early second-round pick by New England in 2024 but has little Fantasy value to begin 2025 and should not be drafted outside of deep leagues. We don't want to give up on a young, talented player too quickly, so if Polk gets off to a good start consider adding him off the waiver wire.
Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Reportedly set for shoulder surgery
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Polk plans to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.
Polk underwent a shoulder procedure earlier in the offseason as well, but it's unclear if his current issue is setback-related or a new injury. Confirmation from the Patriots has yet to happen, but at this stage it looks like the second-year wideout likely is headed to IR. Prior to Thursday's news, Polk was in contention for a depth role in New England's crowded wideout corps.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Will be held out of practice
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Polk (arm/shoulder) will not practice in the coming week, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.
Polk was taken to the locker room after injuring his arm/shoulder on a run play in the second quarter of the Patriots' preseason win over the Commanders on Friday. Per Mark Daniels of MassLive.com, Polk is not expected to travel with the team to Minnesota for joint practices this week, so he'll aim to be available for the Patriots' preseason finale against the Giants on Thursday, Aug. 21. With Polk, Stefon Diggs (knee) and Kendrick Bourne (lower leg) all working through injuries, Javon Baker and Efton Chism will have increased reps with the offense during practice and exhibition games.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Exits game with injury
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Polk went to the locker room during Friday's preseason game against the Commanders after injuring his arm/shoulder and did not return, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.
Polk appeared to suffer the injury on a running play late in the second quarter and was taken to the locker room after being attended to in the blue medical tent. Polk did not return to Friday's game, and further tests will determine the severity of the injury and his ability to practice ahead of the Patriots' second preseason game against the Vikings on Saturday, Aug. 16.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Back at practice
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Polk (undisclosed) returned to practice Monday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Reiss previously noted that Polk missed some practice time due to minor muscle tightness, but the wideout is back in action, which sets the stage for the 2024 second-rounder to compete for slotting in a crowded Patriots wideout corps.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Dealing with muscle tightness
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Polk (undisclosed) wasn't present for the start of Thursday's practice, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
The report notes that Polk -- who had previously been dealing with a shoulder issue -- passed his initial training camp physical, then subsequently had what is considered minor muscle tightness. For now, consider the wideout day-to-day, but the sooner the 2024 second-rounder can practice again, the better, as Reiss notes that Polk is facing a battle for a roster spot
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Doesn't practice Wednesday
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Polk (shoulder) didn't participate in Wednesday's opening training camp practice, Jay Pritchard of NESN.com reports.
Though Polk didn't land on either the PUP or non-football injury list, the 2024 second-rounder is bouncing back from an offseason shoulder procedure that limited him during spring workouts. Following a disappointing rookie season in which he caught just 12 passes in 15 games, the sooner Polk is able to practice, the better, given that the Washington product faces plenty of competition for slotting in a crowded WR corps.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Limited in OTAs
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Polk (shoulder) isn't participating in full team drills during the Patriots' current organized team activities, Evan Lazar of the team's official site reports.
That said, Lazar notes that Polk -- who is bouncing back from an offseason shoulder procedure -- has been running routes during team periods of practice with offensive assistant Riley Larkin, adding that the 2024 second-rounder appears to be going at full speed. Once Polk is cleared to absorb contact, he'll look to secure a role in a wideout corps that still includes DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne and Javon Baker and has added Stefon Diggs (knee), Mack Hollins and rookie third-rounder Kyle Williams to the mix. However, after a disappointing rookie season in which he caught just 12 passes in 15 games, Polk has some ground to make up before he re-enters the fantasy radar in re-draft formats.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Still not practicing Thursday
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Polk (shoulder) did not participate at practice Thursday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
For the second straight day, Polk was unable to practice due to a shoulder issue he presumably picked up in Week 17 versus the Chargers. He'll probably have to practice Friday to have any chance to play in Week 18 versus the Bills.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Logs 20 snaps on offense Sunday
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Polk was on the field for 20 of a possible 51 snaps on offense in Sunday's 30-17 loss to the Cardinals, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
The 2024 second-rounder, who was out-snapped Sunday by Kayshon Boutte (45) DeMario Douglas (31) and Kendrick Bourne (27), failed to bring in his only target. With just 12 catches on 32 targets for 87 yards and two TDs in 13 games this season, Polk remains off the fantasy radar as anything but a dynasty stash.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: No catches Sunday
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Polk logged 31 of a possible 76 snaps on offense in Sunday's 28-22 loss to the Rams, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.
Polk -- who was out-snapped by Kayshon Boutte (73), DeMario Douglas (43) and Kendrick Bourne (36) -- wasn't targeted in the contest. With just 11 catches for 80 yards and two TDs on 28 targets through 10 games to date, Polk is off the fantasy radar for now, though as the season continues to progress, the 2024 second-rounder could become more involved in the Patriots offense.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Catches TD in Week 10
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Polk, who was on the field for 26 of a possible 64 snaps on offense in Sunday's 19-3 win over the Bears, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, caught his only target in the contest for a two-yard TD.
The rookie was in the Patriots' starting lineup along with -Kayshon Boutte, but Polk continues to see limited volume. That said, it's plausible that the 2024 second-rounder could pick up the pace in terms of his usage and production as the season rolls along, with the team's focus being on the future.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Limited snaps in return
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Polk logged nine of a possible 69 snaps on offense in Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss to the Titans, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Polk, who was inactive in Week 8 due to a concussion, returned to the mix Sunday but saw limited playing time and didn't catch his only target. He's behind DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne in the Patriots' wideout pecking order, making Polk an unreliable fantasy lineup option.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Practices fully Thursday
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Polk (concussion) practiced fully Thursday.
After being limited Wednesday, Polk upgraded to all activity a day later, which has the 2024 second-rounder trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans. If he's cleared for Week 9 action, Polk would profile as a hit-or-miss fantasy option in a New England wideout corps that features DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Forced out of Sunday's contest
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The Patriots announced that Polk is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London due to a head injury.
Polk will most likely be sent in for a concussion evaluation before the Patriots determine whether he's fit to return, but given that the announcement of his head injury didn't come until late in the fourth quarter, it's likely that his day is already over in any case. Before leaving the game, Polk failed to corral any of his three targets from quarterback Drake Maye. The rookie second-round pick continues to see ample playing time but has struggled to get on the same page with Maye and Jacoby Brissett this season; he's hauled in just 10 of his 26 targets and is averaging a lowly 3.0 yards per target.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: One catch in Week 6
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Polk, who recorded 43 of a possible 66 snaps on offense in Sunday's 41-21 loss to the Texans, caught one of his four targets in the contest for four yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.comm reports.
Per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, Polk had one drop in the contest and got his hands on another pass that fell incomplete. With that in mind, coach Jerod Mayo acknowledged that the 2024 second-rounder's game has room for growth. "I think he just needs to get over this mental hump," Mayo said of Polk. "You've got to eliminate the dropped passes. You've got to be better at blocking, which he did a great job in college at that and at times throughout the season. He just has to continue to grow, and he has to work harder. He has to pay more attention to the details, and we fully expect him to grow into a receiver that's dependable on run and pass downs." Looking ahead, Polk figures to have more productive days as he builds on-field chemistry with fellow rookie Drake Maye, who has taken over as the Patriots' starting QB, but for now the wideout out of Washington isn't a high-percentage fantasy option.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: First career touchdown
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Polk recorded two receptions on three targets for 12 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-20 overtime loss to the Seahawks. He also recorded one carry for zero yards.
The Patriots reportedly wanted to get Polk more involved in the offense in his second career game, and that looked to be the case early on. His first catch was also his first career touchdown and came from five yards away on New England's second offensive possession. However, he didn't make another reception until 49 seconds were remaining in the fourth quarter. So long as the Patriots keep the rushing attack as the focal point of their offense, it's unlikely that Polk will emerge as a reliable fantasy contributor.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Makes highlight play with Maye
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Polk recorded two receptions (on three targets) for 29 yards in Sunday's 20-10 preseason loss to the Commanders.
Polk wasn't on the field for the Patriots' first drive, instead getting usurped by K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton as the starting outside wide receivers. However, Polk was on the field for the team's second possession paired with Drake Maye, and the former hauled in a strike across the middle that he turned upfield for a 29-yard gain. Polk also had a nice catch on an out route that would have gone for another first down, though the gain was offset by a penalty. Polk had been working with the starting unit in practice leading up to the game, so even if he isn't formally listed as a starter, he should still see the field plenty Week 1 against Cincinnati.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Pushing for key role as rookie
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Polk and fellow rookie and Javon Baker have been "as advertised" through six training camp practices, according to Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site.
Lazar notes that Polk -- whom the Patriots took in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft -- has been featured out of the gate with other regulars in the team's offense as a reliable underneath target. With Kendrick Bourne recovering from a knee injury that could limit him early on this season, Polk would appear to have a path toward becoming an immediate contributor in New England's passing game as a rookie. Whether that translates to fantasy relevance right away hinges on what sort of volume the Washington product sees in an offensive attack that could lean heavily on the run. As the season progresses Polk could emerge as key a pass catcher for whichever quarterback ( Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye) is behind center.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Clear path to No. 1 role?
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Polk could secure the Patriots' top receiver spot to open the 2024 regular season if he impresses in training camp, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.
Polk, a rookie second-round pick, didn't begin the offseason working as a starter but has since worked his way up the depth chart, and he was a standout at mandatory minicamp. The Washington product is considered pro-ready as rookie, so though his combine workout numbers didn't strongly impress, he's refined enough to quickly hit the ground running and entrench himself as one of New England's most reliable targets in the passing game, especially if Kendrick Bourne (knee) isn't fully recovered from his ACL tear by Week 1. Graff projects Polk to get a large portion of first-team reps in training camp, so if he can translate that into some preseason momentum, it wouldn't be surprising for him to start the season ahead of Bourne, DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, JuJu Smith-Schuster and rookie fourth-rounder Javon Baker, especially if he can establish chemistry with Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye. As a pro, Polk may ultimately be more of a possession receiver than a deep target, but he boasts the upside to become one of the most consistent options in the Patriots' air attack.
