Boutte finished 2024 strong with 95 yards and a touchdown in two of his last three games, but that is not enough to make him a recommended draft pick in most Fantasy leagues. Consider Boutte a waiver-wire guy in most leagues or a late-round pick in deep leagues. He is a deep threat (14.9-yard aDOT) who was on pace for 99 targets in his last 10 games. While there are some things to like about Boutte, we can't trust him until we see how New England's receiving corps looks in 2025. The Patriots added Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency and drafted Kyle Williams in the third round. They also have second-year receivers Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, plus slot receiver Demario Douglas and veteran Kendrick Bourne. Add it all up and you get a lot of uncertainty about playing time and targets.
Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Making push for role in WR corps
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Boutte has been having a strong training camp, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site and Mike Reiss of ESPN report.
Lazar notes that based on recent practices, the Stefon Diggs/DeMario Douglas/Boutte trio has received a lot of reps, along with third-rounder Kyle Williams, with Mack Hollins also receiving some first-team reps since returning from the PUP list. While Diggs -- assuming his health -- and Douglas appear to be locked into key roles in the crowded Patriots wide receiver corps, Boutte remains in contention for a key role alongside that duo while competing with Williams and Hollins as well as Kendrick Bourne, Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Competing for WR slotting
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Boutte still took some snaps with the starters during Thursday's walk-through practice, but he lost some first-team reps to Mack Hollins, who's back from the PUP list, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.
In Hollins' absence, it was mostly Boutte who had been working with the first unit alongside Stefon Diggs, with DeMario Douglas in the slot. Now that Hollins is back in the mix, Boutte will continue to compete for slotting in a crowded WR corps that also includes Kyle Williams, Kendrick Bourne and Ja'Lynn Polk. While Boutte no doubt has an opportunity to secure a role in the Patriots' passing offense this season, the addition of Diggs (if healthy) in particular clouds Boutte's path to steady volume in 2025, after he was third on the team with 68 targets last season.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Opens camp with first-team offense
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Boutte, Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas opened training camp Wednesday as New England's first-team wide receivers, Mike Kadlick of CLNSMedia.com reports.
Diggs is locked in for one starting job -- assuming his return from an ACL tear continues to go swimmingly -- and Douglas figures to be the slot man again. That leaves Boutte to compete with rookie third-round Kyle Williams and others for one starting job, with Boutte hoping to build on his strong finish to 2024. He had 240 yards and two TDs over the final three weeks of last season, after recording 336 yards and one TD across 10 previous starts. Bourne has a chance to defend his starting job, but there's also risk of dropping off the roster if he struggles this summer, as Diggs, Douglas and Williams are locks to make it, leaving only two or three spots up for grabs between Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins (undisclosed), Ja'Lynn Polk (shoulder), Javon Baker, Efton Chism and others.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Set to compete for role in WR corps
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Boutte, whose name was brought up in offseason trade rumors, remains with the Patriots and is slated to compete for slotting in the team's re-tooled wide receiver corps, Evan Lazar of the team's official site reports.
In his second season with New England, Boutte broke out with 43 catches for 589 yards and three TDs across 15 regular-season games, but the offseason addition of free agents Stefon Diggs (knee) and Mack Hollins, as well as the presence of 2025 third-rounder Kyle Williams, figures to cut into Boutte's snap and target shares. Also in the mix in a crowded WR room are slot man DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, 2024 draftees Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, as well as promising UDFA Efton Chism. Of the entire group, the standing of Diggs, Douglas, Williams and Hollins appear most solid, with Boutte among the handful of WRs poised to battle for the remaining spots on the team's 53-man roster.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Catches 43 passes this past season
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Boutte (head) finished the 2024 regular season with 43 catches (on 68 targets) for 589 yards and three TDs in 15 games.
After catching just two passes in five games as a rookie, the 2023 sixth-rounder began his second campaign as a pro in depth role, but by Week 5, Boutte began seeing steady snaps, a trend that lasted the rest of the season. The LSU product remains under contract with New England through 2026, and looking ahead, Boutte's fantasy upside in 2025 hinges on what moves the Patriots make this offseason in order to bolster their wideout corps. For now, DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker remain in the mix, but adding an impact player (or two) at the position is presumably a priority for the rebuilding franchise.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Leaves Sunday's game
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Boutte exited Sunday's game against the Bills due to a head injury.
Prior to his departure from the contest, Boutte caught all seven of his targets for 117 yards and a TD. In his absence, DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Javon Baker and Alex Erickson are available to handle New England's Week 18 wideout duties.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Returns with full practice
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Boutte (illness) was a full participant in practice Thursday.
Boutte was held out of Wednesday's practice after coming down with an illness, but his ability to take every rep a day later has him on track to play in Sunday's season finale versus the Bills. The second-year wideout has played at least three quarters of the Patriots' offensive snaps in 11 consecutive games and is averaging 2.9 receptions for 38.6 yards and 0.18 touchdowns on 5.1 targets during that stretch.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Back at practice
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Boutte (illness) was on the field for practice Thursday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
After missing Wednesday's session, Boutte's return to the field a day later has him trending toward being available for Sunday's season finale against the Bills. The Patriots will release their second injury report of the week later Thursday, when it will be known whether Boutte was a limited or full practice participant.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Loses recent momentum
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Boutte caught four passes for 28 yards on five targets during Saturday's 40-7 loss to the Chargers.
In Week 16, Boutte broke the game open for the Patriots by scoring a long touchdown against the Bills, but he couldn't recreate the big play against the Chargers. It was arguably encouraging to see Boutte draw five targets on mostly shorter routes -- part of the struggle with Boutte this year has been the boom-or-bust category he landed in as a deep-route specialist -- so if Boutte can combine the short routes of Saturday with the longer catches he provided at earlier points this year, there could be untapped potential yet in the second-year wideout. The Patriots have their rematch against the Bills in Week 18.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Two catches versus Cardinals
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Boutte was on the field for 45 of a possible 51 snaps on offense in Sunday's 30-17 loss to the Cardinals, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.
Boutte, who once again led the Patriots wide receivers in snaps, finished Sunday's contest with two catches on a team-high five targets for 19 yards. The 2023 sixth-rounder's steady rate of playing time should give him a chance to produce down the stretch, but at his current pace, Boutte is only a fantasy option in deeper formats.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Three catches versus Colts
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Boutte was on the field for all but one of the Patriots' 72 snaps on offense in Sunday's 25-24 loss to the Colts, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.
In the process, Boutte caught three of his six targets for 41 yards. The Patriots are on bye Week 14, but Boutte's steady workload should give him an opportunity to carve out modest deep-league lineup utility through the upcoming fantasy stretch run.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: One catch in Week 12
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Boutte was on the field for 60 of a possible 69 snaps on offense in Sunday's 34-15 loss to the Dolphins, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.
Though Boutte led the Patriots wideouts in snaps Sunday, he was limited to just one catch (on four targets) for six yards in the contest. Prior to that, he'd caught four passes (on six targets) in each of his prior two outings, so there's some bounce-back potential for Boutte in Week 13 versus the Colts, considering his steady workload of late.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Four catches in Week 11
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Boutte, who was on the field for 73 of a possible 76 snaps on offense in Sunday's 28-22 loss to the Rams, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, caught four of his six targets in the contest for 33 yards.
Boutte, who has been targeted six times in each of his last four games, caught four passes for the second straight week in the process. Though the 2023 sixth-rounder has topped out at 59 receiving yards over the course of his nine outings to date, Boutte's steady workload gives him enough of a weekly floor to merit lineup consideration in deeper fantasy formats.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Career-high four catches Sunday
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Boutte caught four of six targets for 47 yards in Sunday's 19-3 win over the Bears.
On a tough day for both offenses, Boutte led the Patriots in targets and set a new career high in receptions. The second-year wideout has seen exactly six targets in three straight games, and in five contests since rookie Drake Maye took over as the starting QB, Boutte has posted a 13-203-1 line on 23 targets. He'll try to build on that modest production in Week 11 against the Rams.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Two catches Sunday
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Boutte, who was on the field for 66 of a possible 69 snaps on offense in Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss to the Titans, caught two of six targets for 18 yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Boutte once again led the Patriots' wideouts in snaps Sunday, but he wasn't able to parlay that into significant production. As long as the 2023 sixth-rounder sees steady playing time with Drake Maye at QB, Boutte will have a chance to make an impact. He'll still be a risky fantasy option in Week 10 against the Bears.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Tops team's WRs in snaps
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Boutte reeled in one of his two targets for a 33-yard reception while playing 50 of the Patriots' 60 snaps on offense in Sunday's 32-16 loss to the Jaguars.
Boutte, who was in the starting lineup once again Sunday, led the Patriots wideouts in playing time for the second consecutive game. With the 2023 sixth-round pick having begun to carve out a steady role in New England's offense, Boutte is a player who could soon merit fantasy lineup consideration if he's able to parlay his playing time into increased on-field chemistry (and in turn, added production) with rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Healthy scratch Sunday
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Boutte (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game versus the Seahawks.
Boutte didn't play any snaps in Week 1 despite being active, and he now won't even suit up in Week 2. It's a relatively discouraging development for Boutte given New England's lack of elite talent at wideout.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: No snaps in Week 1
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Boutte didn't record any snaps in the Patriots' 16-10 season-opening win over the Bengals on Sunday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
While DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Tyquan Thornton and Ja'Lynn Polk each logged between 35 and 40 snaps in Week 1, Boutte didn't see any action versus Cincinnati. He's off the fantasy radar for now, which can also be said for 2024 fourth-rounder Javon Baker, who was a healthy scratch Sunday.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Finishes up minicamp strong
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Boutte turned in a strong effort during Wednesday's mandatory minicamp session, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
On the last day of minicamp practice prior to the Patriots' summer break, Boutte logged a team-high five catches during team drills, which Lazar notes included a sequence in which the 2023 sixth-round pick reeled in three consecutive scores. As the coming season approaches, Boutte will have to compete with the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster, K.J. Osborn, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor for slotting in a wideout corps that also includes Kendrick Bourne (knee) -- who is recovering from an ACL tear -- as well as likely roster locks in the youthful trio of DeMario Douglas, Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Additionally, it's possible that Boutte faces NFL discipline stemming from his January arrest and subsequent charges of computer fraud and gaming prohibited for persons under 21, which occurred during his time in college at LSU.
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Patriots' Kayshon Boutte: Won't play Sunday
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Boutte has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills due to an illness, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
With Boutte unavailable, DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas, Jalen Reagor and Tyquan Thornton are in line to handle the Patriots' WR duties Sunday. Boutte's next chance to see game action will arrive in the team's season finale next weekend against the Jets.
