Is Kendrick Bourne Injured or Healthy? Fantasy Football Injury Update

During New England's 31-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 8, their leading receiver this season, Kendrick Bourne, left with a knee injury. The veteran wide receiver has been a solid fantasy football fill-in, producing 10 or more PPR points in three straight games.

The 28-year-old is set to become a free agent after this season and was well on his way to securing a solid payday. The Patriots' receiving corps will look different for the remainder of the season, potentially decreasing the overall value of their already struggling offense.

Let's take a closer look at Bourne's injury status following Week 8.

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Kendrick Bourne Injury Update for Fantasy Football

Despite the optimism within the team that the knee injury Bourne suffered wasn't too serious, the MRI revealed a torn ACL for the Patriots' top receiver. He's most likely going to miss the remainder of the season, which is a significant blow for everyone involved.

The receiving group in New England was already questionable, and they will be even more hard-pressed to find production with their leading target out for the season. After a solid showing despite a challenging situation, Bourne could be a valuable pickup next year, depending on the situation he finds himself in.

Injuries are starting to pile up on the Patriots' roster, and they desperately need a productive return from DeVante Parker to assist the struggling Mac Jones. Otherwise, they'll rely on some young players to step into significant roles midseason and produce.

Kendrick Bourne Fantasy Football Outlook

With Bourne out for the year, a significant role needs to be filled in the Patriots' passing attack. Although it's one of the worst units in football, ranking 25th in dropback success rate, there is still some production available based on opportunity alone.

The short-term solution for the Patriots will likely involve getting their veteran playmakers more involved, such as JuJu Smith-Schuster, Hunter Henry, and DeVante Parker. However, we've already seen the ceilings of those players, and adding them may not lead to a fantasy league-winning move.

The best fantasy replacement for Bourne on the roster is Demario Douglas, who led the team in targets (7) and set a career-high in snaps (77%) against the Dolphins. He was utilized ahead of Smith-Schuster and is poised to become the new primary target in the passing attack. Other young players like Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte may gain value in the future, but Douglas presents the best chance for a breakout candidate.

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