Is Kendrick Bourne A Good Fantasy Football Pickup for Week 2? Waiver Wire Outlook

The New England entered 2023 with questions about who would emerge as their top wide receiver. After their week 1 matchup, we might have an idea of who has the potential to fill that role.

Veteran receiver Kendrick Bourne caught six passes for 64 yards and scored two touchdowns in the team's Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He was the only pass-catcher to see double-digit targets and no other wide receiver saw more than seven targets.

Is this a sign of things to come for Bourne? Should you pick him up in fantasy leagues after his Week 1 performance?

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What Did Kendrick Bourne Do In Week 1?

This marks Kendrick Bourne's third season with the New England Patriots, and his previous season was less than ideal for the seventh-year receiver. Bourne failed to have a prominent role in 2022, but he looks to be the team's top passing option to start this season.

Bourne was targeted 11 times on Sunday, which is the most he has ever been targeted in a game in his entire career. Not only that, but his targets came in clutch moments, such as third downs and red zone situations.

Bourne played 91% of snaps, accounted for 50% of the red zone target share, and 25.6% of the Patriots' overall target share. When Mac Jones needed a big play downfield, Bourne stepped up and delivered.

Can Kendrick Bourne Remain a Top Fantasy Option Each Week?

Despite Bourne's great game, the Patriots were playing catch-up for almost the entire game after falling behind 16-0 in the first quarter. Mac Jones also attempted 54 passes, the most attempts he has ever had in his career. It should be expected that he won't throw that often unless the team gets down early as they did in week 1.

The team also acquired JuJu Smith-Schuster from Kansas City, signing him for over $25 million dollars over 3 years. These numbers suggest that JuJu should be considered as the alpha receiver on the team.

However, Mac Jones has consistently praised Bourne throughout the offseason, and their chemistry was evident at the start of the season.

It seems evident that Bourne can carry this momentum into the rest of the season. As long as his usage remains similar, he could have more big games in 2023.

Should I Pickup Kendrick Bourne Off the Waiver Wire in Fantasy Football?

Kendrick Bourne has clearly earned the trust of Mac Jones in this Patriot offense. However, the question still remains whether he can use it to his advantage and become a consistent fantasy producer, something he has struggled to do for the majority of his career.

It is unlikely that Bourne will continue to score touchdowns at this rate, considering he has never scored more than 5 touchdowns in a season. But, if Bourne is still able to see the same target share on a weekly basis, he will be a great fantasy option for deeper leagues.

It is too early for Kendrick Bourne to be an instant starter in most fantasy leagues, however, he is a great waiver wire option this week for teams that have the space to claim him and the patience to see how he performs. If his play is consistent, he can become a valuable contributor to your team.

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