Ja'Lynn Polk

Fantasy News

• Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Logs six targets Sunday

  Rotowire Oct 7, 2024

  Polk was on the field for all 60 of the Patriots' snaps on offense in Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Dolphins, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. Though the final box score shows Polk catching only one of his six targets for 13 yards, the wideout had a 12-yard TD catch with 1:08 remaining in the contest overturned after review. Over his last two games, Polk has seen his snaps increase and he has been targeted 13 times. Though that's only resulted in a combined four catches for 43 yards in that span, the 2024 second-rounder is a player who could pick up the pace in the coming weeks, especially if the Patriots hand the reins of the offense to rookie first-rounder Drake Maye instead of sticking with limited veteran Jacoby Brissett.

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• Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: First career touchdown

  Rotowire Sep 15, 2024

  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

  Rotowire Aug 26, 2024

  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

  Rotowire Jul 31, 2024

  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?

  Rotowire Jul 12, 2024

  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.

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• Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Links up with Maye in New England

  Rotowire Apr 26, 2024

  The Patriots selected Polk in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 37th overall. New England gets a rookie wideout to pair with new quarterback Drake Maye. Polk began his career at Texas Tech before transferring in 2021 to Washington, where he caught 41 passes for 694 yards and six touchdowns on 68 targets in 2022. He truly broke out in 2023 with 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns as the Robin to Rome Odunze's Batman, though it's fair to wonder whether teammate Jalen McMillan's injury-plagued 2023 helped fuel Polk's breakout (McMillan nearly matched Odunze's production the year before). Polk is 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, and while he doesn't wow with his speed (4.52 40), he's a refined player that wins with skill and good hands. Joining a New England offense that desperately needed receiver help, Polk could start right away.

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