WR Ja’Lynn Polk, NE (1 Viewer)

[Dez]

Patriots GM Eliot Wolf Reveals Strategy Behind Ja'Lynn Polk Pick

I'm getting Davante Adams vibes.

Was in reference to this

 

[Biabreakable]

I noticed Diggs coaching this guy on how to make breaks on the sideline using his arm to sweep the defenders arm away at the same time.

That's all I got.

 

[Terpman22]

Got like 3 trades offering this guy for end of the draft Free Agent picks all at once overnight. New news about this guys just being buried on the depth chart or something I didn't see?

 

[Lansdowne]

Got like 3 trades offering this guy for end of the draft Free Agent picks all at once overnight. New news about this guys just being buried on the depth chart or something I didn't see?

Is that someone offering Polk to you or from you? I assume it’s to you and I’d say just ignore those offers, Polk’s value is a complete zero. He’s a sunk cost. If he makes the Patriots roster at all it’ll be at the bottom of the depth chart and likely on PUP/IR. I can’t see him beating out Diggs, Williams, Douglas, Hollins, Boutte, Chism, or Bourne.

 

[Terpman22]

Got like 3 trades offering this guy for end of the draft Free Agent picks all at once overnight. New news about this guys just being buried on the depth chart or something I didn't see?

Is that someone offering Polk to you or from you? I assume it’s to you and I’d say just ignore those offers, Polk’s value is a complete zero. He’s a sunk cost. If he makes the Patriots roster at all it’ll be at the bottom of the depth chart and likely on PUP/IR. I can’t see him beating out Diggs, Williams, Douglas, Hollins, Boutte, Chism, or Bourne.

Yeah sounds like it. Looking where he was drafted in my leagues last year I guess folks are just trying to recoup value.

Way too much juice in these free agent drafts this year though with I'd expect to be at least 12 good options in each league with how deep this draft was, I'd exect a bunch of undrafted guys to get nice value boosts leading up to the middle of August

2.6, 2.9, 2.6, 2.5

 

[Hankmoody]

I can’t see him beating out Diggs, Williams, Douglas, Hollins, Boutte, Chism, or Bourne.

The only ones I see as locks over Polk are Diggs and maybe Williams. All of those other guys have their warts and Polk is fully capable of positioning himself ahead of those guys and could easily outpace Williams if Williams struggles with rookie stuff or if Polk just picks it up like his draft position implies he could.

Way too much juice in these free agent drafts this year though with I'd expect to be at least 12 good options in each league with how deep this draft was, I'd exect a bunch of undrafted guys to get nice value boosts leading up to the middle of August

The guys that look good by that time will have done so because something broke right for them - coaches' praise, injury ahead of them, improved QB play/attention/system, something. And if Polk is the recipient of said breaks he's going to be at the top of this kind of list. Imagine Diggs recovering slowly and Williams coming along slowly due to being a rookie - Polk could end up the defacto top target to an upside QB. I don't know your league or the FA depth, but if you're just relying on undrafted rookie to fill those spots, I'd be spending a pick like that on Polk in a flash.

 

[Terpman22]

I can’t see him beating out Diggs, Williams, Douglas, Hollins, Boutte, Chism, or Bourne.

The only ones I see as locks over Polk are Diggs and maybe Williams. All of those other guys have their warts and Polk is fully capable of positioning himself ahead of those guys and could easily outpace Williams if Williams struggles with rookie stuff or if Polk just picks it up like his draft position implies he could.

Way too much juice in these free agent drafts this year though with I'd expect to be at least 12 good options in each league with how deep this draft was, I'd exect a bunch of undrafted guys to get nice value boosts leading up to the middle of August

The guys that look good by that time will have done so because something broke right for them - coaches' praise, injury ahead of them, improved QB play/attention/system, something. And if Polk is the recipient of said breaks he's going to be at the top of this kind of list. Imagine Diggs recovering slowly and Williams coming along slowly due to being a rookie - Polk could end up the defacto top target to an upside QB. I don't know your league or the FA depth, but if you're just relying on undrafted rookie to fill those spots, I'd be spending a pick like that on Polk in a flash.

Appreciate the response here! Just feel like "Yeah, he COULD do all that stuff and the draft capital is a big investment" but at the same time, I dunno, just a bad feeling I get from him. From the moment he was drafted and then Baker later, I started feeling not great about him. And then last season happened.

I own him in 0/6 dynos, so I definitely avoided him.

Care to share your portfolio and how invested you are in Polk?

 

[Boston]

I can’t see him beating out Diggs, Williams, Douglas, Hollins, Boutte, Chism, or Bourne.

The only ones I see as locks over Polk are Diggs and maybe Williams. All of those other guys have their warts and Polk is fully capable of positioning himself ahead of those guys and could easily outpace Williams if Williams struggles with rookie stuff or if Polk just picks it up like his draft position implies he could.

Way too much juice in these free agent drafts this year though with I'd expect to be at least 12 good options in each league with how deep this draft was, I'd exect a bunch of undrafted guys to get nice value boosts leading up to the middle of August

The guys that look good by that time will have done so because something broke right for them - coaches' praise, injury ahead of them, improved QB play/attention/system, something. And if Polk is the recipient of said breaks he's going to be at the top of this kind of list. Imagine Diggs recovering slowly and Williams coming along slowly due to being a rookie - Polk could end up the defacto top target to an upside QB. I don't know your league or the FA depth, but if you're just relying on undrafted rookie to fill those spots, I'd be spending a pick like that on Polk in a flash.

Appreciate the response here! Just feel like "Yeah, he COULD do all that stuff and the draft capital is a big investment" but at the same time, I dunno, just a bad feeling I get from him. From the moment he was drafted and then Baker later, I started feeling not great about him. And then last season happened.

I own him in 0/6 dynos, so I definitely avoided him.

Care to share your portfolio and how invested you are in Polk?

IMO the question isn't whether he is worth a fantasy roster spot it's whether he will even make the Patriots roster...he is as on the bubble as you get and it would be an absolutely gigantic leap to go from where he is right now to any type of relevancy in fantasy.

 

[Lansdowne]

I can’t see him beating out Diggs, Williams, Douglas, Hollins, Boutte, Chism, or Bourne.

The only ones I see as locks over Polk are Diggs and maybe Williams. All of those other guys have their warts and Polk is fully capable of positioning himself ahead of those guys and could easily outpace Williams if Williams struggles with rookie stuff or if Polk just picks it up like his draft position implies he could.

Way too much juice in these free agent drafts this year though with I'd expect to be at least 12 good options in each league with how deep this draft was, I'd exect a bunch of undrafted guys to get nice value boosts leading up to the middle of August

The guys that look good by that time will have done so because something broke right for them - coaches' praise, injury ahead of them, improved QB play/attention/system, something. And if Polk is the recipient of said breaks he's going to be at the top of this kind of list. Imagine Diggs recovering slowly and Williams coming along slowly due to being a rookie - Polk could end up the defacto top target to an upside QB. I don't know your league or the FA depth, but if you're just relying on undrafted rookie to fill those spots, I'd be spending a pick like that on Polk in a flash.

Appreciate the response here! Just feel like "Yeah, he COULD do all that stuff and the draft capital is a big investment" but at the same time, I dunno, just a bad feeling I get from him. From the moment he was drafted and then Baker later, I started feeling not great about him. And then last season happened.

I own him in 0/6 dynos, so I definitely avoided him.

Care to share your portfolio and how invested you are in Polk?

IMO the question isn't whether he is worth a fantasy roster spot it's whether he will even make the Patriots roster...he is as on the bubble as you get and it would be an absolutely gigantic leap to go from where he is right now to be any type of relevancy in fantasy.

The only reason to hold Polk in fantasy at this juncture is if you still believe in the talent and that he’ll get an opportunity to play on another team. There are way too many things that need to go wrong for the Pats for Polk to leapfrog those guys in the depth chart. Nothing is impossible but Polk faceplanted in his rookie season in a way that historically is hard to come back from. Any team that takes him on isn’t going to trust him as a rotational piece right away, he would likely start off as 5th on the depth chart at best.

The only thing the draft capital suggests is he’ll likely get another opportunity elsewhere but it will take some time for him to build enough trust to see the field. Vrabel came in and brought his guys in and rightfully decided that Douglas, Boutte, Bourne, Polk and Baker aren’t enough, and added three receivers who are likely starting at the top of the depth chart with a fourth UDFA who they had to outbid six other teams to get.

It would be convenient for Polk’s sake to throw out everything that happened last season due to poor coaching and what not. But the Patriots couldn’t afford to ignore the information last season presented to us. There is a world where Polk is a contributing member of the 2025 Patriots but you’ll need to squint really, really hard to see it, and I’m just not seeing it.

 

[Hankmoody]

Care to share your portfolio and how invested you are in Polk?

I have him in one of 6 dynasty leagues and if final cuts were today it's unlikely he would make my taxi. I'm not advocating necessarily for him, I just think the narrative here that he's got an impossible road ahead of him is drastically overstated. None of those donkeys has much going for him and any small flash for Polk could jump him to the front of that line (and your FA draft) very quickly.

The only reason to hold Polk in fantasy at this juncture is if you still believe in the talent and that he’ll get an opportunity to play on another team. There are way too many things that need to go wrong for the Pats for Polk to leapfrog those guys in the depth chart.

You act like he's got a bunch of lead pipe locks ahead of him. There's one, and that one (Diggs) is coming off a pretty significant injury. After that it's a rookie 4th rounder, a blocking WR, an overachiever, a JAG, and a prayer or three. Polk is no lock, but he's also not nearly so buried as is being portrayed here.

 

[Anarchy99]

You act like he's got a bunch of lead pipe locks ahead of him. There's one, and that one (Diggs) is coming off a pretty significant injury. After that it's a rookie 4th rounder, a blocking WR, an overachiever, a JAG, and a prayer or three. Polk is no lock, but he's also not nearly so buried as is being portrayed here.

Here's the thing. If Polk DOESN'T beat out those cast of characters and gets jettisoned by NE, what does that say about his chances? How many teams have a receiving corps worse than the Pats.

 

[Lansdowne]

Care to share your portfolio and how invested you are in Polk?

I have him in one of 6 dynasty leagues and if final cuts were today it's unlikely he would make my taxi. I'm not advocating necessarily for him, I just think the narrative here that he's got an impossible road ahead of him is drastically overstated. None of those donkeys has much going for him and any small flash for Polk could jump him to the front of that line (and your FA draft) very quickly.

The only reason to hold Polk in fantasy at this juncture is if you still believe in the talent and that he’ll get an opportunity to play on another team. There are way too many things that need to go wrong for the Pats for Polk to leapfrog those guys in the depth chart.

You act like he's got a bunch of lead pipe locks ahead of him. There's one, and that one (Diggs) is coming off a pretty significant injury. After that it's a rookie 4th rounder, a blocking WR, an overachiever, a JAG, and a prayer or three. Polk is no lock, but he's also not nearly so buried as is being portrayed here.

If some of these receivers you’re describing are overachievers or JAGs then what does that make Ja’Lynn Polk, a guy who could only put up 87 receiving yards in 15 games played? You act like he has done anything in the NFL other than get drafted earlier than he should have. At least those other guys you’re referring to have shown something at the NFL level. Also the rookie (Kyle Williams) is an early 3rd rounder, not a 4th rounder. The only veteran Polk has shown more than is Baker, which isn’t saying a lot, and he was an actual 4th rounder.

NFL roster construction is more than just perceived fantasy potential. Stefon Diggs, while past his prime, got paid to be the leader and #1 WR in the room, which he will be when he’s healthy enough to play. DeMario Douglas has defied the odds as a 2023 6th round draft choice to be the team leader in receiving yards through the last two years and has the slot receiver position locked down. Mack Hollins is a locker room leader with size and physicality that no one else in the WR room has. He fits the culture Mike Vrabel wants to install, and was among the very first free agent signings of this regime this offseason for good reason. He shouldn’t be on anyone’s fantasy teams but he’s a lock to make this Patriots team. Kyle Williams was adored by Vrabel’s crew during the scouting process and was drafted in response to Polk’s failure to show anything last season. He is a lock. So that’s four guys. Everybody else is fighting for two or three spots. Say what you will about Kayshon Boutte but he and Polk had the same opportunity to perform in a wide open WR room but it was Boutte who actually produced. Kendrick Bourne is JAG but he’s also a veteran who, like Hollins, has had some familiarity and success with Josh McDaniels.

The Pats still have one of the most underwhelming WR rooms in the league. That much is certain. But understand that Polk is one of the reasons why it’s lacking. 87 yards in 15 games from an early 2nd round pick is a historical face plant, I can’t stress that enough. You sound much more convinced of Polk’s chances at salvaging his career than myself or most others who follow this team closely. More power to you then. I hope you’re right because I’d like to see at least some return on investment from Polk.

 

[Boston]

Care to share your portfolio and how invested you are in Polk?

I have him in one of 6 dynasty leagues and if final cuts were today it's unlikely he would make my taxi. I'm not advocating necessarily for him, I just think the narrative here that he's got an impossible road ahead of him is drastically overstated. None of those donkeys has much going for him and any small flash for Polk could jump him to the front of that line (and your FA draft) very quickly.

The only reason to hold Polk in fantasy at this juncture is if you still believe in the talent and that he’ll get an opportunity to play on another team. There are way too many things that need to go wrong for the Pats for Polk to leapfrog those guys in the depth chart.

You act like he's got a bunch of lead pipe locks ahead of him. There's one, and that one (Diggs) is coming off a pretty significant injury. After that it's a rookie 4th rounder, a blocking WR, an overachiever, a JAG, and a prayer or three. Polk is no lock, but he's also not nearly so buried as is being portrayed here.

If some of these receivers you’re describing are overachievers or JAGs then what does that make Ja’Lynn Polk, a guy who could only put up 87 receiving yards in 15 games played? You act like he has done anything in the NFL other than get drafted earlier than he should have. At least those other guys you’re referring to have shown something at the NFL level. Also the rookie (Kyle Williams) is an early 3rd rounder, not a 4th rounder. The only veteran Polk has shown more than is Baker, which isn’t saying a lot, and he was an actual 4th rounder.

NFL roster construction is more than just perceived fantasy potential. Stefon Diggs, while past his prime, got paid to be the leader and #1 WR in the room, which he will be when he’s healthy enough to play. DeMario Douglas has defied the odds as a 2023 6th round draft choice to be the team leader in receiving yards through the last two years and has the slot receiver position locked down. Mack Hollins is a locker room leader with size and physicality that no one else in the WR room has. He fits the culture Mike Vrabel wants to install, and was among the very first free agent signings of this regime this offseason for good reason. He shouldn’t be on anyone’s fantasy teams but he’s a lock to make this Patriots team. Kyle Williams was adored by Vrabel’s crew during the scouting process and was drafted in response to Polk’s failure to show anything last season. He is a lock. So that’s four guys. Everybody else is fighting for two or three spots. Say what you will about Kayshon Boutte but he and Polk had the same opportunity to perform in a wide open WR room but it was Boutte who actually produced. Kendrick Bourne is JAG but he’s also a veteran who, like Hollins, has had some familiarity and success with Josh McDaniels.

The Pats still have one of the most underwhelming WR rooms in the league. That much is certain. But understand that Polk is one of the reasons why it’s lacking. 87 yards in 15 games from an early 2nd round pick is a historical face plant, I can’t stress that enough. You sound much more convinced of Polk’s chances at salvaging his career than myself or most others who follow this team closely. More power to you then. I hope you’re right because I’d like to see at least some return on investment from Polk.

Good post...there is a path for Polk to make the team as the Pats WR unit is still very much a work in progress and I could see them starting the year with extra WRs on the roster (especially if Diggs is out for some early games)...but even if that happens it would have to be a tremendous transformation in the player for him to become fantasy relevant...unless it is a very deep league I would have zero interest in using a roster spot on him.

 

[Terpman22]

Care to share your portfolio and how invested you are in Polk?

I have him in one of 6 dynasty leagues and if final cuts were today it's unlikely he would make my taxi. I'm not advocating necessarily for him, I just think the narrative here that he's got an impossible road ahead of him is drastically overstated. None of those donkeys has much going for him and any small flash for Polk could jump him to the front of that line (and your FA draft) very quickly.

The only reason to hold Polk in fantasy at this juncture is if you still believe in the talent and that he’ll get an opportunity to play on another team. There are way too many things that need to go wrong for the Pats for Polk to leapfrog those guys in the depth chart.

You act like he's got a bunch of lead pipe locks ahead of him. There's one, and that one (Diggs) is coming off a pretty significant injury. After that it's a rookie 4th rounder, a blocking WR, an overachiever, a JAG, and a prayer or three. Polk is no lock, but he's also not nearly so buried as is being portrayed here.

If some of these receivers you’re describing are overachievers or JAGs then what does that make Ja’Lynn Polk, a guy who could only put up 87 receiving yards in 15 games played? You act like he has done anything in the NFL other than get drafted earlier than he should have. At least those other guys you’re referring to have shown something at the NFL level. Also the rookie (Kyle Williams) is an early 3rd rounder, not a 4th rounder. The only veteran Polk has shown more than is Baker, which isn’t saying a lot, and he was an actual 4th rounder.

NFL roster construction is more than just perceived fantasy potential. Stefon Diggs, while past his prime, got paid to be the leader and #1 WR in the room, which he will be when he’s healthy enough to play. DeMario Douglas has defied the odds as a 2023 6th round draft choice to be the team leader in receiving yards through the last two years and has the slot receiver position locked down. Mack Hollins is a locker room leader with size and physicality that no one else in the WR room has. He fits the culture Mike Vrabel wants to install, and was among the very first free agent signings of this regime this offseason for good reason. He shouldn’t be on anyone’s fantasy teams but he’s a lock to make this Patriots team. Kyle Williams was adored by Vrabel’s crew during the scouting process and was drafted in response to Polk’s failure to show anything last season. He is a lock. So that’s four guys. Everybody else is fighting for two or three spots. Say what you will about Kayshon Boutte but he and Polk had the same opportunity to perform in a wide open WR room but it was Boutte who actually produced. Kendrick Bourne is JAG but he’s also a veteran who, like Hollins, has had some familiarity and success with Josh McDaniels.

The Pats still have one of the most underwhelming WR rooms in the league. That much is certain. But understand that Polk is one of the reasons why it’s lacking. 87 yards in 15 games from an early 2nd round pick is a historical face plant, I can’t stress that enough. You sound much more convinced of Polk’s chances at salvaging his career than myself or most others who follow this team closely. More power to you then. I hope you’re right because I’d like to see at least some return on investment from Polk.

Good post...there is a path for Polk to make the team as the Pats WR unit is still very much a work in progress and I could see them starting the year with extra WRs on the roster (especially if Diggs is out for some early games)...but even if that happens it would have to be a tremendous transformation in the player for him to become fantasy relevant...unless it is a very deep league I would have zero interest in using a roster spot on him.

And all this just to be like "yeah, I'd definitely cut him ^right now^ in dynasty league ball" is basically all I was asking lol. Could he turn it around and become a G? Sure, why not, we have definitely seen crazier stuff in the NFL. Just doesn't seem fantasy relevant right now and I'm not gonna be like "aww man" if I had him, dropped him and somehow he turns it around in say, mid 2027 with a new team.

 

[Boston]

Care to share your portfolio and how invested you are in Polk?

I have him in one of 6 dynasty leagues and if final cuts were today it's unlikely he would make my taxi. I'm not advocating necessarily for him, I just think the narrative here that he's got an impossible road ahead of him is drastically overstated. None of those donkeys has much going for him and any small flash for Polk could jump him to the front of that line (and your FA draft) very quickly.

The only reason to hold Polk in fantasy at this juncture is if you still believe in the talent and that he’ll get an opportunity to play on another team. There are way too many things that need to go wrong for the Pats for Polk to leapfrog those guys in the depth chart.

You act like he's got a bunch of lead pipe locks ahead of him. There's one, and that one (Diggs) is coming off a pretty significant injury. After that it's a rookie 4th rounder, a blocking WR, an overachiever, a JAG, and a prayer or three. Polk is no lock, but he's also not nearly so buried as is being portrayed here.

If some of these receivers you’re describing are overachievers or JAGs then what does that make Ja’Lynn Polk, a guy who could only put up 87 receiving yards in 15 games played? You act like he has done anything in the NFL other than get drafted earlier than he should have. At least those other guys you’re referring to have shown something at the NFL level. Also the rookie (Kyle Williams) is an early 3rd rounder, not a 4th rounder. The only veteran Polk has shown more than is Baker, which isn’t saying a lot, and he was an actual 4th rounder.

NFL roster construction is more than just perceived fantasy potential. Stefon Diggs, while past his prime, got paid to be the leader and #1 WR in the room, which he will be when he’s healthy enough to play. DeMario Douglas has defied the odds as a 2023 6th round draft choice to be the team leader in receiving yards through the last two years and has the slot receiver position locked down. Mack Hollins is a locker room leader with size and physicality that no one else in the WR room has. He fits the culture Mike Vrabel wants to install, and was among the very first free agent signings of this regime this offseason for good reason. He shouldn’t be on anyone’s fantasy teams but he’s a lock to make this Patriots team. Kyle Williams was adored by Vrabel’s crew during the scouting process and was drafted in response to Polk’s failure to show anything last season. He is a lock. So that’s four guys. Everybody else is fighting for two or three spots. Say what you will about Kayshon Boutte but he and Polk had the same opportunity to perform in a wide open WR room but it was Boutte who actually produced. Kendrick Bourne is JAG but he’s also a veteran who, like Hollins, has had some familiarity and success with Josh McDaniels.

The Pats still have one of the most underwhelming WR rooms in the league. That much is certain. But understand that Polk is one of the reasons why it’s lacking. 87 yards in 15 games from an early 2nd round pick is a historical face plant, I can’t stress that enough. You sound much more convinced of Polk’s chances at salvaging his career than myself or most others who follow this team closely. More power to you then. I hope you’re right because I’d like to see at least some return on investment from Polk.

Good post...there is a path for Polk to make the team as the Pats WR unit is still very much a work in progress and I could see them starting the year with extra WRs on the roster (especially if Diggs is out for some early games)...but even if that happens it would have to be a tremendous transformation in the player for him to become fantasy relevant...unless it is a very deep league I would have zero interest in using a roster spot on him.

And all this just to be like "yeah, I'd definitely cut him ^right now^ in dynasty league ball" is basically all I was asking lol. Could he turn it around and become a G? Sure, why not, we have definitely seen crazier stuff in the NFL. Just doesn't seem fantasy relevant right now and I'm not gonna be like "aww man" if I had him, dropped him and somehow he turns it around in say, mid 2027 with a new team.

Yup...if he somehow ended up with 500 yards in receiving it would be an amazing season for him (and as a Pats fan I would love to see it)...but nothing that would make a difference for your fantasy team.

 

[Lansdowne]

Care to share your portfolio and how invested you are in Polk?

I have him in one of 6 dynasty leagues and if final cuts were today it's unlikely he would make my taxi. I'm not advocating necessarily for him, I just think the narrative here that he's got an impossible road ahead of him is drastically overstated. None of those donkeys has much going for him and any small flash for Polk could jump him to the front of that line (and your FA draft) very quickly.

The only reason to hold Polk in fantasy at this juncture is if you still believe in the talent and that he’ll get an opportunity to play on another team. There are way too many things that need to go wrong for the Pats for Polk to leapfrog those guys in the depth chart.

You act like he's got a bunch of lead pipe locks ahead of him. There's one, and that one (Diggs) is coming off a pretty significant injury. After that it's a rookie 4th rounder, a blocking WR, an overachiever, a JAG, and a prayer or three. Polk is no lock, but he's also not nearly so buried as is being portrayed here.

If some of these receivers you’re describing are overachievers or JAGs then what does that make Ja’Lynn Polk, a guy who could only put up 87 receiving yards in 15 games played? You act like he has done anything in the NFL other than get drafted earlier than he should have. At least those other guys you’re referring to have shown something at the NFL level. Also the rookie (Kyle Williams) is an early 3rd rounder, not a 4th rounder. The only veteran Polk has shown more than is Baker, which isn’t saying a lot, and he was an actual 4th rounder.

NFL roster construction is more than just perceived fantasy potential. Stefon Diggs, while past his prime, got paid to be the leader and #1 WR in the room, which he will be when he’s healthy enough to play. DeMario Douglas has defied the odds as a 2023 6th round draft choice to be the team leader in receiving yards through the last two years and has the slot receiver position locked down. Mack Hollins is a locker room leader with size and physicality that no one else in the WR room has. He fits the culture Mike Vrabel wants to install, and was among the very first free agent signings of this regime this offseason for good reason. He shouldn’t be on anyone’s fantasy teams but he’s a lock to make this Patriots team. Kyle Williams was adored by Vrabel’s crew during the scouting process and was drafted in response to Polk’s failure to show anything last season. He is a lock. So that’s four guys. Everybody else is fighting for two or three spots. Say what you will about Kayshon Boutte but he and Polk had the same opportunity to perform in a wide open WR room but it was Boutte who actually produced. Kendrick Bourne is JAG but he’s also a veteran who, like Hollins, has had some familiarity and success with Josh McDaniels.

The Pats still have one of the most underwhelming WR rooms in the league. That much is certain. But understand that Polk is one of the reasons why it’s lacking. 87 yards in 15 games from an early 2nd round pick is a historical face plant, I can’t stress that enough. You sound much more convinced of Polk’s chances at salvaging his career than myself or most others who follow this team closely. More power to you then. I hope you’re right because I’d like to see at least some return on investment from Polk.

Good post...there is a path for Polk to make the team as the Pats WR unit is still very much a work in progress and I could see them starting the year with extra WRs on the roster (especially if Diggs is out for some early games)...but even if that happens it would have to be a tremendous transformation in the player for him to become fantasy relevant...unless it is a very deep league I would have zero interest in using a roster spot on him.

And all this just to be like "yeah, I'd definitely cut him ^right now^ in dynasty league ball" is basically all I was asking lol. Could he turn it around and become a G? Sure, why not, we have definitely seen crazier stuff in the NFL. Just doesn't seem fantasy relevant right now and I'm not gonna be like "aww man" if I had him, dropped him and somehow he turns it around in say, mid 2027 with a new team.

Yup...if he somehow ended up with 500 yards in receiving it would be an amazing season for him (and as a Pats fan I would love to see it)...but nothing that would make a difference for your fantasy team.

He was already profiled as having an NFL WR2 ceiling coming in, thought to be pro ready as a high floor, low ceiling type. Just didn’t look good apart from one touchdown and another that got called back. Seemed to have the WR version of the yips, and it didn’t help that he was dropping passes after declaring he had the best hands in the league.

 

[Boston]

Care to share your portfolio and how invested you are in Polk?

I have him in one of 6 dynasty leagues and if final cuts were today it's unlikely he would make my taxi. I'm not advocating necessarily for him, I just think the narrative here that he's got an impossible road ahead of him is drastically overstated. None of those donkeys has much going for him and any small flash for Polk could jump him to the front of that line (and your FA draft) very quickly.

The only reason to hold Polk in fantasy at this juncture is if you still believe in the talent and that he’ll get an opportunity to play on another team. There are way too many things that need to go wrong for the Pats for Polk to leapfrog those guys in the depth chart.

You act like he's got a bunch of lead pipe locks ahead of him. There's one, and that one (Diggs) is coming off a pretty significant injury. After that it's a rookie 4th rounder, a blocking WR, an overachiever, a JAG, and a prayer or three. Polk is no lock, but he's also not nearly so buried as is being portrayed here.

If some of these receivers you’re describing are overachievers or JAGs then what does that make Ja’Lynn Polk, a guy who could only put up 87 receiving yards in 15 games played? You act like he has done anything in the NFL other than get drafted earlier than he should have. At least those other guys you’re referring to have shown something at the NFL level. Also the rookie (Kyle Williams) is an early 3rd rounder, not a 4th rounder. The only veteran Polk has shown more than is Baker, which isn’t saying a lot, and he was an actual 4th rounder.

NFL roster construction is more than just perceived fantasy potential. Stefon Diggs, while past his prime, got paid to be the leader and #1 WR in the room, which he will be when he’s healthy enough to play. DeMario Douglas has defied the odds as a 2023 6th round draft choice to be the team leader in receiving yards through the last two years and has the slot receiver position locked down. Mack Hollins is a locker room leader with size and physicality that no one else in the WR room has. He fits the culture Mike Vrabel wants to install, and was among the very first free agent signings of this regime this offseason for good reason. He shouldn’t be on anyone’s fantasy teams but he’s a lock to make this Patriots team. Kyle Williams was adored by Vrabel’s crew during the scouting process and was drafted in response to Polk’s failure to show anything last season. He is a lock. So that’s four guys. Everybody else is fighting for two or three spots. Say what you will about Kayshon Boutte but he and Polk had the same opportunity to perform in a wide open WR room but it was Boutte who actually produced. Kendrick Bourne is JAG but he’s also a veteran who, like Hollins, has had some familiarity and success with Josh McDaniels.

The Pats still have one of the most underwhelming WR rooms in the league. That much is certain. But understand that Polk is one of the reasons why it’s lacking. 87 yards in 15 games from an early 2nd round pick is a historical face plant, I can’t stress that enough. You sound much more convinced of Polk’s chances at salvaging his career than myself or most others who follow this team closely. More power to you then. I hope you’re right because I’d like to see at least some return on investment from Polk.

Good post...there is a path for Polk to make the team as the Pats WR unit is still very much a work in progress and I could see them starting the year with extra WRs on the roster (especially if Diggs is out for some early games)...but even if that happens it would have to be a tremendous transformation in the player for him to become fantasy relevant...unless it is a very deep league I would have zero interest in using a roster spot on him.

And all this just to be like "yeah, I'd definitely cut him ^right now^ in dynasty league ball" is basically all I was asking lol. Could he turn it around and become a G? Sure, why not, we have definitely seen crazier stuff in the NFL. Just doesn't seem fantasy relevant right now and I'm not gonna be like "aww man" if I had him, dropped him and somehow he turns it around in say, mid 2027 with a new team.

Yup...if he somehow ended up with 500 yards in receiving it would be an amazing season for him (and as a Pats fan I would love to see it)...but nothing that would make a difference for your fantasy team.

He was already profiled as having an NFL WR2 ceiling coming in, thought to be pro ready as a high floor, low ceiling type. Just didn’t look good apart from one touchdown and another that got called back. Seemed to have the WR version of the yips, and it didn’t help that he was dropping passes after declaring he had the best hands in the league.

If they had stayed put and drafted McConkey like they should of that unit would be in a very different spot.

 

[Anarchy99]

If they had stayed put and drafted McConkey and he performed the same as he did for the Chargers in a disaster of an offense with coaches that didn't know what they were doing, a line that couldn't block, and a rookie QB instead of Herbert, that unit may have been in a very different spot . . . or he could have had the same fate as Polk.

Added some context. We like to think that just switching a jersey would yield the same outcome, and I'm guessing it wouldn't. McConkey having half the production in NE may have been a greater accomplishment.

 

[Boston]

If they had stayed put and drafted McConkey and he performed the same as he did for the Chargers in a disaster of an offense with coaches that didn't know what they were doing, a line that couldn't block, and a rookie QB instead of Herbert, that unit may have been in a very different spot . . . or he could have had the same fate as Polk.

Added some context. We like to think that just switching a jersey would yield the same outcome, and I'm guessing it wouldn't. McConkey having half the production in NE may have been a greater accomplishment.

Actually, there is no context needed...most fans understand he probably would not have had the same #'s due to the situation but there can be zero debate the Pats would have drafted a legit WR instead of what looks like two stiffs...McConkey would not suddenly be a bad player if he went to a different team other than the Chargers.

 

[Lansdowne]

If they had stayed put and drafted McConkey and he performed the same as he did for the Chargers in a disaster of an offense with coaches that didn't know what they were doing, a line that couldn't block, and a rookie QB instead of Herbert, that unit may have been in a very different spot . . . or he could have had the same fate as Polk.

Added some context. We like to think that just switching a jersey would yield the same outcome, and I'm guessing it wouldn't. McConkey having half the production in NE may have been a greater accomplishment.

The concerns with McConkey were his lack of high end production at Georgia and his extensive injury history. He was already seen as an elite route runner and separator, his ability would’ve translated well even in last year’s disaster class of an offense. I have a feeling that the decision makers decided McConkey is redundant with Pop so they went with the boundary/power slot potential of Polk and Baker. I don’t think the Pats were considering McConkey at all. They were in on Legette until the Panthers took him.

 

[Hankmoody]

You act like he has done anything in the NFL other than get drafted earlier than he should have.

No, I don't, not even a little bit. I'm just not writing him off just yet.

The Pats still have one of the most underwhelming WR rooms in the league

That's my whole point. Polk has very little to overcome yet everyone in this thread is treating it as a foregone conclusion he can't even make the roster. Far too early for that.

 

[socrates]

I'm just not writing him off just yet.

Rumors of Polk's death may be premature, and if you have a deep bench, I wouldn't fault you for holding on a bit longer. However, I struggle to come up with examples of receivers who have gone from such a disappointing rookie season to go on to a significant career. Mike Williams, perhaps . Many examples in recent history come to mind of WRs who disappointed year 1 and continued to be disappointments (Treylon Burks, Quentin Johnston, Josh Doctson, N'Keal Harry).

That does not mean that Polk cannot rebound; I just think the odds are against him.

 

[warpig33]

I'm just not writing him off just yet.

Rumors of Polk's death may be premature, and if you have a deep bench, I wouldn't fault you for holding on a bit longer. However, I struggle to come up with examples of receivers who have gone from such a disappointing rookie season to go on to a significant career. Mike Williams, perhaps . Many examples in recent history come to mind of WRs who disappointed year 1 and continued to be disappointments (Treylon Burks, Quentin Johnston, Josh Doctson, N'Keal Harry).

That does not mean that Polk cannot rebound; I just think the odds are against him.

Especially NE WRs recently.