Last updated 9/1/13
**If a player is in BOLD, you can click on that player for more season projections and more information about him**

QUARTERBACK
Tom Brady (knee)
———Ryan Mallett

*New England is breathing a big sigh of relief as Brady’s knee injury turned out to be minor. He’s still a Top 5 option at QB.
*Mallett hasn’t showed much of anything in very limited action. If Brady goes down, expect panic mode.
*The Tim Tebow experiment was mercifully put to an end as even Belichick/McDaniels couldn’t salvage him. Unless Tebow is willing to admit that he’s not a QB, his NFL career may be over.

RUNNING BACK
RB1 Stevan Ridley (GLB)
———Brandon Bolden
———James Develin

RB2 Shane Vereen (3DB)
———LeGarrette Blount

*Ridley is still the bell cow on this team but Vereen is looking at an increased workload this year, especially given the lack of weapons in the passing game, and could be a nice sleeper pick.

WIDE RECEIVER
LWR Danny Amendola
———Julian Edelman
———Matt Slater

RWR Kenbrell Thompkins
———Josh Boyce
———Aaron Dobson

*The play of Kenbrell Thompkins has been a bright spot amidst the ugliness of the Patriots WR situation. While he was a value pick before, his sleeper status has been destroyed to the point where he’s being overdrafted in some leagues. While there is a legitimate reason to be excited, remember that he has yet to catch a regular season pass.
*WR3 is a mess right now and could be anyone’s role in any given week. I’d expect it to be between Boyce/Edelman/Dobson but the situation is fluid and I’d stay away regardless. The Patriots are not predictable enough in their game-planning to bet on a player in a lesser role.

TIGHT END
Rob Gronkowski (back – out 2 weeks minimum)
———Zach Sudfeld
———Michael Hoomanawanui

*Gronkowski has avoided PUP but is still expected to miss at least 2 weeks of the regular season. Be sure to draft a solid backup if gambling on Gronk.
*Sudfeld has been taking 1st team snaps as of late and could end up playing extensively if Gronk is out for a while. At this point though, his sleeper status is starting to disappear.

KICKER
Stephen Gostkowski

*Gostkowski is locked in and one of the more consistent kickers in fantasy football.