Kendrick Bourne injury update: Should fantasy managers be stressed about Patriots WR's ACL injury?

Kendrick Bourne is on the mend from an ACL injury sustained last season. The New England Patriots wide receiver has not been on the field during preseason and has the dreaded injury designation next to him on fantasy draft boards. What's his status, and should fantasy managers be cautious with the wide receiver when he comes up as a potential draft pick?

---

Should fantasy managers be worried about the Patriots WR?

Bourne is not going to play at least until Week 5. The star wide receiver burst onto the scene last year, but his momentum can't continue yet. Fantasy managers need to know he's not ready to play for a while, but he will be eventually.

Recovering from an ACL injury varies by the individual, and there's no fixed timeline or level of play that all players can return to. It affects players differently, and we won't know what it does to Bourne until he's back on the field.

What's interesting about Bourne's eventual return is that it might coincide with a major offensive shift in New England. After four weeks, the Pats' schedule softens, which is when many analysts expect Drake Maye to take over at quarterback.

Kendrick Bourne won't play for a while (Imagn)

Maye, the third overall pick, has outplayed Jacoby Brissett in preseason, but the team wants to be cautious. He's not the starter yet, but he will be eventually. If the ascension of Maye is in line with Bourne's return, it could pay massive dividends for both players in fantasy football.

If you can wait that long, then Bourne might be a high-risk, high-reward pick. If not, then you may want to look at pass-catchers who can play for the first few weeks before looking at sleeper players who will return eventually.

---

Kendrick Bourne injury update

Unsurprisingly, the New England Patriots officially placed Kendrick Bourne on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list. After zero action in the preseason, it was always unlikely that he suited up in the first few weeks.

The Patriots have ensured that he can't return until Week 5 at the earliest, and he may not be 100 percent or used fully once he does get back. The Patriots are unlikely to be a contender, so they'll probably exercise caution with injuries like this one.

Fantasy managers should know that he'll be out for those weeks, but since he tore his ACL last year, this is not surprising. It's worth factoring in if you're considering drafting him, but it's not a shock to see him land on the PUP list.