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Patriots rookie WR Ja'Lynn Polk has impressed over his first week of training camp. NESN's Sean T. McGuire praised Polk's work across multiple drills and situations Tuesday, adding that the rookie "continues to stack [good] days."
McGuire: "While it's been a struggle for the offense to find consistency during two padded practices, the contributions from Polk have been a cause for optimism."
Mike Kadlick, Patriots reporter for CLNS Media: "Ja'Lynn Polk has been, without question, the Patriots' best receiver through 6 training camp practices."
Phil Perry, Patriots Insider for NBC Sports Boston, in mid-July: "During mandatory minicamp practices, Polk performed like the most impactful pass-catcher on the field. ... It's been pointed out to me by those at One Patriots Place that he has some high-end physical skills that have them believing he'll soon be more than a role player."
Polk reportedly ran with the second team back in spring workouts, but he has commonly gotten reps with the first team already in training camp.
WR Kendrick Bourne's absence (ACL recovery) helps. But if Polk continues performing the way beat writers are describing, then the second-round pick should be able to quickly earn a role.
He'll face 2023 rookie Demario Douglas and former Vikings WR K.J. Osborn as other primary competition.
It can't hurt Polk's chances that he has reportedly started building rapport with first-round QB Drake Maye, thanks to their time on the second team.
That said, we can't expect these Patriots to support meaningful fantasy production from multiple WRs. So Polk would likely need to emerge as the target leader to be worth starting.
Osborn would be better off if the rookie seemed further away. The former Viking arrived on just a one-year, $4 million deal. That's not enough to lock him into a spot if New England hits September with three better WRs.
There's also a chance that Polk's quick development motivates the team to take its time easing Bourne back in. That would obviously hurt the veteran's chances to produce.
Douglas stands as a mild loser here, just because observers are buzzing more about another young WR. We'll see how the starting lineup shakes out.
Polk has been leading Patriots in our WR rankings, so no change there. His best ball ADP has climbed about a round since the end of May but leveled off through the middle of July.
More camp buzz -- and preseason success -- would likely push him up further. Polk presents basically no risk, though, at his current WR63 cost.
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