Once considered the deepest position group on the roster, the New England Patriots entered Week 5 of the 2026 regular season without their top two options on the perimeter and just four active wide receivers to rotate between.

Then, at their thinnest, New England’s collection of skill position players exploded for 536 total yards of offense against the Las Vegas Raiders in an emphatic 45-17 victory — led by a spectacular showing from Drake Maye.

Maye demonstrated the ability to elevate those around him, even when he wasn’t surrounded by his typical supporting cast. In doing so, he exposed layers of potential that had already been revealing themselves through training camp and the first month of live action. Each of the Patriots’ pass-catching targets had their chance to shine as Maye dealt the ball around with precision, and in large part, they all delivered.

At their lowest point, New England’s wide receivers and tight ends reached their greatest heights. And the timing couldn’t be better. Here’s a closer look at how the Patriots’ pass-catchers made a lasting impact on Sunday’s contest, and what that means for the group moving forward:

DeMario Douglas’ underdeveloped rapport with Maye has been a subject of frustration for many going back through the 2025 regular season, and had continued through the early part of 2026 — especially considering his more expansive role in the offense. 

That was apparent in the last three games: Douglas logged a one-catch, nine-yard outing against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2, had another one-catch (38-yard) showing against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3, and a two-catch, 15-yard performance at the Buffalo Bills in Week 4. His limited production wasn't due to a lack of involvement, rather, a lack of efficiency. Douglas had been targeted 10 times (including five targets in Week 3), but had just four catches to show for it. 

Then, Douglas became the focal point of the Patriots’ passing attack in Week 5. He opened the scoring with a 35-yard touchdown on New England’s first drive, converted on a 4th-and-3 attempt on the Patriots’ second drive, and put the exclamation point on the lopsided victory with a second trip to the end zone in the fourth quarter. He totaled four catches on five targets, 65 yards, and two touchdowns in the game.

His two scores were a career-best single-game mark, as was his passer rating when targeted: a perfect 158.3. Douglas answered the call in Week 5 in a way he hadn’t through this point of his career — with sustained success and consistency.

But he wasn’t the only one.

Efton Chism III started his ascent into a more prominent role in the offense in Week 4, and more fuel was added to that fire in Week 5. 

Stepping in for the injured Mack Hollins, Chism’s contributions in the New England offense spanned further than his typical blocking assignments in Buffalo — and came in the game’s most critical moments. Each of his two receptions came on the Patriots’ game-winning drive, including the miraculous one-handed touchdown grab that put them on top. 

With a full week to prepare as a starter, Chism seamlessly integrated himself into the first-team offense last Sunday. He presented Maye with a constant and reliable option in the underneath and intermediate areas, and led all New England pass-catchers with six targets on the day. 

Chism tied for the team-lead with five catches, added 57 yards receiving, and made the highlight reel on a trick play, throw-back to TreVeyon Henderson to convert a 3rd-and-11 on the Patriots’ third drive. The former undrafted free agent’s 81.4 offensive grade ranks first of all receivers in the 2025 rookie class, and his 90.4 grade against man coverage ranks fifth among all NFL wide receivers this season (per PFF). 

Even with a smaller frame (5’10”, 198 pounds), his ability to track the football and extend away from his frame to haul in passes has been notable on several occasions — including his 19-yard reception against the Bills, and his first grab on a 17-yard crossing route against Las Vegas. Chism’s catch radius, sure hands, and football IQ have earned him an increasing role in the offense with each passing week, and he doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. 

Kyle Williams has been on the verge of a year-two leap since the beginning of training camp, and Sunday finally showed signs of that in regular season play.

Through the first four games of 2026, Williams registered just two receptions (on seven targets) and 44 yards receiving, continuing a trend of inefficiency and an unstable connection with Maye at quarterback. Williams’ talent has always been evident, but his production never matched — until Sunday.

Against the Raiders, Williams didn’t have the wire-to-wire performance many were hoping for as the top option at the X receiver position, but just 15 minutes of involvement was enough for him to finish the game as the team’s leading receiver — and set a career-best for receiving yards in a game. After being shut out in the first half, Williams kicked off the second half scoring for New England with a 34-yard touchdown reception on a go-ball down the left sideline over cornerback Hezekiah Masses. 

His second reception came on a third-down drag route that resulted in a punt, but then Williams struck again on another deep shot. He beat cornerback Darien Porter, who was in press coverage, off the line of scrimmage and hauled in a 49-yard reception from Maye to beat Cover 0 over-the-top on a post route. Williams caught each of his three targets in the third quarter, and racked up 91 yards and a score in the process. 

It may not have been the most consistent game from the second-year receiver, but he surpassed his previous season totals in the third quarter alone, and was able to come down with each of the looks he got from Maye. A massive step in the right direction for a player who possesses elite speed and separation abilities.

The theoretical top option in the receiver room entering Sunday, Romeo Doubs was the lone player to disappoint in the Patriots’ receiving corps, but his growing trust from Maye was still apparent. 

In Week 4, Maye leaned on Doubs more than he had in previous contests — and with much greater success. Aside from one mishap (that led to an interception), Doubs was largely excellent. He caught six of his nine targets, gained 68 receiving yards, converted two fourth-downs, and scored two touchdowns against the Bills, helping New England jump-start a stagnant red-zone offense that’s now one of the hottest in the NFL.

In Week 5, Maye attempted to involve Doubs early once again, but the duo wasn’t able to replicate success for a second consecutive game. Doubs registered just one reception (on the game’s opening drive) on three targets and gained 16 yards; he did draw two defensive pass interference penalties in the game, but was unable to haul in the catch on either play.

On the season, Doubs has now caught just 13 of his 23 targets and has dropped four passes. His 23.5% drop rate ranks 85th of 86 receivers in the NFL (per PFF), and his 8.3% target share was a season-low mark against Las Vegas — one week after setting a season-best mark of 27.6% in Orchard Park.

Doubs showed flashes of a high ceiling in Week 4, but has demonstrated that he’s best suited as a complementary piece in an offense that has other top options to lean on more consistently. He’ll continue to play a high volume of snaps, and will hopefully see his efficiency improve as the group around him returns to health.

It may have taken some time to get there, but Hunter Henry looks to be rounding back into form as the regular season progresses.

After registering just seven receptions on 10 targets and 71 receiving yards in Weeks 1-3, Henry’s last two games have much more closely resembled his typical production trends. Against Buffalo, he caught all five of his targets and racked up 62 yards receiving — both season-best marks — including a third-down conversion late in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory.

He showed up when Maye needed him most once again in Week 5.  Henry, the recipient of a fourth-down conversion on the Patriots’ second drive, later found paydirt for the first time in 2026 to extend the lead to 21-7 just before halftime. He finished the game with three catches, 44 yards, and the score.

Over the last two weeks, Henry has amassed eight receptions on nine targets, 108 yards, and one touchdown, and is now tied with Rhamondre Stevenson and Mack Hollins for the team-lead in catches on the year (15). With 3,150 receiving yards since joining the team, Henry is just seven yards shy of passing Russ Francis (3,157 yards) for third place on the franchise's all-time receiving yards list for tight ends entering Week 6. 

The reliable tight end is beginning to look the part once more, but unlike past seasons in Foxboro, he’s not the lone proprietor of production in the room.

For the first time this season, rookie tight end Eli Raridon outpaced Henry in the passing game.

Raridon was more involved in the offense than ever before, and became a dependable option for Maye underneath and deep downfield — setting career-highs in targets (five), receptions (five), and receiving yards (57). He turned heads on a 31-yard Cover 2 hole shot down the left sideline from Maye, registering his second explosive reception of the season on as many targets.

Raridon’s success on downfield targets continues a trend that began during his final season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, when he hauled in all eight of his 20-plus yard targets. Now, those skills are beginning to translate over to the professional level — and will be emphasized by an aggressive downfield passer in Maye. 

In four games to begin his rookie season, Raridon has caught all eight of his targets for 101 receiving yards and one touchdown, and his 69.3 offensive grade and 75.3 receiving grade rank first among all 2026 rookie tight ends league-wide (per PFF). 

Sunday was a huge step forward for Raridon, who is becoming more of a focal point in the offense on a weekly basis.

Each of New England’s pass-catching targets have shown flashes of potential throughout the 2026 season, but Sunday’s win over the Raiders was the first time that they (mostly) all put together a productive showing in the same game. Paired with a quarterback that’s hitting his stride, those receivers will soon see another boost in their efficiencies with the pending return of A.J. Brown — who has been designated to return from injured reserve and returned to practice this week. 

With Brown back in the lineup, they’ll each revert to more complementary roles, and will be the beneficiaries of a true number-one target commanding the lion’s share of attention from the opposition’s defensive coverage schemes. That’ll give them the opportunity to showcase their individual talents more efficiently and effectively when called upon, strengthening a group that's already ripe with talent.

Sunday's win was evidence of that — and greener pastures are on the horizon. 

How do you think the Patriots’ skill position players have performed through the first five weeks of the 2026 regular season? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.

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