K.J.Osborn

News: 18 hours agoOsborn logged 13 snaps on offense in Thursday's 14-13 preseason loss to the Eagles.

Spin: Osborn didn't see any targets versus Philadelphia, but he was in the starting lineup for a second straight preseason contest. With JuJu Smith-Schuster released and Kendrick Bourne (knee) a candidate to miss the start of the season, Osborn is on track for the Week 1 start in a WR corps that also includes promising second-year player DeMario Douglas, rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker and returnees Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte and Jalen Reagor. Osborn could merit attention in deeper fantasy formats, but he's never been a big-time target earner and may now be stuck in a cautious, run-first offense.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Osborn signed with the Patriots during the offseason after operating as a backup/situational player during his four seasons in Minnesota. The 2020 fifth-round pick has finished in the 75-to-90 target, 48-to-60 reception and 540-to-655 yardage range each of the last three seasons, and has yet to post a top-50 fantasy campaign (PPG). Osborn will compete for work on one of the league's shakiest/unproven WR depth charts, but he'll be dealing with a rookie QB (Drake Maye), not to mention a first-year head coach (Jerod Mayo). Even if he surprisingly locks down a starting role, Osborn is a longshot for fantasy relevance.