📌 SleeperNFL's Daily Roundup (7/31) Players on the rise: ▪️ Marvin Harrison Jr. ▪️ Colston Loveland ▪️ Trevor Lawrence ▪️ Bucky Irving Rookies on the rise: ▪️ WR Cyrus Allen ▪️ WR Zachariah Branch Workhorse SZN watch: ▪️ Kenneth Walker III ▪️ Quinshon Judkins Vibe check: ▪️ Early signs of Ben Johnson-Liam Coen beef? (Bears vs. Jaguars Week 13) 🍿 ▪️ The Bucs are unhappy with Baker's unhappiness ▪️ A.J. Brown and Drake Maye are in their honeymoon phase Other news & notes around the league: ▪️...

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PositiveProjectionJul 31, 2026ESPN Fantasy Football

Brown is listed among elite receivers in the Round 1 conversation alongside Nacua, Chase, Smith-Njigba, Lamb, and Jefferson as top options after the elite young running backs.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026RotoWire

Under the previous Eagles coordinator, A.J. Brown was limited to repetitive route concepts, running 'the same type of routes over and over and over again.' New coordinator Sean Mannion, who comes from the Packers offense, is expected to introduce more creativity and modern offensive concepts to the Eagles scheme, which should benefit Brown's route diversity and usage.

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PositiveProjectionJul 31, 2026ESPN Fantasy Football

Brown is listed among respectable WR1 options (alongside Nico Collins and Drake London) that represent a tier below the elite superstars but still offer starting-caliber production.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026ESPN Fantasy Football

Brown was traded to the New England Patriots in the 2026 offseason, representing a significant change in team context and potential impact on his fantasy value.

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PositiveValueJul 31, 2026RotoWire

Selected at pick 13 (team four) in wide receiver position; the source frames this as scooping up value in a running back-heavy draft environment.

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NegativeValueJul 31, 2026ESPN Fantasy Football

Ranked WR10 in ESPN's knockout league rankings with a bye week of 14.

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PositiveUsageJul 31, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL

A.J. Brown connected with Drake Maye on a 40-plus yard completion down the left sideline on a double move against Christian Gonzalez, then hauled in two short touchdown completions in low red zone work, showing strong chemistry and physicality with the quarterback in that area of the field.

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PositiveUsageJul 31, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL

A.J. Brown had his most productive morning of the summer in Foxborough during the Patriots' first padded practice (Day 5), answering when Drake Maye was turned loose by the offense after some pass-heavy days in shorts.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL

The source identifies the budding connection between Drake Maye and A.J. Brown as the biggest takeaway from Thursday's practice. Brown appears further ahead than other starting receivers in getting on the same page with Maye.

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PositiveProjectionJul 31, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL

Wide receiver A.J. Brown started camp slowly adjusting to Patriots quarterback Drake Maye's throwing mechanics and precision, but the two have been making strides and had a great practice on Thursday, suggesting the chemistry is developing.

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NegativeDepth ChartJul 31, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL

Acquired by the Patriots in the offseason, adding to the team's wide receiver depth and contributing to Kayshon Boutte's lower positioning on the depth chart.

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NegativeDepth ChartJul 31, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown is working with a member of the coaching staff during training camp.

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NegativeRoleJul 31, 2026Fantasy Football Advice

Initial camp tape concerning; the source notes he 'looks slow and old' and connection with Drake May will take time to develop. If Brown doesn't establish himself as true alpha number one receiver on the outside, it directly impacts Drake May's ceiling. The source emphasizes this is early camp evaluation but warrants monitoring.

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PositiveProjectionJul 31, 2026NBC Sports Rotoworld

Ranked WR9 and overall #23 in Rotoworld's 2026 Top 200 rankings, positioning the Philadelphia wide receiver as the ninth-best receiver prospect.

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NegativeValueJul 31, 2026Flock Fantasy

Fallback WR option if elite RBs are off the board by pick 106 in 12-team leagues; selecting him creates a RB scarcity problem that forces reaches on overpriced RBs in the middle rounds, including forced reaches on Breece Hall in round 3 and Bucky Irving in round 4.

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PositiveProjectionJul 31, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL

New England Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown is connecting with quarterback Drake Maye during practice, showing chemistry in team drills.

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NegativeProjectionJul 31, 2026FantasyPros Articles

A.J. Brown ranked WR8 in superflex draft rankings with an ADP of 31.2 and average draft position variance of 7.7.

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PositiveProjectionJul 31, 2026FantasyPros Articles

A.J. Brown is ranked WR8 in 2026 superflex fantasy football draft rankings with consensus ranking of 28.0 overall (partial data); best rank 20, worst rank 53, indicating significant variance in expert opinion on his tier placement.

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NegativeProjectionJul 31, 2026Fantasy Points Fantasy Football

AJ Brown shows signs of decline post-hamstring injury; even when charting profile is split between pre- and post-injury, back-half season numbers are good but not peak AJ Brown. Brown was traded to the Patriots; the fantasy market is drafting him as if peak performance has moved to New England, but even the Patriots' trade compensation (2028 first-round pick) suggests they are not expecting peak-level production. This represents an ADP concern as the market overvalues his ceiling.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL

The high-profile offseason wide receiver addition had his best practice of camp on Thursday. Drake Maye connected with Brown on a deep touchdown on Friday, and the connection between the two is developing nicely as the Patriots' passing offense takes shape.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL

The high-profile offseason addition at wide receiver had his best camp practice on Thursday, and his connection with starting quarterback Drake Maye is developing nicely. Maye threw a deep touchdown to Brown on Friday, demonstrating the developing chemistry between the two.

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PositiveBreakoutJul 31, 2026Pats Pulpit

The high-profile offseason wide receiver addition had his best practice of camp on Thursday and is developing a strong connection with starting quarterback Drake Maye. On Friday, Maye threw a deep touchdown to A.J. Brown, one of multiple highlight-reel throws that day, demonstrating the developing rapport between the two.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Pats Pulpit

A.J. Brown's connection with Drake Maye came to life in full-field work on Friday after searching for a big play in earlier sessions. Maye's first pass of the day in 11-on-11 was a 40-plus yard completion down the left sideline to Brown, who got open on a double move against Christian Gonzalez. Brown then hauled in two short touchdown completions in low red zone work from Maye, with the chemistry and physicality continuing to show in that area of the field.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL

A.J. Brown is developing strong chemistry with Drake Maye at Patriots training camp after arriving via trade on June 1. The duo struggled during the first four non-padded practices but have connected significantly since pads came on Thursday. In red-zone work Thursday, Maye connected on four of five passes to Brown, resulting in at least two would-be touchdowns on slants. On Friday, Brown beat Christian Gonzalez on a double move to haul in a 40+ yard deep shot down the right sideline on Maye's first pass of full-team work, then caught back-to-back completions in low red-zone 11-on-11 work. Maye emphasized Brown's elite status: "He's a force in this league, he's been a force in this league… I am blessed to play with a player like him."

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Pats Pulpit

High-profile offseason WR addition had his best practice of camp on Thursday with a deep touchdown connection developing nicely with Drake Maye; the connection between the two is developing well as part of the Patriots' passing offense growth.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Pats Pulpit

Drake Maye is targeting A.J. Brown heavily and intentionally across all field levels during padded practices. In high red-zone work Thursday, Maye connected on 4 of 5 passes to Brown, resulting in at least two would-be touchdowns on slants. On Friday in full-team work, Brown beat Christian Gonzalez on a double move for a 40+ yard gain on Maye's first pass of the day, then caught back-to-back completions in low red-zone 11-on-11 work. Maye stated: "Just giving more chances to him... I am not going to shy away from him. That is how I play. I am going to keep going at it, and it could be the fifth play in a row I am going to give him the rock." The connection is building through off-field relationship work and Maye's commitment to feeding Brown at intermediate, short, and deep levels.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Pats Pulpit

A.J. Brown's connection with Drake Maye came alive in full-field work on Friday with a 40-plus yard completion down the left sideline where Brown got open on a double move against Christian Gonzalez. Brown then hauled in two short touchdown completions in low red zone work, showing strong chemistry and physicality with Maye in that area of the field.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Buffalo Rumblings

Brown was acquired in a much-publicized trade to serve as the Patriots' bona fide number-one wide receiver option. He got off to a slow start in camp adjusting to quarterback Drake Maye, but the two have been making strides and had a great practice on Thursday, suggesting chemistry is developing.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Pats Pulpit

A.J. Brown answered Drake Maye's first padded practice with his most productive morning of the summer in Foxborough; the Maye-Brown connection is heating up with Drake Maye strengthening connection with A.J. Brown featured in top plays.

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NegativeProjectionJul 31, 2026FFin60

Had his best day of the summer in New England's first padded practice with Drake Maye going 4-for-5 with a touchdown his way as the connection comes to life. JJ Zachariason notes this is positive after a rough first day and shows much-needed chemistry development. However, Zachariason views mid to late second round as a steep price compared to RBs going around him or elite TE Brock Bowers. Also flags the Patriots' very difficult schedule in the fantasy playoffs as a concern for best ball.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Pats Pulpit

A.J. Brown answered Drake Maye's first padded practice with his most productive morning of the summer in Foxborough; the Maye-Brown connection is heating up as the Patriots turned Drake Maye loose in full pads.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Pats Pulpit

A.J. Brown was the biggest takeaway from Thursday's practice as part of a budding connection with Drake Maye; the source notes Brown seems further ahead than other starting receivers in getting on the same page with the quarterback.

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PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026Buffalo Rumblings

Wide receiver trade acquisition to New England Patriots showing camp progression and chemistry development with new quarterback Drake Maye; got off to slow start adjusting to Maye but the two have been making strides with a great practice on Thursday.

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PositiveUsageJul 31, 202632BeatWriters

32BeatWriterson X

Drake Maye says him and AJ Brown have gone through some of Brown’s previous film to go over certain route and how Brown like to run them

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