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Predicting who will lead the Patriots in receiving yards in 2022

By Lou Scataglia

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 24: Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots and Kendrick Bourne #84 of the New England Patriots celebrate during the game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 24: Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots and Kendrick Bourne #84 of the New England Patriots celebrate during the game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The New England Patriots made two notable additions at wide receiver this offseason. Who will led the team in receiving yards in 2022?  I think it’s a valid question, mainly because, while DeVante Parker is going to be the WR1 for the team, I don’t necessarily think that means he’ll have the most prolific season.

Teams always try an take away the opponents biggest weapons in both the passing and rushing games.  When defenses are watching film, they’ll zero in on Parker being the Patriots’ biggest receiving threat.  Hunter Henry is obviously a threat, but I don’t think he’ll lead the team in receiving yards, and tight ends usually don’t rack up a ton compared to receivers.

The three candidates for this, in my opinion, are Parker, Kendrick Bourne, and Jakobi Meyers.  These will likely be the top three receivers on the depth chart for the Patriots in 2022, unless an injury occurs.

I’d also expect Tyquan Thornton to slide into the WR4 role rather nicely.  He’s had a very good offseason and has been making a name for himself.  His speed alone should allow him to make a bunch of long catches this season and beyond.

In 2021, Kendrick Bourne notched 800 receiving yards, and Jakobi Meyers racked up 866.  Meyers has also increased his receiving yardage total since entering the league in 2019.

Just for math purposes, Meyers had 359 receiving yards his rookie season, 729 yards in his second year, and 866 in his third year.  From year one to year two, Meyers had 103% more receiving yards.  From year two to year three, he had 18.79% more receiving yards.  If we average those two numbers, we’d get 60.90%.

If Meyers were to have 60.90% more receiving yards from year three to year four, he’d finish 2022 with 1,393 yards.  While I don’t think he’ll hit that total, I like his chances to crack 1,000 yards.  Bourne is a solid player, but he’s always been a third or fourth option in his career.  I think Meyers is clearly the second option among the receivers, and I’d bet more on Meyers increasing his total than I would Bourne.

So, in 2022, I think Jakobi Meyers will shock some people and lead the Patriots in receiving yards.

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