The New England Patriots were down two big soldiers ahead of the game vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. A.J. Brown has been out with an ankle injury since the season opener, and Mack Hollins missed the game with a calf injury.
Losing two of the top guys in the passing game forces all teams to make adjustments. Some turn to the next guy in the pecking order and put him in a position to make plays, while others just spread the wealth. Notably, Josh McDaniels chose to do the latter.
And now, with five pass catchers logging at least 40 receiving yards in a blowout win, the Patriots may have learned that strength in numbers is the way to go while they're undermanned. Fantasy football owners may not like it, but it got the job done.
The Patriots might have a wide receiver committee for at least another week
Hollins' right calf injury isn't considered serious. He could return for Week 6 vs. the New York Jets, but because calf injuries can be tricky, the Patriots may be right to err on the side of caution and sit him for another week.
Drake Maye completed passes to nine different players in the win over Las Vegas. Efton Chism II led with six targets, but the target share was otherwise fairly even, with seven players drawing at least three targets.
While watching Romeo Doubs follow his two-score performance with one reception for 16 yards was fairly disappointing, Maye still found four other players for touchdown passes. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and what matters is that the Patriots had their best offensive performance of the season, and they did it against a top-10 pass defense.
Even when the team is back at full strength, the Patriots' depth pieces have proven worth a look. Chism has earned a role, and Kyle Williams should draw some eyeballs after turning just three catches into 91 yards and a score.
Of course, every team needs a go-to guy, and A.J. Brown's return will work wonders for the passing game and Drake Maye's development, not just this year, but in seasons to come. That said, it's nice to know there are more than enough guys who can step up when the team needs them most.
Also, props to everyone for embracing their role, even though they might not be called as often as they'd have wanted.
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