Kevin Szafraniec continues his deep dive into the AFC East by identifying the best and worst picks on the New England Patriots’ roster in 2026 best ball drafts.
No NFL team’s turnaround was as dramatic as what we saw from the Patriots last season. New England went from the AFC East cellar in 2024 to playing in the Super Bowl one year later.
The sweeping changes that took place in Foxboro last offseason helped propel the quick turnaround. The overhaul started at the top when the team brought in Mike Vrabel and a high-powered coaching staff to correct the course of the franchise. Then the front office spent big in free agency, putting their league-leading abundance of cap space to good use. Add in the NFL’s easiest schedule, and the Patriots’ worst-to-first season is less surprising than it seemed heading into last season.
New England wasn’t content to sit around this offseason and ride on the coattails of their 2025 success. The Patriots’ front office continued to bolster their roster with their sights set on a return to the NFL’s biggest stage. But the road to the Lombardi Trophy will be significantly more difficult this season, as the team faces the sixth-most difficult schedule in the league.
Will New England’s offseason upgrades offset the added competition they face in 2026, or are we about to see the Patriots get hit with a heaping helping of regression?
In this series, we will focus on best ball ADP from the FFPC slim format, which features 20-round drafts, tight-end premium scoring (1.5 points per TE reception and 1.0 PPR for all other positions), and starting lineups consisting of one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, and two standard flex spots.
Catch up on all the previous installments of this series:
AFC South
- Will the Colts Come to Regret Their Massive Offseason Investments?
- Searching for Offensive Rhythm in Tennessee
- It’s a Make-or-Break Year for C.J. Stroud and the Houston Passing Game
- How Many Players Will Deliver on Jacksonville’s Loaded Offense?
AFC East
NFC North
- Does Chicago’s System or Players Deserve More Credit for the Bears’ Success?
- Uncertainty Lingers Just Underneath the Surface in Detroit
- Don’t Be Fooled by the Illusion of Certainty in Green Bay
- The Vikings’ Passing Attack is Primed for a Quick Turnaround
NFC West
- Is Jaxon Smith-Njigba the Only Game in Town for the Defending Champs?
- Offseason Upgrades Could Fuel a Dominant Rams Rushing Attack
- Young Superstars are Arizona’s Fantasy Oasis
- Are San Francisco’s Stars Closer to the Lombardi Trophy or the Retirement Home?
Are you ready to battle for your share of the 2026 FFPC Best Ball Tournament’s $1.64M prize pool? New users get $25 off their first FFPC team of $35 or more by using promo code 25ROTOVIZ or by following this link!
