The New England Patriots’ wide receiver carousel continued to spin in Week 4. In an effort to kickstart a struggling passing offense against a stout San Francisco 49ers defense, a new No. 1 option emerged: Ja’Lynn Polk.
The second-round rookie ended up leading the team in both targets (7) and snaps among skill position players (53; 83%). As with the entire passing game, the production was lacking — three catches for 30 yards — but Polk’s emergence as a serious starter-level player might be a sign of what lies ahead for the youngster.
With Tyquan Thornton (13 snaps), Kayshon Boutte (15 snaps) and Javon Baker (0 snaps) playing reduced roles, Polk appears to be taking over as the top guy on the perimeter.