New England hosts Carolina in Week 4 as two 1-2 clubs meet in a game that could shape early-season narratives. Bryce Young’s development remains uneven, flashing high-end decision-making but occasional turnover risk that worries fantasy managers. Carolina’s passing attack hinges on Tetairoa McMillan when healthy, with Xavier Legette stepping in as a complementary playmaker. Derrick Brown anchors a formidable Panthers front, while New England will lean on the ground game to control tempo.

Expect a grind-it-out, clock-minting affair where the Patriots must win the trenches and protect the ball, and Carolina must avoid self-inflicted mistakes while popping for big plays when opportunities arise. The 5.5-point spread suggests a tight finish rather than a blowout, with fantasy upside hinging on McMillan’s availability, Brown’s interior disruption, and the Patriots’ ability to polarize Young with pressure.