New England released Jabrill Peppers, a ninth-season veteran, signaling a shake-up behind the Patriots’ defense. With Peppers off the roster, Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson emerge as the top safeties, while Kyle Dugger and Dell Pettus remain in the mix behind them. Vrabel’s new scheme has forced a reallocation of run-stopping duties, and Peppers’ run-physical style will be missed at the back end. The move tightens the depth chart but introduces uncertainty for fantasy managers tracking Patriots safeties.

Peppers’ departure creates immediate fantasy implications: Hawkins and Woodson could see expanded roles, with Dugger likely to stay versatile but perhaps lean more toward coverage duties. Pettus’ depth could provide late-season streaming value, especially if injuries surface. Early preseason usage showed Peppers still in the mix, but the shift to Hawkins/Woodson signals a recalibration of the Patriots’ back-end alignment for the Vrabel era. Fantasy squads should monitor Woodson’s rookie impact and Hawkins’ box-level involvement.

In the wake of this change, expect a tighter, more opportunistic safety corps in New England. For fantasy purposes, target Hawkins and Woodson as upside picks in best-ball formats, while Dugger’s workload may hinge on how often the team employs multiple safeties in the box. Pettus could become a speculative deep option if New England leans heavily on depth pieces during early-season stints.