Christian Gonzalez appears poised to debut for the Patriots in Week 4 against Carolina after hamstring rehab progress, potentially stabilizing a leaky pass defense that ranks near the bottom in DVOA and EPA. His return could elevate New England’s secondary and indirectly boost fantasy value for teammates, while left guard remains unsettled if Jared Wilson can’t play, possibly elevating Ben Brown. Panther injuries also shape the Week 4 outlook for several pass-catchers and backs.

Drake Maye, facing a Steelers rush and a shaky run game, threw for 268 yards with two TDs but also coughed the ball twice, muting a strong floor for fantasy managers. Hunter Henry and a 12-receiver committee anchored the Patriots’ aerial attack, while Rhamondre Stevenson’s elusive tape was spoiled by three fumbles combined with a stout Steelers defense. Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren led a 2.86-yard rushing attack for Pittsburgh, underscoring the ongoing RB volatility in this matchup. Rodgers carved up a Gonzalez-less secondary with a tidy 139 yards and two TDs, while the Steelers’ pass game found Calvin Austin III and Darnell Washington for red-zone sparks. The Patriots’ line surrendered five sacks, highlighting O-line fragility and a roadmap to fix in Week 4. Overall, the result sharpened questions about Maye’s turnover-prone ceiling, Henry’s red-zone certainty, and the Steelers’ ability to sustain ground and scramble the pass rush with Watt leading the charge.

Stefon Diggs provides instant veteran leadership for New England, flashing on a key fourth-down connection and stabilizing Maye as he grows. Through two games, Diggs has 10 receptions for 89 yards with a 54% snap rate, suggesting more workload as he returns from an ACL. Marte Mapu emerges on defense and special teams, while the staff leans into West Coast concepts with Brown and McDaniels. Borregales faces late-game pressure after early misses, and the Patriots eye a Week 4 clash with Carolina as Stevenson looks to add to a potential franchise rushing TD milestone.

Week 3 injury report for Steelers at Patriots shows notable defensive gut checks for Pittsburgh with Porter Jr., Elliott, Highsmith, and Scharping ruled out, and Harmon questionable. New England counters with Gonzalez listed as questionable, plus several depth players limited. Fantasy fallout centers on Steelers’ defensive depth, potential backup line rotations, and Patriots’ exposure if Gonzalez sits. Streamers on both sides gain value if late-week changes tilt lineups, and rookie fill-ins become spec fantasy targets.