Kyle Williams is the Patriots' biggest X-factor

If you look at his stats, Kyle Williams’ rookie season wasn’t anything special: 10 receptions and three touchdowns. Yet, New England should have high hopes for the second-year receiver because of his big-play ability.

Thanks to his 4.40 40-yard dash, Williams turned his limited catches into 20.9-yard gains in his rookie year. At the NFL Combine, Mike Vrabel spoke on Williams’ rookie season and how excited he was for his second year in the league.

Breakout sophomore season

“I just know I’m excited about seeing where he goes from Year 1 to Year 2. Made some fantastic plays. Ability to adjust down the field on the deep ball. Has got really good release skills… We’re just excited that he’s with us and what he showed us. His attitude was fantastic. We’ll have to help him get to reach his potential.”

With A.J. Brown out for at least six weeks, and the underwhelming early returns on Romeo Doubs, the other receivers who have already built a rapport with Drake Maye need to step it up. As a result, Williams should be in the mix for a higher snap count and more opportunities in his second season.

While Williams is not the big-bodied X-receiver that A.J. Brown is, looking at the receiver depth chart, he represents the best option for explosive plays downfield. In his rookie season, all three of his touchdown receptions went for at least 30 yards.

Special Teams Impact

Aside from his ability to stretch the field on offense, Williams continues to prove he can contribute in the return game as well. Against Seattle, his open-field vision and speed were on full display, as he returned two kicks for 58 yards.

The A.J. Brown injury stinks for the immediate future, and there is no one on the Patriots roster who can completely replace his production. Instead, the team will have to give its other receivers more opportunity.

For a second-year player like Kyle Williams, this is a golden opportunity to speed up his timeline and fulfill his coach’s high expectations. If Williams can secure more opportunities, he offers the type of home-run ceiling to keep this New England offense explosive through the first few weeks of the season.