Wide receiver Chris Hogan returned to action after missing four games with a right shoulder injury, and that had a trickle-down effect on the New England Patriots' depth chart.

"It was good to be back out there with the guys, and be playing," said Hogan. "I missed being out there with them."

Hogan went right back to his role as a top-2 receiver alongside Brandin Cooks, which pushed Phillip Dorsett down the depth chart. Dorsett didn't play an offensive snap, joining backup quarterback Brian Hoyer as the only players on the 46-man roster to not play.

The bad news was Hogan was targeted five times and had one catch for one yard in the game. Those numbers should obviously improve, but without showing fantasy production, Hogan remains risky for lineups especially during fantasy playoffs. He played on 55 snaps, second only at WR to Brandin Cooks' 60.

Chris Hogan made his way to South Florida with the Patriots on Sunday. And not to watch.

Tom Brady and the Patriots offense have gone without Hogan since he injured his shoulder late in a Week 8 win over the Chargers. It's unclear how much he'll play, but after four practices this week in Foxboro, he's going to give it a go Monday night against the Dolphins.

Related players: Phillip Dorsett, Brandin Cooks, Danny Amendola

Hogan appears to be a risky fantasy play, though. Obviously we'll know his official status about an hour or so before the game starts, but it looks like he's going to go. Hogan could also give the offense a huge boost with TE Rob Gronkowski suspended. His return potentially hurts the snap count for Dorsett who had taken over the WR2 spot at least in terms of snap counts.

Patriots’ TE Rob Gronkowski is not expected to play tonight vs Bucs, per source.

Related players: Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Dwayne Allen, Jacob Hollister.

We'll know for certain once inactives are released at around 7 pm ET. Gronk's absence will boost the outlook of Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan and Danny Amendola, and Dwayne Allen figures to be more involved in the offense than he has been thus far this season. Jacob Hollister would serve as the No. 2 tight end. Last year, Martellus Bennett was actually more productive with Gronk in the lineup, so don't expect any miracles out of Allen.

Phillip Dorsett played very well Sunday, hauling in three passes for 68 yards.
He left the game late with a knee injury and did not return.

Related players: Chris Hogan, Brandin Cooks, Danny Amendola, Matt Slater, Malcolm Mitchell

The story said Dorsett didn't speak after the game so for now we have no timetable for the injury. The story also mentioned that Cooks is the team's only top, healthy WR right now as Hogan was also dealing with an injury after the game.

The Patriots will only have three wide receivers active Sunday against the Saints: Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan and Phillip Dorsett, and respected Patriots beat writer at ESPN, Mike Reiss, expects Hogan to play a heavy snap count.

"I expect Chris Hogan to play close to every offensive snap Sunday at New Orleans," Reiss wrote.

Related players: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Brandin Cooks

Hogan already played 73 of 81 snaps Week 1, but he only caught one of his five targets. If it doesn't happen for him this week, then when will it? The Saints are a much more beatable defense for Hogan and this offense this week, but he's still, at best, the third passing option behind Rob Gronkowski and Brandin Cooks. For that reason, we still don't consider Hogan a WR2 play this week but a FLEX play option with room for more from there.

Source: The Patriots are placing WR Malcolm Mitchell on Injured Reserve.

Related players: Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Phillip Dorsett

It's not clear at this point if Mitchell will have a chance to return this season, but this is clearly an upgrade for the other receivers in New England and might explain why the Patriots traded for Phillip Dorsett. Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola and Dorsett get a bump.

I pretty much expected Willie Snead to settle in as the New Orleans Saints' No. 2 receiver after they traded Brandin Cooks this offseason.

But as this summer has gone on, it's starting to look like veteran newcomer Ted Ginn Jr. might push him for that unofficial title -- or, better yet, that the Saints might not have anyone who is considered a No. 2 receiver behind Michael Thomas.

The story went on to say the Saints love to spread the ball around. Snead has had a very quiet summer, with just three catches for 18 yards in a total of three preseason games. There are other hints - like Ginn being listed ahead of Snead on the Saints' unofficial depth chart and Snead playing deep into the fourth quarter of New Orleans' second preseason game.

The Patriots are obviously going to have to adjust after the injury to wide receiver Julian Edelman, but newcomer Brandin Cooks already figured to be a big part of their offensive plan.

Acquired in a trade with the Saints this offseason, Cooks said the job got tougher without Edelman (who suffered a torn ACL in their most recent preseason game), but he knew he was walking into an environment where adaptability was key.

“Very unfortunate, a guy like that; a warrior who works so hard,” Cooks said of Edelman, via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. “At the same time, we know we have to get ready, to keep the wheels turning and do what we have to do to make up for that.”

Cooks says he feels fresh but is still learning the demands of the Pats offense. We have Cooks ranked 12th on our list of WRs.