As the New England Patriots enjoy a well-earned bye week, it is hard to find many obvious tweaks or changes the franchise needs to make in the coming days. Sitting atop the AFC playoff picture with one of the league's most exciting young offensive cores, it is simply difficult to find any obvious changes needed. With that said, there is one clear offensive move that should be made: benching backup receiver Kyle Williams. This has less to do with Williams and more with the snaps he is taking up while playing at an average level.
Quarterback Drake Maye has done an incredible job spreading the ball around with DeMario Douglas, Stefon Diggs, Hunter Henry, Kayshon Boutte, and Mack Hollins all sitting over 400 yards on the season. However, if there is one minor critique of the group, it is that Williams managed to catch 5 of his 13 targets for 143 yards. While the potential is there, it is time for the Patriots to bench the pass catcher and explore a more exciting option in the season's final games.
Receiver Efton Chism III was one of the darlings of New England's preseason, having some fans go so far as to compare the undrafted rookie to Patriots legend Julian Edelman. While this is likely a bit hyperbolic, there was a good reason that fans were making the comparison and were so excited to see the playmaker make the roster.
Patriots Must Bench Kyle Williams Giving Explosive Rookie Efton Chism a Real Chance
It's no secret that this New England team is bringing back memories of some of the early Tom Brady rosters. A group of players who defied expectations and found a way to make an unexpected run more than once. To achieve this greatness, you need surprise contributors and just a little bit of luck. For the Patriots, finding surprise pieces will require making a difficult move and benching a player who is already playing limited snaps.
Still, it is the right decision and will allow you to put Chism in the lineup with the hope it provides another surprise spark in the season's final games. The absolute worst-case scenario here is that the moment is far too big and the Pats are forced to turn back to Williams. You can always find another answer or pivot back if it is needed; however, there is no question that Williams should be benched and Chism given a chance.
This Pats roster has an undeniable magic to it that seems to be just a piece or two short of being clear Super Bowl favorites. With this in mind, it makes sense to give Chism a chance in hopes of finding that piece and moving an underwhelming player in Williams to the bench.