Is Kayshon Boutte secretly the best wide receiver in the NFL?
Probably not, but this set of stats sure makes the New England Patriots' wideout seem like one of the most underrated stars in football.
The numbers were initially pointed out by Denver reporter Benjamin Albright on X, and it's true:
Every catch Boutte made in the regular season went for either a first down or a touchdown.
In the postseason so far, Boutte has just one catch that hasn't gone for either a first down or touchdown.
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During the regular season, Boutte made 33 catches. Of those, 27 went for first downs, and the other six wound up in the end zone.
During the playoffs, Boutte has five first-down catches, one touchdown grab (the one-handed catch pictured above) and a singular grab that ended up short of the sticks.
It's quite the remarkable feat. Even big-play receivers sometimes make catches that don't result in either of these things.
One example: Lions wideout Jameson Williams had 65 catches this season -- 49 for first downs, seven for touchdowns and nine for neither.
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Apparently, Boutte's luck ran out just a tad on that one catch this postseason that didn't get there.
But still, it's incredible. Boutte has emerged in a big way for Drake Maye and the Patriots this season.
If New England advances to the Super Bowl this weekend, Boutte will surely play a key role.
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