Patriot Receivers on Clearance

Tom Brady is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. I think he's the best or second best next to Elway. Yet all his receivers going so late in the fantasy football drafts.

Tom Brady is going to get a lot of yards thrown and a lot of touchdowns. He always has. He always will. This year, people are saying he has no one to throw to. When has it been any different? His number one receiver for the last six years was Wes Welker, a guy who got cut from the Dolphins because he wasn't good enough. Tom Brady turned him into a possible hall of famer.

This year, no one is drafting his receivers again. In a 10 team action draft, ESPN ranks the three top bronco receivers at a combine $60! (Thomas $28, Welker $19, and Decker $13.) As opposed to the Patriots top four receivers who total just $29. ($14 Amendola, $12 Gronkowski, $2 Thompkins, $1 Sudfeld.) I believe Peyton Manning and Tom Brady will finish with similar stats. At least one receiver on the patriots will get a lot more fantasy points than they are projected.

Let's look at the options.

Danny Amendola is the most talented wide receiver Tom Brady has ever played with (next to Randy Moss of course). Unlike Welker in Miami, he was actually making a name for himself as a 'pre-patriot' with the Rams. However, he is still going very late in the fantasy drafts. People take Tom Brady's #1 wide receiver after players like Wes Welker, Reggie Wayne, Mike Wallace, Dwayne Bowe, and Hakeem Nicks.... Yikes!

Amendola has a much higher floor and a MUCH higher ceiling than those duds. Amendola could easily be a top 10 receiver this year. He's on track right now to be Tom Brady's #1 wide receiver. If he stays that way all year, he will easily put up Wes Welker type numbers or better. And getting him in the same round as Mike Wallace and Dwayne Bowe is a steal. I take Amendola in round 5. Even when I don't take him in five, he'll sometimes slip to me in round six. People avoid him, and you should not.

I've already done a whole post on Gronk (http://keelesports.blogspot.com/2013/09/gronk.html), so I'll keep this real short. I like Rob Gronkowski a lot. I like him in round six or seven, but often people will take him earlier than that. I don't want to use a top 3 pick on such a risk, even a risk with a reward like Gronk. If he's there round 6, I'll usually grab him. If he slips to 7, I take him laughing.

Kenbrell Thompkins has impressed in training camp. If you do well on the patriots, Tom Brady knows it and keeps feeding you. Thompkins is set up to be the #2 receiver this year, taking Brandon Lloyds spot. Last year, Lloyd was going in round 4 or 5 in 10 team drafts. This year, Thompkins is going in round 13 or 14. I usually take him round 12 or even 11 just to be sure I get him.

Around round 12, people are starting to waste picks on players like Michael Floyd, Fred Jackson, Knowshon Moreno, Jermichael Finley, Matt Schaub, Isaiah Pead, and Justin Blackmon. Probably all of these players will never play on your starting roster and you'll end up dropping them. Thompkins has way more potential than anyone you'll find this late in drafts. (And think about this: If Amendola gets hurts again and Gronk comes back later instead of sooner, Thompkins could be Brady's #1 receiver. That's a strong #2 WR at worst!)

Lastly is Zach Sudfeld.  Even if he loses all this touches when Gronkowski gets back, he is still worth the round 14 pick. You can get him in the last few rounds. Sudfeld often goes undrafted. If you already drafted, check your waivers for Sudfeld. Here is a guy that is taking Aaron Hernandez spot, and temporarily filling in for Gronkowski. In round 14 or 15, he's a high reward no risk guy. Rounds 14 and 15 are usually a crap shoot anyway, and getting  a 6'8 TE on the Patriots that's going to start week one? Count me in! As long as he doesn't have another fumble like pre-season, Brady will throw to him a lot.

Now I'm not encouraging you to go out and pick Tompkins and Sudfeld in rounds 5 and 6. They do have uncertainty and risk with them. But what a deal they are at the price they have. Go get all four Patriots receivers if others shy away from them and win your fantasy football league.