The Patriots have a number of fantasy football draft options this year, as names like Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman, Tim Wright, Aaron Dobson along with Brandon LaFell and Kenbrell Thompkins are solid picks and this comes as Tom Brady is looking to have another big season for the New England and they are expected to once again be the division winners and some of those players could be great draft picks in PPR leagues for 2014.
The Patriots are hoping for a big season from Rob Gronkowski, but he has had injury issues over the past few years and that could give way to Tim Wright and other players. Fantasy owners should look at Amendola as a solid option as long as he can stay healthy and Julian Edelman should also be a valuable fantasy pick in PPR leagues after the strong season he had in 2013. The Patriots have a young group of receivers and this year Thompkins and Dobson are expected to get more targets, while LaFell could be a solid draft pick in deeper leagues.
Amendola is a player to watch, as he has had injury issues in the past, but when he is on the field he can produce and that is what the Patriots are hoping for. Last season in 12 games Amendola had 54 catches for 633 yards and three touchdowns and he should be in line for more if he can stay healthy. The season before he played in 11 games and made 63 catches and his best season came in 2010 when he played in all 16 games and had 85 catches on the season and that is what the Pats are hoping for this year.
Last year Julian Edelman stepped up and he was the main reason why the offense did not miss Rob Gronkowski and Amendola as much. Last year he was tops on the team in targets and he also had a career high 105 catches for 1056 yards to go over 100 and 1000 for the first time in his career. Edelman should be a strong option in PPR leagues and he has turned into the favorite for Brady and that gives him the chance to be a top performing receiver this season.
Dobson is part of the young group with Thompkins and he comes in after having a solid season with 37 catches in 12 games last year. Dobson could step up into that number three spot this year and that could mean more targets from Brady. Thompkins was considered a major sleeper last season and he could be in the same boat again after making 32 catches last season for 466 yards. Thompkins still has some development to go, but along with Dobson the team has some solid young WRs.
Tim Wright is a major sleeper and it's not only because of the health of Rob Gronkowski. Wright has the chance to be a solid fantasy player with or without Gronk healthy, as he has the athleticism to lineup as a wideout and in spots where Aaron Hernandez used to be. Last season he had five touchdown catches and also added 54 receptions for 571 yards while playing in the worst passing offense in the league.