Over the last four weeks, Jimmy Graham has become fantasy gold. The tight end has developed into the most reliable pass catcher for the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees is looking his way more times than not. With 548 receiving yards in the past four games, the tight end knows the only person to thank for the success is Brees.
Graham has tied an NFL record with four-straight 100-yard receiving games. The tight end has gained the biggest spotlight as Brees and the Saints continue to put together a return-to-form season. One reason Graham believes he continues to see success is BRees' ability to pick apart the opposing defense.
"Normally, Drew sees it before they even do it," said Graham, via the Advocate.com. "He alerts me during the week, or sometimes I come to him with questions like, 'What was that safety doing?' He'll be like, 'Listen, they're just making that up ... and this is what they're going to do and this is how you need to beat it.' That's just the kind of quarterback he is. He sees it all and helps me to be a better tight end."
New Orleans will hit up the New England Patriots on Sunday for a big matchups of the quarterbacks. Graham will be vying for his fifth-straight 100-yard game, a mark he would then share with current Falcons tight end, Tony Gonzalez. Just last week, he became the first tight end to win Player of the Monthafter he put up six touchdowns and averaged 17.0 yards per carry.
Graham has picked the right time to start putting up big numbers. The Saints receiver is currently in the final year of his contract and is expecting to get offered a new deal by New Orleans. ProFootballTalk.com is reporting the Saints have yet to even begin negotiations with the tight end which could really hurt them in the long run.
Graham was drafted the same year as Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. They both have received extended contracts, leaving Graham the lone man out. If the tight end continues to put up big numbers and prove to Brees' favorite target, he could hit the market and command top dollar. New Orleans will then have to consider using the franchise tag.
The Patriots have allowed opponents to throw an average of 228.6 yards per game on them. The team will likely place cornerback Aqib Talib on Graham which could mean big games for the remaining New Orleans receivers.
