Fantasy Index

Factoid

Aaron Dobson / Patriots drafted wide receivers

Aaron Dobson was a healthy scratch for the second week in a row last night. An intriguing sleeper in the offseason now looks an awful lot like a bust. That's become a trend for the Patriots, who don't seem to be able to select wide receivers in the annual draft. (Maybe they've given up; they didn't select one until the seventh round this season.) They cut Josh Boyce, drafted two rounds after Dobson, in the preseason.

Going back 20 years (so, a few years before Belichick took over as head coach), New England has selected 19 wideouts in the annual draft. Just three success stories in that time: first-rounder Terry Glenn, second-rounder Deion Branch and current No. 1 Julian Edelman (who maybe shouldn't count since he played quarterback in college). David Givens had a couple of serviceable years, but even he never reached 900 yards or scored more than 6 TDs in a season.

Chad Jackson, Taylor Price, Brandon Tate -- fantasy coaches can recall getting excited about all of these players in the preseason in past years, thinking they might develop into Tom Brady's top wide receiver. Sure looks like Dobson will turn out to be just the latest disappointment.

New England's drafted wideouts since 1994 are presented below.

PATRIOTS DRAFTED WIDEOUTS, 1994-2014
YearRdPlayerCollege
20147Jeremy GallonMichigan
20132Aaron DobsonMarshall
20134Josh Boyce Texas Christian
20127Jeremy EbertNorthwestern
20103Taylor PriceOhio
20093Brandon Tate North Carolina
20097Julian EdelmanKent State
20085Matt SlaterUCLA
20062Chad JacksonFlorida
20045P.K. SamFlorida State
20032Bethel Johnson Texas A&M
20022Deion BranchLouisville
20027David GivensNotre Dame
19997Sean MoreyBrown
19982Tony SimmonsWisconsin
19976Tony GaiterMiami (Fla.)
19961Terry GlennOhio State
19942Kevin LeeAlabama
19946Darrell MitchellTexas Tech

--Andy Richardson

10 Reader Comments:

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2014-09-30T20:53:15Z
The telling stat, I think, comes from guys selected in the second and third rounds. When you draft players there, you're expecting they'll be good. On Bill Belichick's watch, they hit on their first second-rounder -- Branch. Since that time, they're 0-5.

Christopher Froba

Blackwood, NJ
2014-09-30T21:06:57Z
I think that it is time for the Belichick show to end.

Alan Satterlee

Weddington, NC
2014-09-30T21:50:19Z
That is brutal.

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2014-09-30T21:52:01Z
If the Patriots don't want Belichick, there are about 28 other teams that will be happy to take him off their hands.

Richard Loppnow

Ephrata, WA
2014-09-30T22:35:15Z
I'm not that sure, Ian. Coaches seem to have expiration dates, too. Whether they get stuck in their ways, lose energy, or perhaps something or some things else. Looks to me like the Pats have run the exact same offense now for 5 years running.

ANDY RICHARDSON

Port Chester, NY
2014-09-30T22:43:12Z
I agree things look bad for New England right now, but it's still the favorite to win the East and played in the AFC Championship a year ago. Too soon to say this team is done.

Shaun Hawkins

Albany, GA
2014-10-01T00:35:49Z
More important than WRs is how they have done drafting offensive lineman. If Brady has time, he can find anybody, as evidenced by his numbers year after year throwing to the likes of these guys drafted above. Their problem so far this year is protection.

tavis medrano

San Gabriel, CA
2014-10-01T04:35:50Z
Before we burry BB lets not forget that in 2010 he selected gronk and Hernandez in the 2 and 4 rounds. A year later he transformed their offense to a rapid fire attacking scheme in which the tight ends ran the deep routes down the seam and the wr did the short work. It resulted in a 15-4 season and Super Bowl appearance.
Unfortunately while others in the nfl are still trying to duplicate this offense BB can't since those two TE have been injured and incarcerated since then.

Phil Eichorn

Rocky River, OH
2014-10-01T09:11:12Z
This is an interesting thread as is the one on second half season scoring. I'd love to see some comparisons with their offensive lines for these years including how many Pro Bowl players and how many rookies started and ended the season. Watching Brady is not enjoyable. I think its mostly because he has less than 2 seconds post snap and cannot step through his throws. Shoddy receivers means single coverage and more blitzing against a less than polished offensive line.

MARTIN DONNELLY

Elmhurst, IL
2014-10-01T11:39:32Z
Fantasy Index - special assistants, receiver personnel?
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