The Patriots swung a trade for Martellus Bennett yesterday, a move which could signal the return of a two-tight end offensive attack that New England hasn't had since Aaron Hernandez. Good news for Brady and the Patriots, but probably bad news for the team's No. 2 wideout.
Over the last three seasons, with New England employing a mix of Michael Hoomanawanui, Tim Wright and Scott Chandler at No. 2 tight end, the team was able to put Danny Amendola, Brandon LaFell and Amendola again onto the fantasy map, for a time. Amendola wasn't always healthy in his two seasons in the No. 2 role.
In those three seasons, however, New England's 2nd-best wideout averaged 745 yards. The previous three years, with Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez both out there, New England didn't have a No. 2 reach 750 yards, and their 2nd-best wideout averaged just 548 yards.
The Patriots, it's true, had a strong No. 2 just once in the last six years. But it seems even less likely with Bennett in the fold.
Either way, though, even if he stays in New England, he probably won't be a 2016 fantasy factor.
New England's No. 2 wide receiver production relative to No. 2 tight end production over the last six years is shown below. Hernandez was with the team from 2010-2012.
| PATRIOTS RECEIVERS, 2010-2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Gronk | No. 2 TE | No. 1 WR | No. 2 WR |
| 2010 | 546 | 563 | 848 | 706 |
| 2011 | 1327 | 910 | 1569 | 702 |
| 2012 | 790 | 483 | 911 | 235 |
| 2013 | 592 | 136 | 1056 | 633 |
| 2014 | 1124 | 259 | 972 | 953 |
| 2015 | 1176 | 259 | 692 | 648 |
--Andy Richardson
