Wes Welker

[tcwhy]

I just wanted to get the cafe's opinion on Wes Welker. Not exactly what anyone expected considering where he was being drafted. Do you all think McDaniel's was intentionally not going to him because of his contract situation (the offense moving on to other things) or was it just the gameplan that day? It certainly seems like there are a lot more mouths to feed between Gronk, Hernandez, Lloyd, Ridley, and Welker.

[ampant]

I don't think they are going to intentionally not throw him the ball because of his contract situation. However, I think his days of 100+ receptions are over.

I think he'll probably finish around 75-85 receptions on the year with 5-8tds. He is not their primary deep threat (Lloyd). He is not their primary End Zone threat (Gronk/Hernandez). And their Running game is improved. Ridley is doing a much better job than Law Firm did, so they don't rely on him as much to move the chains. He also was only in on about 75-80% of the snaps week 1 . . . because he's essentially their #4 receiver.

I was avoiding him in all drafts this year for where he was going. He will have a solid but unspectacular year IMHO.

[petedog9]

This week will be very telling IMO

Per Roto:

Patriots OC Josh McDaniels attributed Wes Welker's reduced Week 1 role to a game plan specific to facing the Titans defense.
The three receptions and 14 yards were Welker's lowest ever in Patriots uniform for a game in which he was not injured. The Pats are notorious in fantasy circles for tailoring their backfield game plans to the opponent. It now seems as if McDaniels will be going even more it with the passing game. The emergence of Stevan Ridley as a consistent ground threat also reduces the need for quick strikes to Welker in an effort to sustain drives.

[Sex Panther]

No one was expecting 120+/1500+ again, otherwise he wouldn't have lasted until the 3rd and 4th round in redrafts as the.

He had a lousy game by his standards. Plain and simple.

No reason to panic after 1 week.

Interesting read on the topic...

http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists ... elker.html

[drhanl]

I am very skeptical that NE will be able to run the ball like that every week. Welker's main impact, is moving the chains. They didn't need him to move the chains, because they were playing one of the worst run D's in the NFL.

Will Welker catch 122 balls for 1500 yards, very unlikely. But, will he get 100 for 1000 yards, I would bet probably so.

Gotta think, if Brady throws for 4500 yards, that leaves room for at least 4 1000 yard receivers. I still think Welker gets to that level. And, for him to get 1000 yards, he will need nearly 100 catches.

Having said that, I'm trying to trade him as we speak.

[pokfunatu]

I think they went away from him for punishment for doing the lame depends commercial. Definitely needs a better contract if he is stooping to this level should have went with Viagra.

[Apoplectic]

Lets hope he gets some more targets this time around. Unfortunately he was one of my keepers.

[bigh0rt]

Lets hope he gets some more targets this time around. Unfortunately he was one of my keepers.

No reason to expect less than double digit targets with Hernandez out.

[daullaz]

Lets hope he gets some more targets this time around. Unfortunately he was one of my keepers.

No reason to expect less than double digit targets with Hernandez out.

I'm still a little worried. Welker has been used in essence as a running game in the past, with the Pats peppering him with short throws to pick up yardage on early downs early in the game, then using a guy like BGE to salt the game away in the second half. If it turns out that Ridley is that new (conventional) running game, Welker is going to see a lot less work, esp. if the Pats consider Edelman the better blocker of the two. Hernandez is a mid-range to deep threat, I think, so his absence will mean more looks for Gronk/Lloyd if anything.

[petedog9]

I think there is a few things going on here. First is a bit of a punishment for the holdout. I also beleive that after this year, they will NOT resign and and move on with what they have. They have also developped a power running game with Ridley. In year's past, Welker was the running game with his short passes. The Patriots have changed their identity in a way and I am not sure Welker is going to be a big part of that.