Another year, another big season expected for the defending Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots.
With what seems like an embarrassment of riches, fantasy football owners will be keen on snatching a few Pats for their team on their quest for bragging rights.
Here are the top five Patriots you should draft this upcoming season:
1) Brandin Cooks, WR
Whenever Tom Brady is throwing you the ball, good things are bound to happen. For wide receiver Brandin Cooks, it’s no different despite coming over from one of the most potent passing offenses in football with the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees.
However, the speedy downfield threat is going to offer Brady the big-play option and offer a change of pace from Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola.
Given the amount of options Brady will have to throw to, Cooks’ numbers might be inconsistent, but his raw skill set is too much to pass on in a Brady-led offense.
2) Tom Brady, QB
I’m not necessarily sure what I can write about Tom Brady that hasn’t been said before.
I mean, if you don’t want him, then maybe you should just delete your team and log off the computer for a while. He could play until he’s 57 and I’d still probably take a chance on him in the fourth round of my fantasy draft.
3) Rob Gronkowski, TE
Gronk’s back is all healed up, he has a clean bill of health and has no limits on playing time.
As Brady’s ultimate safety blanket and one of the most dominant pass catchers in football, Gronkowski is a top-20 option in any draft that can put up wide receiver numbers.
Obviously, the only reservations fantasy owners might have is his ability to stay on the field given his injury history, which could hurt his draft stock.
4) Julian Edelman, WR
Julian Edelman is Brady’s best friend. Seriously, it’s basically a bromance.
The receiver’s ability to work within the slot has benefitted Brady so much over the years and fantasy owners too, especially those in PPR leagues.
In the last three seasons in which he’s played in 10 games or more, Edelman has caught at least 92 passes and put up a pair of 1,000-yard seasons. While Cooks’ arrival might take some targets away from Edelman, he’ll still play an integral part in the Patriots’ offense.
5) Mike Gillislee, RB
Surprising to see Mike Gillislee on this list, right?
Well, the fact of the matter is that he will likely be the Patriots’ go-to back come the fall after the departure of LeGarrette Blount.
While he’s only appeared in 23 games since 2013, Gillislee has averaged 5.6 yards per carry over his career. If he gets a regular workload, you’re looking at a 1,000-yard rusher.
