AFC Championship at Denver
Julian Edelman took his first snaps since Week 10, and seemed to have no limitations, putting up really solid 10-100 line off a team high 16 targets. The sledding gets slightly tougher this weekend with the matchup in Denver, the fourth stingiest defense to opposing WRs via aFPA. This is the second week Patriots' wideouts have faced a top ten aFPA matchup, and Edelman fared well last week, inspiring some degree of confidence for this weekend. Partly based off team and QB play alone (as well as his role in the offense obviously), we have Edelman as our top receiver option this weekend.
Week 19 vs Kansas City
Julian Edelman finished 2015 as a top-10 WR in points per game, and figures to take the field again this weekend for the first time since Week 10. With the time off, and a tough matchup versus the eighth ranked aFPA, we have Edelman as a fringe WR1.
Week 10 at New York Giants
In Week 9, Edelman put up a 5-55-1 line on the day, which has been typical of his last month. Seeing between eight and ten targets a game over the last four week, he has five and seven catches every week. With no yardage total below fifty and averaging a TD per game, Edelman has been the model of consistency in real and fake football. In a matchup against one of the bottom-5 most generous aFPA matchups for WRs, we once again have Edelman as a top010 WR option. Continue to have him in your lineups with confidence.
Week 9 vs Washington
Julian Edelman turned nine Week 8 targets into a very nice 7-81-2 line, good for WR6 on the weekend. Through only seven games, Edelman has five games over 80 yards and has scored in four. With 52-584-6 already on the season, Edelman is WR5 on the year. Edelman is a WR1 option this weekend, as he is every week at this point.
Week 8 vs Miami
Fantasy owners may have been disappointed with Julian Edelman's 5-54 line in Week 7, but they should also realize he played 99 percent of the snaps and saw the second most team targets (9). While the Patriots have plenty of mouths to feed on offense, Edelman's snap share and target volume continue to be indicative of an every week fantasy starter. We have Edelman as a solid WR2 this weekend, in any league size or scoring format.
Week 7 vs New York Jets
After a strong start to last week's game, Julian Edelman suffered a finger injury which plagued him throughout the duration of the game. He was able to finish the game, and still put up a respectable 6-50-1 line for fantasy owners. Edelman has not appeared on the Week Seven injury report.
His opponent this weekend, the Jets, have been very stingy to opposing WRs, ranking 7th in standard aFPA, and even higher in PPR. Given the efficiency of the Patriots offense and Edelman's heavy involvement this season, we still have Edelman as a top-10 play regardless of scoring format. While there is some cause for hesitation in his matchup this weekend, Edelman should nonetheless be in your lineups, as usual.
Week 5 at Dallas
With 29 receptions through the first three weeks of the season and a 79-percent snap share, Edelman's offensive role speaks to a player who should be in almost every lineup week-in and week-out. Julian Edelman has perfected the Wes Welker role so fully, its now just known as the Julian Edelman role. Averaging top-10 WR numbers early on, Edelman is one of our top WR options this weekend. He is our WR7, with a bump up to WR2 in PPR.
Week 5 vs Jacksonville
Julian Edelman improved upon his 11-97-0 line in Week 1, with an 11-97-2 line in Week 2. Eerie. While there is no question teammate Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski is the more talented and accomplished player, Edelman does currently have a NFL leading 31 targets to Gronk's 21. This pace may not continue, but it does speak to Edelman's integral role in what might be one of the best 2015 NFL offenses.
This weekend we have Edelman as a top 10 WR in standard leagues, and top 5 WR in PPR leagues. Fantasy owners would do well to ride this streak out.
Week 2 at BUF
Leading the team in snaps and targets, Edelman appears locked in as Tom Brady's go to target, catching 11 of 12 targets for a very nice 11-97 line. Depending on your league size and scoring system, we have Edelman as a low-end WR1 to solid WR2. While he clearly has more value in PPR leagues, we expect every Edelman to have him in their lineups in Week Two.
Week 1 vs Pittsburgh
In shallow standard-scoring leagues, Julian Edelman kicks off the season ranked as a high-end WR2. He is a WR1 in any other format. Between fellow WR Brandon LaFell's PUP status, the questions surrounding the NEP backfield and the weak Steelers secondary, we suggest rolling with Edelman with confidence in Week 1.
