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Doug Gabriel=Brady's #1 Target (1 Viewer)

tombonneau

tombonneau

Footballguy
As a Pats homer, it's my opinion that we are witnessing the birth of DGabriel as Brady's go-to target. Its really only 5 quarters worth of data, but you can't wait around to make a move until it is obvious. He might still be on some waiver wires, if so, grab him.

He's taken in both my leagues but I plan on targetting him. I think he is going to make a very solid WR3 with potential upside of lower-tier WR2.

His biggest asset IMO is he is already a proven red zone target. This is something that held back the FF value of Brady's previous target Branch.

His value could potentially slip if rook Chad Jackson is able to get his #### together and learn more than 5 plays, but until then, Gabriel looks to be the top target in that offense. Nothing but positive buzz coming out of NE about this guy.

I know people like to say Brady spreads the ball around, no wr is worth value, but I dont think that is going to be the case this year. Gabriel should get the most looks (again, unless Jackson emerges).

 
100% agreed.

I'm a Pats homer as well and I can say with assurance that Brady looks for this guy in almost every situation. Sure, he goes to Watson and the other receivers a lot, but he has a LOT of trust in Gabriel.

It seems like Gabriel never drops any key passes and gets open a LOT, Brady sure likes the guy right now with no Deion on the field.

 
For now, but agree with OP that this depends on Jackson. Saw him on that end around - he looks like a physical beast. Fully expect him to be in the mix in upcoming weeks.

 
3rd Pats homer.

Also agreeing.*

* - at least until Jackson gets more up to speed. I saw some good things from him the other day. They even went to him with that WR screen, and he did more with it gan Gabriel did (I actually think Gabriel is a poor selection for that kind of play - he's fast, not overly quick).

 
JetsWillWin said:
3rd Pats homer.

Also agreeing.*

* - at least until Jackson gets more up to speed. I saw some good things from him the other day. They even went to him with that WR screen, and he did more with it gan Gabriel did (I actually think Gabriel is a poor selection for that kind of play - he's fast, not overly quick).
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Bingo.
 
I just can't see Gabriel as a #2 WR. In 2005 Beion Branch went only 998/5 as Brady's #1 target. Brady does spread it around and had tossed for a league leading 4,110 yards total.

I expect Gabriel who's new to the team in 2006 to do worse than Branch 2005. Let's say 10% worse (might be being generous) which would be only 899 yards. That would put him around WR #28, which is not a good WR #2 value.

 
SickThing said:
I just can't see Gabriel as a #2 WR. In 2005 Beion Branch went only 998/5 as Brady's #1 target. Brady does spread it around and had tossed for a league leading 4,110 yards total. I expect Gabriel who's new to the team in 2006 to do worse than Branch 2005. Let's say 10% worse (might be being generous) which would be only 899 yards. That would put him around WR #28, which is not a good WR #2 value.
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Good point, but I would also say that Gabriel already looks like a better red zone target. I believe Branch never had more than 5 TDs in a season.
 
SickThing said:
I just can't see Gabriel as a #2 WR. In 2005 Beion Branch went only 998/5 as Brady's #1 target. Brady does spread it around and had tossed for a league leading 4,110 yards total. I expect Gabriel who's new to the team in 2006 to do worse than Branch 2005. Let's say 10% worse (might be being generous) which would be only 899 yards. That would put him around WR #28, which is not a good WR #2 value.
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Problem with comparing this year to last as far as Pats WR touches is that both Givens & Branch are gone.And while IMO Branch>Gabriel, Givens>>Caldwell.So while last year you really had a 1a/1b situation with the Pats wr and catches were distributed as such, the talent level of this year's Pats is going to dictate a more typical WR1 & WR2 split.That's what is going to make Gabriel more valuable than previous NE WRs (again, with the caveat of if/when Chad Jackson comes around).
 
tombonneau said:
SickThing said:
I just can't see Gabriel as a #2 WR. In 2005 Beion Branch went only 998/5 as Brady's #1 target. Brady does spread it around and had tossed for a league leading 4,110 yards total. I expect Gabriel who's new to the team in 2006 to do worse than Branch 2005. Let's say 10% worse (might be being generous) which would be only 899 yards. That would put him around WR #28, which is not a good WR #2 value.
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Problem with comparing this year to last as far as Pats WR touches is that both Givens & Branch are gone.And while IMO Branch>Gabriel, Givens>>Caldwell.So while last year you really had a 1a/1b situation with the Pats wr and catches were distributed as such, the talent level of this year's Pats is going to dictate a more typical WR1 & WR2 split.That's what is going to make Gabriel more valuable than previous NE WRs (again, with the caveat of if/when Chad Jackson comes around).
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I don't disagree with that. But I also think Brady's numbers this year continue to fall short of last year and that factors in too.Edit: typo
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It is what it is said:
New England has been looking for a bigger WR like Doug Gabriel as a redzone threat for quite some time now. And Gabriel has far more going for him than past Patriot big WR rejects as in JJ Stokes and Donald Hayes. I don't see another WR on their roster right now as a threat to steal any of Gabriel's looks. Chad Jackson is an unpolished rookie and Troy Brown & Reche Caldwell cannot get any seperation. There is absolutely no reason why Gabriel can't go 800 and 7 the rest of the way. Which would make him a solid #2 WR.
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If ONLY David Terrell had worked out. :(
 
SickThing said:
I don't disagree with that. But I also think Brady's numbers this year continue to fall short of last year and that factors in too.Edit: typo
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This is a good point, and a caveat I should have mentioned in my orig. post. If the Pats continue to keep running as well as they are (and no reason to think otherwise) Brady will not nearly approach the 4000 from last year, prob. much closer to 3500.But I still see him getting the vast majority of WR touches.
 
I'm feeling like a genius for seeing his potential after week 3 and snatching him up... Let's hope I am still feeling like a genius in week 16....

 
I liked Gabriel already, but now that I'm getting to watch him more often I'm impressed with his hands. Seems very sure handed.

 
urbanhack said:
BigFishBigTeeth said:
I'm feeling like a genius for....
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for drafting him.
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:goodposting: I almost cut him after he was traded, thinking he had a much better shot at putting up decent numbers in Oak. than NE. Even if Brady spreads it around, he seems like a lock to put up 5-50 every week, which isn't bad at all for a WR3 in a PPR.
 
I said it in some other threads and will echo that here . . .

Brady throws to whomever is open. The past couple weeks it has been Gabriel. I suspect defenses will adjust and in other games it may be Watson. Or backs out of the backfield.

Gabriel will have some more decent fantasy days, but I'm not sure he can be counted on just yet . . .

 
The schedule doesn't look terrible either. There are maybe a couple tough ones, but the rest are either easy or average. For "tougher" schedules that might lend to more passing anyway.

5 - Mia

6 - BYE

7 - @Buf

8 - @Min

9 - Ind

10 - NYJ

11 - @GB

12 - Chi

13 - Det

14 - @Mia

15 - Hou

16 - @Jac

17 - @Ten

 
David Yudkin said:
I said it in some other threads and will echo that here . . .Brady throws to whomever is open. The past couple weeks it has been Gabriel. I suspect defenses will adjust and in other games it may be Watson. Or backs out of the backfield.Gabriel will have some more decent fantasy days, but I'm not sure he can be counted on just yet . . .
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Although Caldwell and/or Brown aren't getting open enough, and Watson isn't catching enough of his targets, there is enough of a distribution of passes to allow teams that attempt to double Gabriel to be punished. I see him as a strong WR3 in fantasy performance, better than Furrey, Reggie Williams, Troy Williamson, etc. Although I am picking him up, it will difficult for me to start him ahead of Isaac Bruce, Kennison and (eventually) Branch (my other options). TO and TJHouz are my WR1 and WR2, so Weeks 1-4 have been depressing, but I look forward to both my starters and my bench picking up steam.... :bye:
 
SeniorVBDStudent said:
David Yudkin said:
I said it in some other threads and will echo that here . . .Brady throws to whomever is open. The past couple weeks it has been Gabriel. I suspect defenses will adjust and in other games it may be Watson. Or backs out of the backfield.Gabriel will have some more decent fantasy days, but I'm not sure he can be counted on just yet . . .
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Although Caldwell and/or Brown aren't getting open enough, and Watson isn't catching enough of his targets, there is enough of a distribution of passes to allow teams that attempt to double Gabriel to be punished. I see him as a strong WR3 in fantasy performance, better than Furrey, Reggie Williams, Troy Williamson, etc. Although I am picking him up, it will difficult for me to start him ahead of Isaac Bruce, Kennison and (eventually) Branch (my other options). TO and TJHouz are my WR1 and WR2, so Weeks 1-4 have been depressing, but I look forward to both my starters and my bench picking up steam.... :bye:
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I think his short-term value at least is higher than Kennison (as long as Green is out) and Branch (I think he'll be more effective in the second half of the season). I'd then decide between him and Bruce based on matchups. This week I'd start Bruce without hesitation. All Ram starters should be started this week.
 
When I saw Gabriel against my Jets, I grabbed him immediately. He was targeted often and looked very tough to bring down.

I also grabbed Morris on Mon after Shaun's injury news came out on Mon for my kicker. I was expecting to just drop Gabriel later in the week, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I just had one of those gut feelings after seeing the game.

I'm glad I held on to him. He was heavily targeted again last week. He's big and physical, making tough catches. I dropped Michael Clayton for him, and I'll probably start him over guys like Williamson and Matt Jones. With Watson getting frequent double teams (and Gabriel being a target near the goal line), I think he could be a legitimate WR2/WR3 in 12 team leagues.

(And please note that I included my team details simply to give you context on how I value him, not WDIS or "was that a good move", so please avoid the snide comments.

 
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