Brandon Tate (1 Viewer)

[LittlePhatty]

I'm curious to see if Tate's expanded role on the offense means a reduction in his PR/KR work.

It might. In my return yards league he is WR#6, but over half of his points have come from the 600+ return yards and two return TDs.He obviously gets a bump up in normal leagues if the Patriots use him as a Moss replacement. But in return leagues his production will probably go down. Julian Edelman has returned kicks for the Patriots before, and Welker too.

 

[mental]

I'm curious to see if Tate's expanded role on the offense means a reduction in his PR/KR work.

If Welker's PR usage is any clue, I'd say Tate will keep most of his return duties.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

I'm curious to see if Tate's expanded role on the offense means a reduction in his PR/KR work.

If Welker's PR usage is any clue, I'd say Tate will keep most of his return duties.

He hasn't handled any of the PR duties this year only KR.

 

[mental]

I'm curious to see if Tate's expanded role on the offense means a reduction in his PR/KR work.

If Welker's PR usage is any clue, I'd say Tate will keep most of his return duties.

He hasn't handled any of the PR duties this year only KR.

Let me clarify that: Welker has a huge role in the NE offense and was, until his injury, also the main PR (Faulk and Edelman got a few too). Given that NE was willing to use (a healthy) Welker on ST, my feeling is that they'll be willing to do the same with Tate.

 

[SSOG]

Much better now. He's the #4 WR in my point system and now with Moss gone, that can only go up. I see a Desean Jackson type possibly. Lots of big plays that are hard to predict for regular formats but with the KR as insurance, he's a must start.

It can't "only go up". He's averaging a kickoff return TD every other game. He's not going to finish this season with 8 kickoff return TDs, so his return scoring is going to decline in coming weeks.With that said, the bigger role in the offense certainly does bode well for his prospects of finishing this season as a high-quality starting WR.

What I meant was TD's are scored as TD's regardless in my league but return yards are worth half what receiving yards are. So more chance at receiving yards while keeping the return gig should only improve his situation.

I betcha Tate averages fewer PPG going forward than he did over the last 4 games, though. Tate's averaging 150 kickoff return yards per game right now. Realistically, he's probably only going to average 80 per game going forward. He'd need to see his receiving yards increase by 35 per game to cover the difference, and I don't see that happening. That would be an 1100-receiving-yard pace. Tate's also not going to average a TD every other game from here on out, either.I think Moss's trade is good news for Tate, but even with that, I expect him to cool off from his hot 4-game start.

This almost always seems to end up being the tradeoff.

Not really. The truly electric returners almost always remain full-time returners on one type of kick or the other. Desean Jackson is a full-time punt returner, Devin Hester is a full-time punt returner, Wes Welker is a full-time punt returner, Eddie Royal is a full-time punt returner, Percy Harvin is a full-time kick returner, etc. Seeing as Brandon Tate is the NCAA record holder for most career return yards, and seeing as he's currently the top KO returner in the NFL, I don't see New England cutting his return work.

 

[ThePittbully]

I wouldn't expect a large increase in production, he was already starting opposite moss on quote a few plays. I do think he's quite a talent, and a must add in dynasty, but this is essentially his rookie season and the patriots have a lot of weapons so I would temper expectations in non return yardage leagues, especially without ppr.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

Any ideas if the Ravens will actually kick to him - I see the Broncos only had 2 KR opps - despite the ravens scoring 31 pts.