Jabar Gaffney? (1 Viewer)

[PahtyTom]

Now settled into New England's offense, Gaffney has become their main threat when it counts most. In 2 playoff games he has 18 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown. If NE goes into next season with the same WR cast, is he turning into viable fantasy option? IMO he's at least worth a flyer now.

And if anyone can explain to me how this guy looks so great right now that would also be appreciated.

 

[PatsWillWin]

He just gets open. If he can get open, Brady can get him the ball. In the Jets game, he kept doing that comeback route and was wide open almost every time. It reminded me of when you play Madden and call that hot route because there's always a window there, lol.

But yeah - he just looks like a crips route runner and is in good tune with Brady right now.

I would also imagine that the defenses are not that concerned with covering him and that may give him more opportunities.

ETA: That being said, I can't see the Patriots going into next season with the same group of WR's.

 

[DawnBTVS]

I think he's doing great because he possesses the same skills that all the WRs need to possess for the Patriots offense: Agility (ability to cut on a dime), make the sure catch, and be dangerous after the catch.

Honestly, the WRs remind me of the 49ers WCO in that they run crisp routes and do their danger after the catch. If you watch the games, you'll often see the outside route catch ala Troy Brown, who then spins, avoiding the tackle, and scrambling up the sideline for an extra 4-6 yards.

What also impresses me is their ability to know where the first down marker is. Especially with guys like Troy Brown, you always see them make the catch, then step out of bounds a yard or two beyond the first down marker.

Also doesn't hurt that Tom Brady is their QB.

 

[prymetyme25]

As a Texans fan I watched every game he played here and I'll say this he runs excellent routes and has great hands. (Just doesnt have blazing speed) On 3rd down the guy always finds a way to get open. He is a great #2 or 3 wr. He is definitly a west coast wr. I thought that the whole time he was here. Here he was the first to be blamed for Carr's inability to read a defense. They thought he was not a big enough weapon opposite AJ. But now you are seeing that a good route runner with good hands can flourish with a real qb.

 

[PatsWillWin]

1. Gaffney/Caldwell find a way. In the last two weeks of playoff football, Gaffney and Caldwell have 30 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns. Indy's Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne: have 16 catches for 180 yards, one TD.

From Peter Kings MMQB

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

If Brady gets some decent receivers instead of the filler they have, look out

 

[Bri]

Now settled into New England's offense, Gaffney has become their main threat when it counts most. In 2 playoff games he has 18 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown. If NE goes into next season with the same WR cast, is he turning into viable fantasy option? IMO he's at least worth a flyer now.And if anyone can explain to me how this guy looks so great right now that would also be appreciated.

Gameplan and disrespect.Defenses generally can't successfully plan to take away every offensive player and instead have to leave some options open. The Chargers and Jets seemed to blow off Gaffney.Pats have two terrific talents at TE. While they don't usually produce as such, they're a concern. They've got 3 RBs to worry a D and a QB that looks like he's on his way to the HOF. Caldwell has been very good this year for the Pats. That's enough to occupy a D.I wouldn't be surprised if Gaffney's CB is told to cheat to help with the run or "play off him" "inside" to try and react to a TE nearby. Brady is sharp. If you don't cover someone or don't cover him well, he'll find him. Both the Chargers and Jets should have reacted quicker to him finding that. Instead he kept "killing" them by going to their weakness.There's no doubt they could have coverred Gaffney better, he's not Jerry Rice. They just chose not to.IMO Brady should have earned that respect already.

 

[Beaumont]

Its a combo of all these things. Everyone knew that Gaffney was mostly going to draw the single coverage. He is a very good route runner. He is not a big play receiver and is not a major threat. He knows the offense because the terminology is very similar to that run in Houston.

He is not bad; he is not great; he is a solid possession receiver (exactly what he was in Houston) and when he draws single coverage you can expect him to catch a whole lotta short to intermediate passes with a few breaking longer if everything goes just right.

IMHO I think he fills that No. 2 role in NE nicely ...

 

[Beaumont]

Also, he was the No. 33 pick in his draft; his teammate Caldwell was no. 48 or so IIRC ...

It's not like the guy is devoid of talent.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

He's a product of the NE system, which I started a thread about a week or two ago.

He was not brought back by the Texans, the Eagles had better prospects (which is debatable, I'll give you that) and then Gaffney sits at home for a month, unsigned.

The Pats brought him in and signed him virtually off the street. He fits their scheme, as Gabriel did not.

Caldwell and Gaffney are good possession recievers. Brady / NE still needs a burner to stretch the field, and CJax hasn't lived up to that role.

 

[Workhorse]

Also, he was the No. 33 pick in his draft; his teammate Caldwell was no. 48 or so IIRC ...It's not like the guy is devoid of talent.

Ahead of Deion Branch in that same draft. Bears mentioning.

 

[Boston]

Besides having some skills I think he's producing for one big reason. He's doing what the coaching staff is telling him to do. Nothing more and nothing less. That is the key to being successful at WR (and every other position actually) in Foxboro. If you do what the coaches tell you than you will get Brady's confidence and he will get you the ball. If you remember around midseason Brady went off on some nameless players saying they weren't listening to the coaching staff like they should. This was because Brady knows that if these guys do what they are told success will follow. It's one of the reasons why unknowns like Patten, Givens and now Gaffney have been successful in New England but guys with a lot of talent on paper like Donald Hayes, Bethel Johnson, Doug Gabriel and so far Chad Jackson have not.

As far as Gaffney's future I think he has a nice chance to take over Troy Brown's role as the reliable chain mover. My guess for next year is the Pats add two new WRs to Gaffney, Caldwell and Jackson as I think Troy will hang it up after this season.

 

[DawnBTVS]

Here's his analysis from NFL.com prior to the Draft...

Positives: Solidly built pass catcher with long legs … Very physical with defensive backs, using his hands well to push off to create space … Does a nice job of positioning his body to go up and haul down the pass in traffic … Shows excellent concentration, exploding in his cuts and executing fluid stutter-step moves in his routes … Long strider with explosive acceleration in the open … Has great body control and the ability to make the acrobatic catches … Stays low in and out of his cuts, displaying the separation quickness to consistently go deep … Has superb acceleration and attacks defenders after the catch … Extends and adjusts well going for the ball in traffic … Has the power to drive defenders off when breaking back for the ball … Gets into his routes fluidly, using his quick feet to make sudden moves after the catch.

Negatives: Has toughness going over the middle, but rarely faces up to the defender when blocking … Needs to drop his hips quicker when running patterns … Has great hands, but will double catch at times … Fiesty runner after the catch, but is more of a straight-line type, not showing the shake needed to consistently elude … Has a pair of the smallest hands in college football (7½-inches).

Sounds like a prototypical WR 2 without the breakaway speed to be a #1. I'm still surprised Houston cut him so quickly, same with the Eagles given that he has a perfect niche he can fill (as he's showing in New England) and that to expect more out of him is an error on the staff's part.

 

[coolnerd]

Sounds like a prototypical WR 2 without the breakaway speed to be a #1. I'm still surprised Houston cut him so quickly, same with the Eagles given that he has a perfect niche he can fill (as he's showing in New England) and that to expect more out of him is an error on the staff's part.

Gaffney played in Houston 4 years and was and UFA. The rumors were that he indicated to Houston pretty early on that he wanted to move on to a new situation. Everything considered bewteen the conservative offense, mediocore QB play, and poor OL, Gaffney played decently for the Texans and I was honestly surprised he was not able to secure a job in Philly. Probably never anything too exciting fantasy wise, but very capable as an NFL WR2/3.

 

[gruecd]

But yeah - he just looks like a crips route runner and is in good tune with Brady right now.

 

[The Moz]

Blood fo life hommes !

beat dat ### ese - fo reel

 

[The Moz]

he just looks like a blood route runner

word