RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Free Agent (2 Viewers)

[Yenrub]

Dropping this guy is nuts right now. Who are you going to get that is a better gamble?

Eddie Royal.

Eddie Royal is on the waiver wire in your leagues?

 

[LionOfGosforth]

Never understood the hype around him as a fantasy WR this year. One good game late in the year at Baltimore and suddenly he's a 3rd/4th rounder this past summer. Couldn't work out what I was missing. Don't doubt he's a dynamic athlete and probably will be very valuable to his real team in the future. Must admit, I thought after week one I might have been wrong and temporarily regretted not drafting him. If I did own him, i'd probably hold though. Getting Bridgewater back can't hurt.

 

[Flying Elvis]

As a guy who watched him at UT, I can tell you that neither he nor Justin Hunter ran a route correctly while in college. And that's not hyperbole, it's the straight-up truth. UT had really bad coaching at the time and we squandered some of the most athletically gifted WRs we've ever had. Da'Rick Rogers was another freak we had at the same time. Patterson is simply amazing once he has the ball in his hands. He's Percy Harvin sans the injuries. It's the GETTING him the ball part that's tough. Raw is too kind when describing his route running.

That said, the Vikes have hardly been creative. In all seriousness, what about Ponder's play last night caused the staff to NOT try a couple direct snaps to Patterson? Ponder was a train wreck against a pretty mundane defense. At least Patterson gives the threat of a big play if he gets a tiny seam.

That is good info to have and it makes me a little sad, but also happy at the same time. I am sad because obviously we might be wrong about CP, as route running is a big deal for wrs. On the other hand I am happy because if you have this info, the professional coaches on the Vikings must have had it too and it looks like they might have wasted an entire offseason with him. Seeing that I am a Packer fan, this tickles me a little bit because it says alot about the Viking coaches being total idiots for not drilling the routes into him all summer. In watching that game last night, I did suspect that the Viking coaches were morons and this sort of confirms that. This is good because I like seeing the Packers in the playoffs every year. Thanks.

I don't think Zimmer and staff are morons at all. The scouting reports on Patterson coming out questioned his ability to understand route concepts. Personally, I think Patterson is a bit of a mental midget, and doesn't have the maturity etc that it takes to be great. There's an awful lot of guys that have wasted their NFL careers for many of the same reasons. This is in no way unique to Zimmer or the Vikings.

If Patterson is a mental midget, like you say he may be, I'd suggest they give the mental midget the ball on a screen or two a game, or maybe an end around.

The fact that they don't do this would indicate that they are just as stunted, mentally. I really expected much more creativity with Patterson with Norv Turner in town.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I just traded him for Fred Jackson.

That's a joke, right?

Negative. I have decent WRs (Antonio Brown, Mike Wallace, Brandin Cooks, Andrew Hawkins, plus a stashed Josh Gordon) and no backs behind Forte and Bush (DeAngelo Williams is the only back-up I have) and there's literally nothing on the wire at RB. I needed the RB depth more than the upside potential of Patterson. They've both scored 40 pts thus far in PPR, so they're interchangeable through 3 weeks as a flex play.

Wow. You couldn't move Hawkins or Wallace for FJAx? Dude is 33, I am waiting for the worm to turn with him.

So far, I couldn't be happier with this trade. Fredicles is giving me 13-15 ppg every week as a flex. Meanwhile, the guy that traded me for Cordarelle has already flipped him to another team and now THAT guy is trying to trade Patterson back to me for Josh Gordon.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

The failures of Patterson are a failure on two fronts. His failure to develop downfield route running ability, and his coaches' failure to get him the ball in space around the LoS.

When we envisioned Patterson this season, we envisioned a guy that would be used like Josh Gordon downfield and Percy Harvin around the LoS. We've gotten neither. His failure to be used like Josh Gordon is most likely on him, as he's failed to get separation. Teams are still double teaming him occasionally, but even when they do that it's with a LB underneath rather than a safety over the top. They're trying to take away the slants and drags rather than the posts and streaks, and we saw several times in the TNF game where Patterson was the first read on a slant or an in but was man'd over the top, with a LB underneath.

So that leaves the LoS stuff. Rushes, screens, etc. These were supposed to both raise his ceiling and raise his floor. If he failed to be Gordon-lite this year, at least we'd get the screens and rushes to supplement his value in the meantime, right? Wrong. And on that front I don't think he's been at fault. In week 1 they got him the ball in this manner and had the best offensive game they've had under Cassell in a long time.

In week 2 they opened by running several Patterson decoy routes against the Patriots on the first drive. He ran a fake end-around and a fake screen, and both plays went for 20+ yards including a 30+ yard touchdown to Asiata. Things were looking good. Patterson gets the ball and he makes things happen in week 1, then in week 2 that threat opens up other things and they drive right down the field.

But then something happened. Norv stuck with that "decoy" idea and New England adjusted. It no longer worked. He tried it again against New Orleans, but they were on to it. The screens were faked to Patterson and then run to Jarius Wright, and they went nowhere. But Norv didn't learn, and that's what they've stuck with. The problem is, when Patterson isn't actually getting the looks, running those plays as fakes no longer works. In weeks 2-5 they've run two WR screens to Patterson and given him one carry. Meanwhile they've had him run fake screens/runs probably bordering on ~15 times. It's like running 30 play action passes in a game where you only have 3 rushes and expecting it to have an effect.

Here is an illustration of that from last night.

Screen Formation

They're lined up with trips to one side, Patterson in the slot. Green Bay is in a zone defense, meaning they only have 2 DBs over there against 3 WRs. It's exactly what you look for when running a WR screen. If the other two WRs hold their blocks then the OLB is the only one that can get out there to Patterson, whom of course he can easily beat to the corner. Instead, the screen is a decoy and they give Asiata a draw up the middle on the play. You can see just after the snap how open the actual screen, which is a decoy, is. You'll also notice that the OLB isn't really fooled by the screen look at all, and his first step is inside towards the handoff.

Just after the snap

So now Norv has that knowledge, that even though the screen was a decoy, it was open. So the very next play they come out in the same formation, flipped. Looks like Norv is going to take advantage of that knowledge, and although this time it's out of the nickel they get a similar defensive look from Green Bay.

Formation on next play

Yet, again, they run the decoy to Patterson, and give Asiata the carry up the middle.

Just after the snap next play

Mind boggling.

It's not just scenarios where the formations look like they would work either. It's game situations where a Patterson screen/run would make sense, but it doesn't happen. Consider the following scenarios from last night...

• 0-0 game, Minnesota has 2nd and 15 from it's own 9 yard line. Perfect time to try a nice, safe screen to Patterson with a high probability of getting 7-8 yards and setting up a manageable 3rd down. Instead they run Asiata up the middle for 1 yard.
  
• 0-7 game, 3rd and 7 from your own 18 yard line. They're scared to let Ponder throw downfield at this point, so why not let Patterson try and break a tackle for the 1st down? Instead, Asiata runs up the middle for 3 yards and they punt.
  

Even beyond specific situations, you've got a QB making his first start in a while in a hostile environment. Perfect scenario to get him into a rhythm with some WR screens, right? Didn't happen. Then later, GB is mauling the Minnesota offensive line which leads to several turnovers. Run some easy short passes and screens to get the ball out of his hands quicker, right? Wrong.

Worst of all, by the time they finally did give him a screen, it was a couple plays after he'd just come off with an injury on the kickoff return. Maybe Norv thought he could fool the defense into thinking Patterson wouldn't get it because he was dinged.

The problem is that Turner sees a WR screen to Patterson or a carry for Patterson as if it's some kind of trick play. He's over thinking it. Really, he should treat it like a running play. Sure, sometimes it will go for a 2 yard loss and sometimes it will go for a 50 yard gain, but most of the time it will go for 6-8 yards and be a solid play. Demaryius Thomas gets 3 of these per game and, while they don't usually go for 80 yards anymore like they did the first few times, they're good for ~10 yards at a time with the occasional incompletion and the occasional big play. Norv meanwhile seems to think that this has to be something you keep in your pocket half the season so it will go for bigger yardage when you finally do run it.

Norv is a good coordinator, but he's a very traditional coordinator. An offense that goes through the RBs with the WRs primarily contributing downfield. He doesn't have the creativity around the LoS to get Patterson involved. Realistically Patterson should be getting 3-5 touches per game on carries or screens, he just needs the ball in his hands. For god's sake, Julian Edelman has been targeted on more WR screens this year than Patterson has.

At this point the only way we likely see a turn-around from Patterson is if he either develops that downfield route running ability we had hoped he'd developed this offseason, or if he gets a coordinator that is interested in using him creatively. Obviously it's unlikely that either of those happen this year.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

One of the dumbest things I've seen in my whole fantasy football career - it doesn't matter how you get this dude the ball just do it.

Screens, short passes, sweeps, rushes - at least 8-10 times a game you make sure this dude touches the football.

Give him 1 or 2 deep shots a game.

Mind boggling. Even if he can't get seperation you can manufactur touches for him................

Hester this year is basically what CPATT should have been - and don't tell me Hester is a refined route runner.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

Coach Mike Zimmer said Friday he would like to get Cordarrelle Patterson "more involved," but also that Patterson "needs to get open."

Anyone remember pre-season where we saw CPATT catch the bomb? C'mon man give him a chance.

So frustrating.

 

[Dynasty Walkers]

The failures of Patterson are a failure on two fronts. His failure to develop downfield route running ability, and his coaches' failure to get him the ball in space around the LoS.

When we envisioned Patterson this season, we envisioned a guy that would be used like Josh Gordon downfield and Percy Harvin around the LoS. We've gotten neither. His failure to be used like Josh Gordon is most likely on him, as he's failed to get separation. Teams are still double teaming him occasionally, but even when they do that it's with a LB underneath rather than a safety over the top. They're trying to take away the slants and drags rather than the posts and streaks, and we saw several times in the TNF game where Patterson was the first read on a slant or an in but was man'd over the top, with a LB underneath.

So that leaves the LoS stuff. Rushes, screens, etc. These were supposed to both raise his ceiling and raise his floor. If he failed to be Gordon-lite this year, at least we'd get the screens and rushes to supplement his value in the meantime, right? Wrong. And on that front I don't think he's been at fault. In week 1 they got him the ball in this manner and had the best offensive game they've had under Cassell in a long time.

In week 2 they opened by running several Patterson decoy routes against the Patriots on the first drive. He ran a fake end-around and a fake screen, and both plays went for 20+ yards including a 30+ yard touchdown to Asiata. Things were looking good. Patterson gets the ball and he makes things happen in week 1, then in week 2 that threat opens up other things and they drive right down the field.

But then something happened. Norv stuck with that "decoy" idea and New England adjusted. It no longer worked. He tried it again against New Orleans, but they were on to it. The screens were faked to Patterson and then run to Jarius Wright, and they went nowhere. But Norv didn't learn, and that's what they've stuck with. The problem is, when Patterson isn't actually getting the looks, running those plays as fakes no longer works. In weeks 2-5 they've run two WR screens to Patterson and given him one carry. Meanwhile they've had him run fake screens/runs probably bordering on ~15 times. It's like running 30 play action passes in a game where you only have 3 rushes and expecting it to have an effect.

Here is an illustration of that from last night.

Screen Formation

They're lined up with trips to one side, Patterson in the slot. Green Bay is in a zone defense, meaning they only have 2 DBs over there against 3 WRs. It's exactly what you look for when running a WR screen. If the other two WRs hold their blocks then the OLB is the only one that can get out there to Patterson, whom of course he can easily beat to the corner. Instead, the screen is a decoy and they give Asiata a draw up the middle on the play. You can see just after the snap how open the actual screen, which is a decoy, is. You'll also notice that the OLB isn't really fooled by the screen look at all, and his first step is inside towards the handoff.

Just after the snap

So now Norv has that knowledge, that even though the screen was a decoy, it was open. So the very next play they come out in the same formation, flipped. Looks like Norv is going to take advantage of that knowledge, and although this time it's out of the nickel they get a similar defensive look from Green Bay.

Formation on next play

Yet, again, they run the decoy to Patterson, and give Asiata the carry up the middle.

Just after the snap next play

Mind boggling.

It's not just scenarios where the formations look like they would work either. It's game situations where a Patterson screen/run would make sense, but it doesn't happen. Consider the following scenarios from last night...

• 0-0 game, Minnesota has 2nd and 15 from it's own 9 yard line. Perfect time to try a nice, safe screen to Patterson with a high probability of getting 7-8 yards and setting up a manageable 3rd down. Instead they run Asiata up the middle for 1 yard.
• 0-7 game, 3rd and 7 from your own 18 yard line. They're scared to let Ponder throw downfield at this point, so why not let Patterson try and break a tackle for the 1st down? Instead, Asiata runs up the middle for 3 yards and they punt.

Even beyond specific situations, you've got a QB making his first start in a while in a hostile environment. Perfect scenario to get him into a rhythm with some WR screens, right? Didn't happen. Then later, GB is mauling the Minnesota offensive line which leads to several turnovers. Run some easy short passes and screens to get the ball out of his hands quicker, right? Wrong.

Worst of all, by the time they finally did give him a screen, it was a couple plays after he'd just come off with an injury on the kickoff return. Maybe Norv thought he could fool the defense into thinking Patterson wouldn't get it because he was dinged.

The problem is that Turner sees a WR screen to Patterson or a carry for Patterson as if it's some kind of trick play. He's over thinking it. Really, he should treat it like a running play. Sure, sometimes it will go for a 2 yard loss and sometimes it will go for a 50 yard gain, but most of the time it will go for 6-8 yards and be a solid play. Demaryius Thomas gets 3 of these per game and, while they don't usually go for 80 yards anymore like they did the first few times, they're good for ~10 yards at a time with the occasional incompletion and the occasional big play. Norv meanwhile seems to think that this has to be something you keep in your pocket half the season so it will go for bigger yardage when you finally do run it.

Norv is a good coordinator, but he's a very traditional coordinator. An offense that goes through the RBs with the WRs primarily contributing downfield. He doesn't have the creativity around the LoS to get Patterson involved. Realistically Patterson should be getting 3-5 touches per game on carries or screens, he just needs the ball in his hands. For god's sake, Julian Edelman has been targeted on more WR screens this year than Patterson has.

At this point the only way we likely see a turn-around from Patterson is if he either develops that downfield route running ability we had hoped he'd developed this offseason, or if he gets a coordinator that is interested in using him creatively. Obviously it's unlikely that either of those happen this year.

Awesome post.

 

[Archer]

I love Patterson, but am starting to consider fishing him to the league. I won't sell at fire sale prices, as I think the upside is ENORMOUS, but starting to think it may not happen this year. Or at least, with the Vikings current coaching staff. Its frustrating to say the least...

 

[nastynate]

The mind boggling thing to me is that they'd give him carries as a RB when AP was playing, but now with Asiata carrying the bulk, they won't put him back there?

I'm in a very short bench, 12 team redraft. He's as close to droppable as it gets.

 

[BigBlue_RI]

I took Patterson in the 5th round of my draft, with intent of him being my #2 WR. When I go back to see what players I passed on that were picked in the 2 rounds that followed, it's dismaying:

Michael Floyd

Edelman

TY Hilton

Mike Wallace

Desean Jackson

Terrence Williams

Kelvin Benjamin

I'd cut the guy if we didn't have deep benches, so for now I'll hang on. I have Jennings too. I guess I'll see what Bridgewater playing next week does for these guys before making a decision. There really isn't anything great out on the waiver wire right now, so not sense in cutting bait at the moment.

 

[pantherclub]

I love Patterson, but am starting to consider fishing him to the league. I won't sell at fire sale prices, as I think the upside is ENORMOUS, but starting to think it may not happen this year. Or at least, with the Vikings current coaching staff. Its frustrating to say the least...

from a wr point of view this makes no sense at all. He hasnt to date shown any ability to be a productive wr in the NFL.

 

[Tennessee_ATO]

I love Patterson, but am starting to consider fishing him to the league. I won't sell at fire sale prices, as I think the upside is ENORMOUS, but starting to think it may not happen this year. Or at least, with the Vikings current coaching staff. Its frustrating to say the least...

from a wr point of view this makes no sense at all. He hasnt to date shown any ability to be a productive wr in the NFL.

I know I bagged on the guy pretty hard, but I do disagree with this. Patterson is unique when he gets the ball. There can be no dispute that he's as good as it gets once he has the ball. Guys like that are very, very rare. It's the coaching staff's job to (a) teach the guy how to run routes in the NFL and (not "or") (b) figure out some way to get him the ball even if (a) isn't working. He doesn't need 15 touches to make an impact, just 6. Are you really going to tell me that a reasonably creative NFL staff can't get CLEARLY their most explosive player the ball a half dozen times a game? If he gets 6 touches in a reasonably effective manner, he has legit fantasy value in any league format.

 

[pantherclub]

I love Patterson, but am starting to consider fishing him to the league. I won't sell at fire sale prices, as I think the upside is ENORMOUS, but starting to think it may not happen this year. Or at least, with the Vikings current coaching staff. Its frustrating to say the least...

from a wr point of view this makes no sense at all. He hasnt to date shown any ability to be a productive wr in the NFL.

I know I bagged on the guy pretty hard, but I do disagree with this. Patterson is unique when he gets the ball. There can be no dispute that he's as good as it gets once he has the ball. Guys like that are very, very rare. It's the coaching staff's job to (a) teach the guy how to run routes in the NFL and (not "or") (b) figure out some way to get him the ball even if (a) isn't working. He doesn't need 15 touches to make an impact, just 6. Are you really going to tell me that a reasonably creative NFL staff can't get CLEARLY their most explosive player the ball a half dozen times a game? If he gets 6 touches in a reasonably effective manner, he has legit fantasy value in any league format.

easy cowboy

 

[Concept Coop]

Why isn't there a 40 page Tavon Austin thread calling out the Rams?

 

[shader]

I love Patterson, but am starting to consider fishing him to the league. I won't sell at fire sale prices, as I think the upside is ENORMOUS, but starting to think it may not happen this year. Or at least, with the Vikings current coaching staff. Its frustrating to say the least...

from a wr point of view this makes no sense at all. He hasnt to date shown any ability to be a productive wr in the NFL.

I know I bagged on the guy pretty hard, but I do disagree with this. Patterson is unique when he gets the ball. There can be no dispute that he's as good as it gets once he has the ball. Guys like that are very, very rare. It's the coaching staff's job to (a) teach the guy how to run routes in the NFL and (not "or") (b) figure out some way to get him the ball even if (a) isn't working. He doesn't need 15 touches to make an impact, just 6. Are you really going to tell me that a reasonably creative NFL staff can't get CLEARLY their most explosive player the ball a half dozen times a game? If he gets 6 touches in a reasonably effective manner, he has legit fantasy value in any league format.

It's not actually that rare. There are plenty of great athletes that can't play wide receiver. They are called kick returners and punt returners.

If he can't run routes, it's time to change it up. Anyone can run screens. Give him 5-7 carries a game. He's 6'2 220, whats the problem here?

 

[Milkman]

Yeah he sucks right now. He keeps it up and he's going to start losing snaps. That's next.

 

[Bojang0301]

Won't sell in dynasty, sold for VJax in redraft. Just too much variable right now with rotating QB's and an offense without their most reliable weapon. Eventually Asiata is going to prove to be a plodder and then what?

 

[Milkman]

Won't sell in dynasty, sold for VJax in redraft. Just too much variable right now with rotating QB's and an offense without their most reliable weapon. Eventually Asiata is going to prove to be a plodder and then what?

They'll target Wright 12 times a game........

 

[georg013]

What a disappointment. I bit hard on the fake. Reached for this guy and now I am paying the price. Thank God it wasn't a money league. Also reached for that clown Rudolph. Either the Norv Turner effect is highly exaggerated or these guys need lots of work. To think Rudolph would be able to come in and do what Cameron did just because of Turner. Same goes for C. Patterson and Gordon. Not even close. Damn it.

 

[Bojang0301]

What a disappointment. I bit hard on the fake. Reached for this guy and now I am paying the price. Thank God it wasn't a money league. Also reached for that clown Rudolph. Either the Norv Turner effect is highly exaggerated or these guys need lots of work. To think Rudolph would be able to come in and do what Cameron did just because of Turner. Same goes for C. Patterson and Gordon. Not even close. Damn it.

He was going to run Peterson into the ground. It's GD disappointing for those of us who owned Peterson. I'm sure he didn't think his offense would rest on the shoulders of Matt Asiata, Bridgewater and Jarius Wright.

 

[Yenrub]

Why isn't there a 40 page Tavon Austin thread calling out the Rams?

Smaller? Less explosive?

 

[EastonBlues22]

Why isn't there a 40 page Tavon Austin thread calling out the Rams?

Because they are not the same player, even though it's become trendy to imply that they are basically equivalent?

According to PFF, Patterson has caught every catchable ball thrown his way this year. Even though he's not adept at running the full route tree, it shouldn't be that hard to find ways to get him the ball more often.

If you're starting a QB that can't throw outside, then put Patterson in the slot (where Patterson has only run 18% of his routes this year). Jennings is more than capable of playing outside, and Patterson's per route production from the slot dwarfs what Jennings is doing inside (74% of his routes).

I'm truly baffled that Minnesota isn't moving Patterson around the formation more to put pressure on the opposing defenses. Put him in the backfield, then run him from there or put him in motion depending on the defensive package. Put him in the slot where he can bubble, drag, whip, slant, slant-and-go, and skinny post to his heart's content. Put him in motion to incorporate jet sweeps and get him moving releases. All these things play to his strengths (and his QBs) while putting pressure on the defense, and he's more than capable of executing those plays right now.

Instead he's spending the majority of his time lined up wide where he's not technically proficient enough to run the full route tree, and where his QBs are struggling to deliver the ball (when they even have the time to let those routes develop). The corner on him simply has to play press-man to guard the bubble screen and quick inside hitter, and then think deep with safety help if he's running anything else. Minnesota can do better than that, and they should.

 

[GROOT]

I tried to tell you all.

I am GROOT.

 

[Ilov80s]

What is he worth now?

 

[Milkman]

You can't sell him in dynasty at this point. You have to wait for a couple big games in a row and then if you want off dump him maybe.

 

[bulger2holt]

What is he worth now?

a hanny and a smack across the lips

 

[squistion]

You can't sell him in dynasty at this point. You have to wait for a couple big games in a row and then if you want off dump him maybe.

I don't believe that. You probably can't sell him for you think he is worth, but I believe you would have no problem selling him as the potential upside still seems there (if one is willing to be patient). I own him in a couple leagues and am extremely disappointed with his performance to date in 2014, but I would have no problem in acquiring him in other leagues if the price is right.

 

[Milkman]

You can't sell him in dynasty at this point. You have to wait for a couple big games in a row and then if you want off dump him maybe.

I don't believe that. You probably can't sell him for you think he is worth, but I believe you would have no problem selling him as the potential upside still seems there (if one is willing to be patient). I own him in a couple leagues and am extremely disappointed with his performance to date in 2014, but I would have no problem in acquiring him in other leagues if the price is right.

That's what i mean. You would take to big of a loss. I mean you would have a hard time getting anything more than a second rounder for him at this point.

 

[FGITLOTR]

completely droppable now

the overhype on this kid here in the shark pool will be something talked about and dissected for years

He just isnt that good

How can you tell? He hasn't had the ball since week 1.

Probably cause he struggles to get open on a regular basis. Some of us said how he was still very raw as a route runner and pass catcher, but many didn't want to hear it. But, since he is so electric when you get the ball in his hands, it is puzzling why they haven't at least given him a few runs per game.

Yeah, except he's been open. Like 3 times last night he was wide open.

Three whole times? Wow, good for him.

The bottom line is, his inconsistency is why he is not producing.

Those are the times it was abundantly clear. It's hard to see how open a guy gets when the ball isn't thrown his way without coaches film or being at the game. So, yeah, 3 times that it was glaring and obvious via TV is good for him. 1 he beat his CB easily on a deep fly pattern vs single high S. Ponder never looked his way.

2 he ran a nice deep in/drag route and had 2 steps on the CB with room to run. Ponder got pummeled by the rush before he could get the ball out. Not Ponders fault.

3 he ran wide open with no one within 5 yds on a short drag across the field. Ponder never looked his way even though he got pressured and had him for an easy saftie valve option.

The bottom line is he isn't getting the looks. Some of that has been poor QB play, some poor Oline play and some him still developing his game. He has to get better at the LOS for sure. I've said this for a while actually but it's becoming more and more clear as teams continually shift coverage his way this year. He isn't using his hands well to free himself and seems to want to utilize only his lower body to release. That's not going to work at the NFL level. Once he gets into his route he looks much better as a route runner.

This is a fantastic post! We all know he's not a great route runner but he clearly has been open at times and hasn't gotten the looks. I have him in a dynasty league and he's an obvious hold, but I can see people in redraft moving on

 

[jurb26]

Why isn't there a 40 page Tavon Austin thread calling out the Rams?

Because they are not the same player, even though it's become trendy to imply that they are basically equivalent?According to PFF, Patterson has caught every catchable ball thrown his way this year. Even though he's not adept at running the full route tree, it shouldn't be that hard to find ways to get him the ball more often.

If you're starting a QB that can't throw outside, then put Patterson in the slot (where Patterson has only run 18% of his routes this year). Jennings is more than capable of playing outside, and Patterson's per route production from the slot dwarfs what Jennings is doing inside (74% of his routes).

I'm truly baffled that Minnesota isn't moving Patterson around the formation more to put pressure on the opposing defenses. Put him in the backfield, then run him from there or put him in motion depending on the defensive package. Put him in the slot where he can bubble, drag, whip, slant, slant-and-go, and skinny post to his heart's content. Put him in motion to incorporate jet sweeps and get him moving releases. All these things play to his strengths (and his QBs) while putting pressure on the defense, and he's more than capable of executing those plays right now.

Instead he's spending the majority of his time lined up wide where he's not technically proficient enough to run the full route tree, and where his QBs are struggling to deliver the ball (when they even have the time to let those routes develop). The corner on him simply has to play press-man to guard the bubble screen and quick inside hitter, and then think deep with safety help if he's running anything else. Minnesota can do better than that, and they should.

Great post. This is what is really baffling to me as well. Patterson is their best offense pave weapon and he would be best used in the slot at this point of his career, still. Yet, Minn is basically refusing to put him there and uses him almost exclusively outside. There has been zero creativity after week 1 on what they do with him. Going back and looking at it more it seems one of the things hurting him a great deal is that he has been running deeper routes a majority of the time and the QBs are trying to get the ball out quickly. Sometimes that is because the line breaks down and sometimes it just seems to the the progression of the play. It's laughable that people think he is similar to Austin.

 

[Grahamburn]

He can't get open like a regular WR and defenses are ready for the gimmick plays. Pretty simple reasons why he's struggling to put up any numbers.

 

[dschuler]

I haven't seen anything stating CP is the Vikings' WR1. Only that he will "be showcased" and "has figured out how to be a pro". Am I wrong about this? Please show me where the Vikings said "He's our top WR" or "he's our #1 WR". I'd like to see that.

Here's the most direct suggestion I've read on "Patterson is the #1". Agree or parse at your discretion:

Greg Jennings hands No. 1 receiver baton to Cordarrelle Patterson

Posted by Michael David Smith on June 23, 2014, 9:31 AM EDT

AP

Last year Greg Jennings led the Vikings with 68 catches and 804 receiving yards. This year, if all goes according to plan, it will beCordarrelle Patterson who serves as the teams top receiver. And Jennings welcomes that.

Jennings told ESPN.com that after talking with head coach Mike Zimmer and offensive coordinator Norv Turner, he could see that the new coaching staff wants to make the talented Patterson the focal point of the passing game. Rather than grousing about having fewer passes thrown his way this year, Jennings has taken it upon himself to impress on Patterson that he needs to be ready to take a big step up in his second season.

I wanted him to know that, coming in, the expectation of you is no longer rookie.Its, You gotta go. We saw what you can do. Were gonna showcase this, Jennings said. For me, it was making sure that he understands that he has to be a professional. He has to be a pros pro when he steps foot in this building, because were expecting [him] to give us what weve seen you put out there.

Patterson wasnt always the most consistent player as a rookie, but he was dynamite with the ball in his hands: Among his touchdowns were a 79-yard reception, runs of 33, 35 and 50 yards, and kickoff returns of 105 and 109 yards. Jennings said Patterson needs to be given more opportunities to do that.

Im going to be honest: Once I saw him make a couple plays, Im like, Weve got to get him the ball. He does too much well for us not to get him the ball, Jennings said.

It could be said that more passes thrown to Patterson will mean fewer for Jennings, but Jennings isnt worried about that.

If Im having success, its going to open up the door for success for other guys, Jennings said. If Cordarrelles having success, its going to open up the door for a lot of other guys, as well.

Pattersons success (or lack thereof) will be a major part of the Vikings success (or lack thereof), and Jennings knows that part of his role as the veteran in the receiving corps is to pave the way for Patterson to take his place as the No. 1 receiver.

Apparently you stopped reading any post that don't agree with you a long time ago. You asked for this, got it and then chose to ignore it. I'm well aware there are people who believe Jennings is to still the WR1. Funny that Jennings doesn't seem to think he is, no?I never said that Patterson would equal his YPR from last year. I predicted a nice drop, actually.

You keep saying that Patterson doesn't have down field skills but isn't simply isn't true. He does and flashed those skills latest season as well as in college. He needs refining on his downfield route running. There is a difference.

You want to bet on 1200/11 as if it this the baseline we are talking about. I just flat out told you in that post that I fully acknowledge I/we are being optimistic. You are creating a stawman here.

If he really wanted to make a bet and put his balls on the line, he wouldn't set the over/under this high. Happy to bet someone $50 on CP having 1200 total yards and 8.

I didn't set the numbers. Did you read the previous posts?I will happily take your bet (no return yards), because he will not get 1200 yards my friend.

No return yards needed. You have a deal.

He's going to need to pick up the pace significantly or this will be a landslide win and mail it in finish.

This might be close if we were talking about the Vikings receiving corps as a whole

 

[BigBlue_RI]

Won't sell in dynasty, sold for VJax in redraft. Just too much variable right now with rotating QB's and an offense without their most reliable weapon. Eventually Asiata is going to prove to be a plodder and then what?

Wow if I could get VJax for Patterson now I'd do backflips and cartwheels!

 

[JohnnyU]

Dynasty requires patience for both Patterson and the QB situation. Those with ants in your pants should probably stick to redraft leagues.

 

[Redmanchu]

What is he worth now?

a hanny and a smack across the lips

Nothing to add...but I spit my coffee on this one. lol

 

[Sabertooth]

I offered Isaiah Crowell for him and was denied.

Thought I'd test the buy low sell high theory. Values apparently have not converged yet.

 

[Sabertooth]

Dynasty requires patience fot both Patterson and the QB situation. Those with ants in your pants should probably stick to redraft league s.

Or dailies.

 

[LawFitz]

Norv needs to do a better job.

 

[werdnoynek]

Best offensive weapon on the team and they can't figure out how to get him touches... regardless if he can't run routes, he needs the ball in his hands and he will make things happen. The past few weeks have been a travesty.

Norval does need to do a better job.

 

[GROOT]

Best offensive weapon on the team and they can't figure out how to get him touches... regardless if he can't run routes, he needs the ball in his hands and he will make things happen. The past few weeks have been a travesty.

Norval does need to do a better job.

Please prove he is the best offensive weapon on this team,

 

[Adam Harstad]

Best offensive weapon on the team and they can't figure out how to get him touches... regardless if he can't run routes, he needs the ball in his hands and he will make things happen. The past few weeks have been a travesty.

Norval does need to do a better job.

Please prove he is the best offensive weapon on this team,

I think Patterson is clearly the best offensive weapon on that team, although that partly stands as an indictment of the other offensive weapons on that team.

 

[werdnoynek]

Best offensive weapon on the team and they can't figure out how to get him touches... regardless if he can't run routes, he needs the ball in his hands and he will make things happen. The past few weeks have been a travesty.

Norval does need to do a better job.

Please prove he is the best offensive weapon on this team,

With Peterson gone there is clearly no one better on that team with the ball in their hands. If you disagree with that, you're clearly more tree than sentient being.

ETA: Clearly.

 

[Touchdown There]

What is Greg Jennings salary? How many years was he a productive top 10 wr?

 

[The Man With No Name]

What is Greg Jennings salary? How many years was he a productive top 10 wr?

He was top 5 twice. No other top 10's.

Contract was a 5 year, $45 million deal.

 

[JaxJokers]

Just trade Patterson away for Crabtree.

 

[rickyg]

I can't wait until Patterson breaks out this year. I will be sure to revisit this thread and have a good laugh at all of the people who are dropping him or trading him away for garbage rt now.

 

[Ace zero1]

still holding

 

[tandl71]

still holding

Hold him between your KNEES.

 

[Squintz82]

I can't wait until Patterson breaks out this year. I will be sure to revisit this thread and have a good laugh at all of the people who are dropping him or trading him away for garbage rt now.

You're going to have a hard time finding this thread in week 17.