The Unreliable Truth: Cordarrelle Patterson

In fantasy football sometimes there’s a man-I won’t call him a hero because what’s a hero?- but sometimes there’s a man. He’s the man for his time and place. I’m talking about Cordarelle Patterson here. He’s the dude. He’s the guy we are all hoping for. There isn’t another NFL player that I’ve read or heard about that has more potential/ hype than him.

Jun 17, 2014; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) speaks with the media after practice at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Patterson was drafted in the first round by Minnesota in 2013. As a rookie many writers and TV personalities said he was the guy to replace the recently departed Percy Harvin.  That his skill set was maybe even a little better than Harvin’s. They said that Harvin’s slot role would matriculate into Patterson’s slash role. None of this would come to fruition in his rookie campaign.

In 2013 Patterson caught a measly 45 balls for 469 yards and four touchdowns. This is not a stat line that will make you wet your pants. Unless you drafted Patterson in your fantasy draft, never dropped him and hoped he’d ‘just breakout one of these weeks.’

Whelp.. He didn’t.

He did show flashes of greatness. Like his week two kick return for a touchdown against the Bears. Or the one he had a few weeks later against the Packers. He also managed to score a touchdown in each of his final five games of the 2013 season. There are some plays to grab a hold of. He does have a lot of talent. The question is will he breakout this year, or are we looking at another Michael Clayton.

Clayton, if you don’t remember was a first round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccanears in 2004. He had 80 receptions and over 1,000 yards and seven TD’s in his rookie year. He never had a season come close to those numbers the rest of his career and retired as a Giant after 2011.

I, for one don’t believe we have another Michael Clayton. For one, Patterson has Norv Turner. Turner has coached a few pretty great wide receivers in his time. Michael Irvin, Vincent Jackson, Josh Gordon and even turned Henry Ellard into an All-Pro wide-out. He’s helped the careers of Ladanian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates and did I for get to mention Josh Gordon in 2013?

There is tremendous opportunity for Cordarrelle Patterson to be one of these guys if not better. Despite his infrequent use if you were able to see him run with the ball you would see there was something special as far as his talent goes. The guy is a pure athlete. His quickness is almost immeasurable. Almost..

Jul 25, 2014; Mankato, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) leaves the field after training camp at Minnesota State University. He did not participate in plays. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

He stands at 6’2” and 220 lbs. His stature is identical to Dez Bryant’s minus a few pounds. Bryant’s 40 yard dash time was 4.52. Patterson’s ran a 4.42 and we don’t need to be a college math professors to see his is quicker. Bryant measured his wing span at 34 inches. The dude in Minnesota reached 37 inches.

“So you’re telling me that Cordarrelle Patterson is like, a better Dez Bryant?”

Yes.

That’s exactly what I’m telling you.

Another difference between the two is although Dez Bryant will be moved all over the field he is line up outside a vast majority of the time. Cordarrelle Patterson won’t. He’ll be anywhere on the field Turner’s mind see’s fit. What, line him up in the slot? Sure. Put him outside? Of course. Will he be in motion? Yes. How about in the backfield? Why not. Plus he’s still going to be returning kicks. That could be 18 extra fantasy points this season.. Or more!

Now we come to the part where you want to know where he should be drafted.

His ADP is currently between the fourth and fifth rounds in a 10 or 12 team format. A little higher if it’s a PPR. Here’s a few wide receivers who are being drafted just ahead of him: Andre Johnson, Wes Welker, Larry Fitzgerald, Victor Cruz, Pierre Garcon, Vincent Jackson.

The only guy I see a legit argument about is Vincent Jackson. Other than that you can make a pretty serious case for making Cordarrelle Patterson you’re third round pick. Hey don’t take my word for it. Listen to this.. (Or read it, whatever.)

“I would say the sky’s the limit, but there’s no ceiling to his potential. There really isn’t. If he’s willing to put in the time, the potential is there. He has everything he needs. He’s starting to mature as a player, as an individual, so his success is going to shoot straight through the roof. I’m excited. I told him this and maybe it was a little premature, but I told him, ‘At some point, I’m going to tell my kids I played with Cordarrelle Patterson.” –Greg Jennings, Minnesota Vikings WR

This is from a guy who’s played with Brett Favre. This is all I need to know.

Dec 29, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs with the ball to score a touchdown during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports