The New England Patriots have a logjam at wide receiver when it comes to depth, but they are still waiting for someone to emerge as a clear-cut No. 1 threat (particularly when it comes to making plays downfield) to help Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski out. Aaron Dobson was inactive for the past two games for “mouthing off” at offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, but the Patriots desperately need to get last year’s second-round pick back on the field. He’s easily the team’s best vertical threat, and he’s too talented to keep languishing in the doghouse for what was likely not a huge issue.
Musket Fire
According to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, one of either Kenbrell Thompkins or Aaron Dobson will be inactive for tomorrow night’s big clash against the Cincinnati Bengals, and Reiss believes that it will be Thompkins who gets the “nod” (in a negative way, of course). While Thompkins can move the chains with his route-running and solid hands, he doesn’t offer enough playmaking ability, and the Patriots need a guy like to Dobson to help clear out space for the intermediate weapons on offense.
Reiss, who is money with these projections, also believes that cornerback Alfonzo Dennard will miss yet another week. Dennard has already missed the past three games ever since picking off Ryan Tannehill in Week 1, and this shoulder injury remains an issue for him. Although he has plenty of talent, Dennard is difficult to rely on because he is so injury-prone. That said, the Patriots don’t have to rely on him at all, and CB is the least of their worries; they are deep there with Kyle Arrington and Logan Ryan continuing to play well.