Want Custom Fantasy Scoring?
You are not logged in. You must be logged in and create a league profile to apply
custom fantasy scoring to the stat, projection and ranking pages.
Login or Register
Entering 2011, Welker has a laundry list of both positive and negative issues that affect his fantasy prognosis. On the plus side, he is now a year and a half removed from the surgery that ended his 2009 season, he is clearly the Patriots top wide receiver, and he was a significant weapon in 2010 with 86 receptions for 848 yards and seven touchdowns, which were the second most of his career. The flip side is that he caught 69.9 percent of his targets (down from 75.9 percent for the 2007-2009 period), his reception total was down 30 from his average over the previous three seasons, his yards per reception was the lowest of his career, and he had only five games with double-digit fantasy points. Welker turned 30 in the offseason, and while that usually isn’t a big issue for receivers, it could be for a small player who relies on his quickness and cutting ability to get open. The question is whether his drop in production was mainly the result of his knee injury or whether it was because defenses gave him additional attention with Randy Moss no longer in the lineup. With no proven deep threat on the roster, Welker figures to get plenty of attention again in 2011, so expecting him to bounce back to his 2007-2009 production is not very realistic. Draft Welker as a low-end WR2. He no longer has the upside to achieve WR1 status.
Gronkowski practices Friday-- Fri Feb 3 9:00 pm -- Pats TE listed as questionable, but will play
New England tight end Rob Gronkowski participated in Friday's hour-long walk-through to cap the Patriots' week of indoor practices leading up to Super Bowl XLVI. Gronkowski took the field for the second straight day after practicing on a limited basis Thursday for the first time since spraining his left ankle Jan. 22 in the AFC Championship Game. He is listed as questionable on New England's injury report for Sunday's matchup against the New York Giants.
(NFL.com)
FF Today's Take:After Tom Brady and Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski is the most important part of the Patriots' offense. Reports from practice are saying the tight end looked fairly spry today while the team was running offensive plays, so look for the 22-year-old to receive his usual heavy workload on Super Bowl Sunday.
Welker plans on staying a Patriot-- Mon Jan 30 9:38 am -- Free agent to be not worried about next contract
INDIANAPOLIS -- New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker, whose contract expires shortly after Super Bowl XLVI, said Sunday he can't see himself in another uniform next season.
"I plan on being back," Welker said Sunday after the Patriots arrived for the Super Bowl. "I am not really too worried about that right now. I am fully concentrated on this game and what we have to do, but I plan on being back."
(ESPNBoston.com)
FF Today's Take:Outside of a 2010 season that saw him work his way back from major knee surgery, Welker has eclipsed 100 catches and 1,000 yards every year he's been in New England. Expect both sides to reach an agreement shortly following the Super Bowl and for Welker to remain one of the first wideouts off the board in 2012.
Kraft optimistic about Welker re-signing-- Fri Jan 20 8:00 pm -- Pats owner: "We want him here"
Kraft also addressed wideout Wes Welker's upcoming free agency. "I think Wes wants to be here, we want him here," Kraft said, via the Herald, adding that he hopes both sides will be "wise" enough to work out a deal.(NFL.com)
FF Today's Take:After a few respectable seasons where he served not only as a receiver but as a kick and punt returner for the Miami Dolphins, Welker joined the Pats where he has been used primarily as a slot receiver. He's been nothing short of spectacular since joining Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, a trend that should continue if he re-signs.
Colston, Nicks hitting free agency?-- Sun Jan 15 8:25 pm -- Saints likely to franchise Brees
Drew Brees is a free agent, but we know he’s not going anywhere this offseason. So the Saints essentially have two options. They can strike a deal quickly with Brees or they can place the franchise tag on him to retain his rights while continuing to work on a long-term deal, like the Colts did with Peyton Manning last year.
G Carl Nicks and WR Marques Colston are both headed for free agency. Florio has explained previously Colston won’t take a hometown discount.(Pro Football Talk)
FF Today's Take:If the Saints cannot lock up Colston and Nicks, it goes without saying that New Orleans' offense would take a steep hit at a time it needs to be putting all of its resources into the defense. Nicks would likely be the hottest free-agent commodity available on the offensive line while Colston could easily be the top receiver available if Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe and Wes Welker all get the franchise tag or re-sign with their teams.
McDaniels returns to Patriots-- Sun Jan 8 9:10 pm -- Will replace outgoing OC next season
As expected, Josh McDaniels is returning to his NFL roots, reuniting with Bill Belichick and Tom Brady as a member of the Patriots coaching staff.
McDaniels will replace the departing Bill O’Brien - who was introduced yesterday as Penn State’s new head coach - as offensive coordinator, though a league source said McDaniels may have an expanded role with the team.(Boston Globe)
FF Today's Take:Good news for Tom Brady and Wes Welker, if not the entire New England offense. McDaniels had planned on using the 2010 Pats' offense has a model for his 2011 Rams' attack in that he would use the TEs extensively, but injuries and ineffectiveness squashed that plan. Still, don't expect New England to skip a beat under the same OC that helped the Pats break so many offensive records back in 2007.
Wes Welker limited in practice-- Thu Dec 29 8:15 pm -- Patriots WR will play despite limited tag
Wes Welker (knee) was limited in Patriots practice for the second straight day Thursday.
(ESPN Boston)
FF Today's Take:Welker is always limited on Thursday and plays a huge role on Sunday. Don`t worry about Welker - he`s fine.
Wes Welker limited in practice-- Thu Dec 22 7:50 pm -- Welker takes typical Thurdsay to lightly work out
Wes Welker (knee) was limited in Patriots practice for the second straight day Thursday.
(Boston Globe)
FF Today's Take:This is how Welker rolls - he takes Thursday off for the most part and dominates on the weekends! It is safe to start Welker this week and to expect big things against Miami.
Wes Welker limited in practice-- Thu Dec 15 8:40 pm -- Patriots WR will play despite limited tag
Wes Welker (knee) was limited in Patriots practice for the second straight day Thursday.
(Boston Globe)
FF Today's Take:This has been a pattern throughout the whole second half of the season. Fear not Welker owners - he will play Sunday and he will be typically potent!
Welker dealing with minor wrist injury?-- Fri Dec 9 4:45 pm -- Pats WR seen wearing soft cast
New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker on Friday downplayed what appeared to be a black soft-cast on his right wrist at a Tuesday charity event in Boston, saying he never wore a brace. Welker has no known wrist injury, and has only been listed on the team's injury report this week with a knee injury. Important to note considering the Patriots' knack for listing every player's bump and bruise, as the Boston Herald pointed out.
The Boston media caught up with Welker at the team's facility Friday, and the Patriots' leading receiver said his wrist was fine.(NFL.com)
FF Today's Take:It doesn't sound like there's anything particularly noteworthy here. The undrafted 30-year-old has been an absolute stud this season and has posted back-to-back 100-plus receiving yard games. The Patriots face the Redskins this week and in Welker's only previous meeting with Washington, he hauled in nine passes for 89 yards and a score.
What is ? Click the icon to add a player to My FF Today Track Players. Track
Players allows you to keep better tabs on players that are most important to you, including your
own custom news page and highlighting your players on stat, projection and ranking pages. Note
you must be logged in to use My FF Today.
?
