Hey Rookie receivers, the floor is yours

You want to make yourself a household name? What better way than playing BIG and helping to replace the production of the best TE in the game.

I'm not talking about catching passes here and there, i'm talking about coming out there making plays and dominating. The way i see it the Pats still need a big time receiver (a la Josh Gordon) but that viewpoint will change if just one of these dudes can come out and be our Alshon Jeffery.

So Dobson, Kenbrell, Boyce it's time to shine.

Now we just have to get them all healthy and direct their attention to this website .

(just kidding).

I think there are enough pieces in place (especially with Vereen) for this offense to continue to be a top 10 offense in the league. Where they fall on that scale will need to be seen. Could be as high as top 4 (Denver/Detriot/NO/Philly).

Those 2 receivers you listed, it's their 2nd year in the league.

Dobson and Thompkins already have surpassed what Jeffrey did in his rookie year.

English Patriot said:

You want to make yourself a household name?

Click to expand...

Dobson and Thomkins are already household names. Usually my friends and I are shouting them in anger when the drop catchable balls.

I like the idea of these three guys stepping up, but what do we really know about the injuries suffered by Thompkins and Dobson?

Thompkins came out of the Houston game in the first half with what looked like a groin injury. That was disappointing after he had a terrific six-catch game against the Broncos.

Dobson has a "foot" injury, but I have no idea whether it's something awful like lis-franc or what it is. We haven't seen him since the Carolina game.

Boyce was targeted a few times in the Browns game, but looked every bit the rookie.

Anybody got anything on Dobson and Thompkins?

They need to be healthy first

One of the biggest misconceptions amongst fans in my opinion is the belief that Gronkowski and Hernandez were all pro players immediately. They had great rookie seasons but their involvement was very similar to Dobson, Thompkins and Boyce. It was not consistent week to week.

• Gronkowski had just 1 reception in 8 of 16 games and 50 or more receiving yards 4 times and overall finished with 42 receptions for 546 receiving yards.
• Hernandez had 50 or more receiving yards 5 times as a rookie and finished with 45 receptions for 563 receiving yards.

I am not diminishing what they did but what I am pointing out is they were worked in slowly as rookies just like the current trio of rookie wide receivers.

• Dobson has had 50 or more receiving yards in 5 of his 10 games and on the season has 35 receptions for 492 receiving yards.
• Thompkins has had 50 or more receiving yards in 3 of his 11 games and on the season has 32 receptions for 466 receiving yards.

Boyce is just starting to get his shot after coming in with a broken foot and being 5th on the depth chart coming out of the preseason. Overall though Dobson and Thompkins are contributing at the same pace actually slightly higher than Gronkowski and Hernandez, also we were in just a similar state in 2010 at wide receiver with Moss traded away, Welker coming back from major knee surgery and Branch at the end of his career returning from Seattle.