Yes, this discussion is about the 3rd, 4th and 5th WR "spots". Yes, this is a worthy subject, given the poor performance by the wideouts, and given the injury to Hernandez.
IMHO, the 5th (and 6th) didn't exist last year. Edelman was a punt returner and an emergency wide receiver. Our TE's are expected to be receivers.
Let's make a simplistic breakdown.
TOP 2 RECEIVERS
We both are fine with Welker and Lloyd instead of Welker and Branch.
Apparently you didn't get the memo. It's Lloyd and Edelman for some reason.
NUMBER THREE
Edelman beat out Branch, Gaffney and Stallworth for the #3 WR position (and is hopefully an upgrade over Ochocinco last year). Do you disagree?
I never saw it. And he certainly didn't beat out Welker. For some reason Deion was signed and then not allowed to practice much and not featured in preseason until the end. Even though once he was the media claimed he looked just fine. Welker disappeared after his uncle died and no one has explained that. He was still the best receiver in camp by all accounts. Bill is supposed to be big on competition, only this years almost seems as if it was rigged.
NUMBER FOUR
We've used this spot for developmental prospect Salas. This seems an upgrade over Price and Underwood.
Under the circumstances unless he can be active on game day he might as well be on the PS - or the shadow roster.
NUMBER FIVE
IMHO, this position doesn't really need to exist. Josh has chosen to have 3 TE's and 3 WR's on the active roster, with one of each on the inactive roster. That being said, I am 100% fine with using a roster spot for a 5th WR instead of a 16th front seven defensive player. I have posted this position often. We don't need to have Francis AND Forston AND Rivera on the 53 man squad.
We have too many developmental players on the 53 on both sides of the ball and it's coming back to bite us.
In any case, with Hernandez injured, presumably Fells will be active if he is healthy. The question is whether we need to sign a wide receiver and have him active. I would say that this would be a good idea. I have no particular insight with regard to whether Gaffney, Branch or Stallworth are worth signing.