Edelman had at least 5 receptions in 12 of 16 games, these were the 4 games in which he did not:
@Bengals
vs. Dolphins
vs. Steelers
@ Panthers
The team’s record was 2-2 in those games, the Bengals game was the when Amendola returned from his groin injury and the other 3 games were at midseason when Amendola and Gronkowski were both back the Patriots were attempting to integrate them both as the top 2 targets, Edelman was targeted 21 times in those 4 games (5.25 TPG) in the other 12 games Edelman was targeted 130 times (10.3 TPG).
Vereen has at least 75 total yards in 5 of his 8 games played, 1 of the games he did not was the game against the Ravens when he left at the beginning of the 2nd quarter and the other was last week against Buffalo where he had 45 total yards and 1 touchdown despite the fact Blount and Ridley took the bulk of the snaps. Vereen had 1 poor game this season and it was in a game we lost @ Dolphins.
Gronkowski played 6 full games he had 5+ receptions in 5 of the 6 games and 90+ receiving yards and 1 touchdown in 4 of the 6 games.
Dobson, Thompkins and Boyce are all rookies so inconsistency is expected.
Gronkowski played 6 full games he had 5+ receptions in 5 of the 6 games and 90+ receiving yards and 1 touchdown in 4 of the 6 games.
The primary difference between Amendola and the other players you’ve named is they’re not being paid as a top 30 player at their position in the NFL. Amendola is the 26th highest paid receiver in the NFL and he, Cruz and Welker are the highest paid slot receivers in the NFL.
There is also the small matter of Amendola having an average annual salary of $5,700, 000, every other player that started the season with us that has been used in a receiving capacity this year combines for an average annual salary of $5,472,048.
• Vereen - $865,288
• Dobson - $857,093
• Edelman - $765,000
• Mulligan - $715,000
• Josh Boyce - $659,250
• Hooman - $630,000
• Thompkins - $495,833
• Bolden - $484,584
The difference between good players and great players is the ability to do it week in and week out, Amendola is being paid like a great slot receiver and he is not playing like that.