Patterson had more receiving yards than Edelman and Gronk combined. Going to JE and Gronk was 6 receptions on 12 targets (int). Gordon, Patterson and Hogan were 7/7. This lack of reliability of JE and Gronk is not unique to this game either. Not sure why they keep banging their heads on that wall.
Edelman, 2018:
IND ... 7/9 (78%), 57 yds
KCY ... 4/7 (57%), 54 yds, TD
CHI ... 5/8 (63%), 36 yds, TD
BUF ... 9/10 (90%), 104 yds
GBY ... 6/10 (60%), 71 yds
TEN ... 9/12 (75%), 104 yds
NYJ ... 4/5 (80%), 84 yds, TD
That's no more and no less "reliable" than he's been in the past from gam-to-game. It mostly depends on how the Pats want to use him against a particular opponent and/or how that opponent is covering him.
Gronk DID look awful against the Vikes, but he was similarly reliable/"unreliable" this season until he hurt his back.
OBJ has now been under a 60% catch rate for 5 of his 12 games this season. Yesterday, he went 3/9 for 35 yards, against a very good pass defense, and other guys stepped up.