@patfanken While I agree 50 receptions and 850 yards could be a good year for the team I would certainly not be happy with it.
The Pats gave up a first round pick for this player which they will have for sure only 2 years. Considering that if he is not at least a 1000 yard WR (health provided) then I would say it will have been a bad trade. The value they invested in him is to be an impact player. Not just a good player.
If the team wins that is all the matters but if he comes in here to be just another piece then I would be made what they gave up for him.
I think you are focusing too hard on that number 1000 as opposed to the offense in general. Instead of looking at what individuals are doing look at what the pass offense as a whole is doing. 45-4800 is a reasonable goal for this team. How that is spread out really doesn't matter.
For example if you broke it down like this: 850 for Cooks, 850 for Edelman, 550 for Hogan, 450 for Mitchell, 35o for Amendola, 850 for Gronk, 500 for Allen, 850 for all the RB's combined, you'd have around 5200 passing yds without anyone being a 900 yd receiver. It's all about how many targets they get. It doesn't have anyting to do with how good they are individually. They are all good.
BTW- I see the run game being utilzed more, which will take away potential snaps from the receivers this season for the following reasons.
1. While I believe our OL is merely OK in pass protection, they have the potential to be elite in the running game. Everyone except Andrews, are all plus run blokers who can create seems.
2. All the Pats runners are quick hitting explosive types who can take advantae of that movementm, power and athletism of the OL to gash the smaller. quicker DL's that are in vogue these days
3. We have seen over the years an every increasing movement in the league to more and more passing. Bad QB's throw for 3500 yds, So it wouldn't surprise me a bit to see BB, even with all that receiving talent, to go against the grain and start the pendulum turning back to the run game.
Now I'm not looking for a quantum change in offensive philosophy. This will still be a passing first team, but whatever the pass/run percentage was last year, I wouldn't be surprised to see the run game percentage grow 5%.
Just a thought