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Julian Edelman Fantasy Outlook Drops With Quarterback Change

Max Staley
Julian Edelman's fantasy outlook took a hit when Tom Brady left.
Julian Edelman's fantasy outlook took a hit when Tom Brady left. / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
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Julian Edelman and Tom Brady had a special connection. Edelman was always exactly where Brady wanted him to be, and Brady's pinpoint accuracy helped Edelman make explosive plays after the catch. Unfortunately, Brady is now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While losing the greatest quarterback of all time would be too much for most franchises to overcome, the New England Patriots somehow stumbled into another former league MVP in Cam Newton. Superman will help keep the offense afloat, but it's hard to envision this switch being good for Edelman's fantasy football value.

Julian Edelman Fantasy Football Outlook

As mentioned above, Brady and Edelman were a perfect fit. Brady favors shorter, quicker routes and that's Edelman's bread and butter.

Newton, on the other hand, is much more of a gunslinger when healthy. During his 2015 MVP season, Newton had the league's second-highest average depth of target (aDOT). That has come down a bit in recent years, but Newton clearly represents a shift in style. Also, Brady just straight up loved Edelman, targeting him an average of 152.7 times per year over the past three seasons.

Even as the clear-cut No. 1 receiving option in Foxborough, Edelman is far from a guarantee to see that kind of volume again in 2020.

It's not all bad, as Newton's ability to keep plays alive could help Edelman generate some more chunk plays downfield. His yards per catch should definitely increase with Newton at the helm.

Edelman currently has an average draft position (ADP) of WR32. That's right about where he should be going. He's best viewed as a rock-solid WR3 in PPR formats and checks in at WR29 in our 2020 fantasy rankings.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

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