michaelredd9 Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 With the injury-proneness of the Patriots receivers, I can see Malcolm Mitchell having a big role in the fantasy playoff weeks. He is a must-add in dynasty. His Fanduel price is $4,500. I might use him this Sunday if Hogan is out. Malcolm Mitchell set to break Patriots' streak of disappointing rookie WRsMike ReissESPN Staff Writer FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and rookie wide receivers haven’t always been a productive pairing over the years, but 2016 fourth-round draft choice Malcolm Mitchell of Georgia is rewriting the script. Coming off a clutch performance in Sunday’s 30-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers in which he finished with four catches for 98 yards and an impressive catch-and-run 56-yard touchdown, Mitchell earned praise from Brady that usually doesn’t come the way of first-year pass-catchers. “I’ve just been impressed with him since the day he came in and his personality is infectious,” Brady said. “He’s growing along with everybody else. It’s been really great to see.” Rookie receiver s haven’t always grown in New England. In fact, it’s been an Achilles heel of sorts for the team and theories have been presented as to why, from the system being too complicated to Brady being a hard-driving leader who is tough to win over. The list of young pass-catchers who didn’t meet their draft status includes Bethel Johnson (second round, 2003), P.K. Sam (fifth round, 2004), Chad Jackson (second round, 2006), Brandon Tate (third round, 2009), Taylor Price (third round, 2010), Aaron Dobson (second round, 2013) and Josh Boyce (fourth round, 2013). The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Mitchell, whose feel-good book-club story generated a media buzz around the time of the draft, has shown promising signs that he won’t be joining that list. Just listen to Brady. “He’s very smart. I can’t say enough good things about him and what he’s accomplished, getting his opportunity and taking advantage of it,” Brady said Monday during his weekly appearance on sports radio WEEI’s “Kirk and Callahan” program. “I don’t know what people expected of him this year, but I know our coaches really liked him before the draft and I watched some tape of him the day of the draft just kind of because I knew we were interested. The things that I saw, I really liked.” Mitchell, who has 11 receptions for 193 yards on the season, played a season-high 65 snaps in Sunday’s win as he filled in for injured starter Chris Hogan. In his WEEI interview, Brady called him “a young kid who really wants to work hard and do the right thing," adding that he has a “positive personality, a smile on his face, and shows up to work every day with a great attitude.” That type of approach has helped the 23-year-old Mitchell earn respect from the oldest player in the locker room, the 39-year-old Brady. “That’s how you become a professional. You’re dealing with a lot of grown men and you come in at 22 or 23 years old, you better know that your competition is,” Brady said on WEEI. “The more you don’t really commit yourself, the harder it’s going to be. Malcolm has really committed himself to being the best player he can be and it’s really showed when he gets an opportunity.” One trait that stands out to Brady when it comes to Mitchell? “He’s got great hands, really big hands for a receiver … kind of like Gronk,” he said on the radio program. “Malcolm has such confidence in his hands and it’s great for run after catch because the ball never gets to your body and slows you down. You can really snatch the ball away from defensive backs.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaft Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 Yeah, I already picked him up, where I have the space. My teams' WR corps has been decimated with AJ Green's injury and A. Jeffery's suspension. The problem is that it's still the Patriots. They just spread the ball so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 The problem is that it's still the Patriots. They just spread the ball so much.correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelredd9 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share Posted November 26, 2016 I don't think the Patriots spread the ball around by design. They've had a mediocre receiving crew for years. When Brady has had elite receivers, they have put up big numbers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 I don't think the Patriots spread the ball around by design. They've had a mediocre receiving crew for years. When Brady has had elite receivers, they have put up big numbers.when did Mitchell become elite? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorcher Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 (edited) Brady seems to give everyone their chance. Last year he gave way too many to LaFell. He seems to develope favorites. If he compared him to Gronk, I would take that as a very favorable sign. Maybe not so much this year but after a year under his belt Mitchell could become elite because of Brady. Deion Branch comes to mind. He wasn't so much elite, but with Brady he was a top WR; went to Seattle and did nothing. Returned to Patriots and had decent stats with Brady. Edited November 26, 2016 by Scorcher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelredd9 Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share Posted November 26, 2016 when did Mitchell become elite? This type of post gets so tiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdko Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 What kind of upside would be realistic here with Edelman, and Gronk back in the lineup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 This type of post gets so tiring. these threads are tiresome. Guys done nothing all yr. He catches what was a very nice throw from Brady and took it to the house from what looked like broken coverage and now he's gonna go off. Anyone that picks him up and plays him in fantasy is going to be sorely disappointed. Book it.And the argument is what Brady does with elite receivers? Cmon.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelredd9 Posted November 27, 2016 Author Share Posted November 27, 2016 these threads are tiresome. Malcolm Mitchell is a speculative pick. All elite players are speculative picks at the beginning of their career. The Patriots have the best quarterback in football but have weak wide receivers. The Patriots have been lacking a good outside receiver for years. Mitchell has skills, the support of Brady, and little in the way of competition. And the competition he does have for snaps and targets, Gronk, Edelman, Bennett, Amendola, Hogan, are all very injury-prone. In fact, all but Amendola are hurt right now. If you find threads like this tiresome, then don't respond. You aren't obligated to respond to every single thread. For me, threads speculating about players with potential is the reason I am here. I already know OBJ, Julio Jones, and Mike Evans are elite. Winning at fantasy football is about finding future elite players before others do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 Nothing wrong with speculating about breakout players. It's great actually. But Mitchell aint him. He has 11 catches you going into week 12. He competes with Edelman, Gronk, Bennett, Hogan, Amendola and the rbs for targets. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImNotSoIgnorant Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 Malcolm Mitchell is a speculative pick. All elite players are speculative picks at the beginning of their career. The Patriots have the best quarterback in football but have weak wide receivers. The Patriots have been lacking a good outside receiver for years. Mitchell has skills, the support of Brady, and little in the way of competition. And the competition he does have for snaps and targets, Gronk, Edelman, Bennett, Amendola, Hogan, are all very injury-prone. In fact, all but Amendola are hurt right now. He's also a nice speculative pick in both of my keeper leagues which allow 4 and 5 keepers respectively. I might not hang on to him next year, but it doesn't hurt to have him be possibly held at the bottom of next years draft, particularly since I have space for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 As of right now I was dead wrong here 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaft Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 He's on my bench.*sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrab Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 5,42,2 on 7 targets, yes not bad. Brady seemed to like him quite a bit. Shame I didn't add him before the game, now I have to go through waivers and have little shot to get him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montana is da Man Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 5,42,2 on 7 targets, yes not bad. Brady seemed to like him quite a bit. And those 2 targets that didn't complete could have been big gainers and another TD. He let a really good pass slip right through his fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Where is our infamous check-in artist. Surely, with his insightful wisdom and near Nostradomis like player analysis, he wouldn't have missed this gem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelredd9 Posted November 29, 2016 Author Share Posted November 29, 2016 Even with Gronk playing only 7 snaps, Mitchell only played 47% of snaps. The week before he played 86% of snaps with Hogan out. It's hard to be a fantasy producer playing 47% of snaps. And Belichick likes veterans. It won't be surprising if Mitchell's performance won't earn him any more playing time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaft Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 As of right now I was dead wrong here Yeah, but it's still the Patriots. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowboutthemCowboys Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 (edited) Yeah, but it's still the Patriots. Lolyes lol. I'm sticking by my thoughts. Alot of people will start him going forward and be disappointed. Edited November 29, 2016 by HowboutthemCowboys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loaf Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 I took him in my Best Ball League...wouldn't trust him otherwise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrockStaysHigh Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 So would u start Hogan over Mitchell still? My Wrs have been ravaged by injuries so yeah I gotta start 1 of them haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mag112 Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 No go with Mitchell 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrab Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 I'm wondering what value he might have long term as a possible keeper for next year. Might add him if I can get him, last chance to add players who could be kept for 2017. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Def. Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 I'm wondering what value he might have long term as a possible keeper for next year. Might add him if I can get him, last chance to add players who could be kept for 2017. Hard to say and would depend on what else is rostered. NE does not have a good record with their drafted wideouts and both Edelman and Hogan are still around next year. On top of Brady another year older and has always tended to spread the ball around. I'd take a chance with him over some older pending free agents like DJax or the like. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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