RADIO
Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Leonard Hankerson wasn’t without a football team for very long. Just a day after the Falcons released him off injured reserve the New England Patriots claimed him off of waivers.
Hankerson started the season playing really well for the Falcons. Thus far this season he has 26 receptions for 327 yards and three touchdowns. There was a point earlier in the season when he seemed to take over for Roddy White as quarterback Matt Ryan’s second option after Julio Jones. Unfortunately, Hankerson suffered an injury and was never the same.
The Falcons may, however, have done Hankerson a favor. If Hankerson has any future in the NFL, he should do great with Tom Brady throwing him the football.
Hankerson has no value for the rest of 2015, but he could be worth a roster spot next season if he sticks in New England.
Speaking of Patriots receivers, Julian Edelman was practicing again on Wednesday and reportedly looked great running routes. When he first suffered his foot injury, we didn’t know if Edelman would even be able to return come playoff time, but now it sounds like he may still return during the regular season.
Edelman’s Week 15 status is still up in the air, but if he plays he should be considered a WR2. Normally he’d be a WR1, but his health would downgrade him slightly.
Through nine games Edelman hauled in 61 passes for 692 yards and seven touchdowns.
Edelman’s return would also have a huge impact on Brady, who has struggled to find a receiver who can catch a pass without Edelman in the lineup. It is clear that outside of tight end Rob Gronkowski and Edelman, Brady doesn’t have a target he can trust in the receiving game.
One wide receiver that has already been ruled out for Week 15 is Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Vincent Jackson. Jackson is out with a knee injury and will miss Thursday night’s game against the St. Louis Rams.
Jackson hasn’t had a very good season, so his absence shouldn’t hurt anyone who is lucky enough to still be participating in his or her fantasy playoffs. Through 10 games he has had 33 receptions for 543 yards and three touchdowns.
However, Jackson’s absence will have a big impact on teammate Mike Evans. Without Jackson in the lineup, Evans should see a ton of targets and should be considered a high end WR2 this week.
