Is it or is not it time to freak out about many of our consensus round 1 or round 2 start up dynasty draft selections, Cordarrelle Patterson? An athletic freak with measurables that would have to be otherwise created in a laboratory, but, does all that matter? We have seen lesser talent prevail before, and, talent similar to Patterson’s never sustain. So which is it?
So many times we’ve heard people around Patterson say his lack of or inconsistent production is volume based. Here are Cordarrelle Patterson’s “touches” by week since the NFL season opener.
- WEEK 1: 5 Targets, 3 Carries
- WEEK 2: 7 Targets
- WEEK 3: 5 Targets, 1 Carry
- WEEK 4: 4 Targets
- WEEK 5: 4 Targets
- WEEK 6: 8 Targets, 1 Carry
- WEEK 7: 4 Targets. 1 Carry
- WEEK 8: 12 Targets. 1 Carry
- WEEK 9: 7 Targets
To-date Patterson is averaging a modest 6.2 targets per game, hardly what we’d expect from a sophomore player we drafted so highly. Yet what is most interesting about the passes Cordarrelle is seeing is the rise in their average depth of target. Patterson has seen an obvious growth as its jumped from 8.5 yards (2013) to 11.4 yards (2014). Clearly the Minnesota Vikings have made a concerted effort to use Patterson outside of the typical bubble screens or near LOS (line of scrimmage) gadget pass plays. So is it Norv Turner or is it Cordarrelle?
Said it on draft day, said it last season, said it this season already: Cordarrelle Patterson doesn’t know how to run routes.
— Alen Dumonjić (@Dumonjic_Alen) November 2, 2014
Aside from a subpar per target receiving percentage 46.4%, a serious drop from the 58.4% he averaged in 2013, Patterson has also at times looked completely inept in this Vikings offense. Whether it be slowing down during a route, taking poor angles against opposing secondary’s, bad player utilization or shaky quarterback play he has been extremely up and down in his 2014 sophomore season. So is it time to buy or sell on C-Patt?
Cordarrelle Patterson with a touchdown just when every last fantasy owner has given up on him. — Paul Charchian (@PaulCharchian) October 19, 2014
I think the tweet above speaks volumes to the state of Patterson owners confidence. Personally I am buying him everywhere I can, and, not selling at all unless the deal is too good to be true. Despite what his box scores show, his performance thus far in 2014 should change very little for dynasty owners as far as how they value Patterson. The educated owner realizes Cordarrelle Pattrson is not 100% to blame for his inconsistencies, while the uneducated Patterson owner strictly sees box scores, and, does not recognize the rapport Bridgewater and Patterson are building.
Oh jeez. CordarrellePatterson was open on a blown coverage by 20 yards. Teddy overthrew him. I’m going to puke.
— Adam Levitan(@adamlevitan) November 2, 2014
Take week 9 for instance, Patterson finished the game with 1 catch for 7 yards on 7 targets. In this game Patterson blew the top off his coverage deep down the field on a would be 50+ yard touchdown, but, Teddy Bridgewater missed him badly. This is the type of play that would have changed Patterson’s afternoon from 1.7 PPR points to 13.7 on a single pass. This example may only be a small sample, but, it just goes to show the game breaking potential that Cordarrelle possesses & Teddy’s willingness to utilize it.
FINAL THOUGHT: There is only one certainty in this entire world about Cordarrelle Patterson; the owners whom are dying to trade him for pennies on the dollar today will be the same ones ransoming the rights to him tomorrow when he flashes his game breaking abilities once again. So with C-Patt on a bye in week 10, Adrian Peterson set to potentially return, and a week off for the Vikings to refine their offensive game plan, there may be no better time to make a play for Patterson before the price inevitably goes back up.
