X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Disaster Recovery Week 3: Tom vs Time

Welcome to Disaster Recovery, where each week I'll examine why your studs played like duds.

This isn't a place to find out why you should have benched a player for somebody on your bench. Disaster Recovery is to examine the guys who you didn't think twice about benching, and deciding if you should be panicking at all about their value moving forward.

This season we'll be covering one dud per week. There will be two major qualifiers: the player must have performed well below expectations without an injury, and the player must be considered a must-start in most formats.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Rankings System

I'll also be implementing a new panic meter ranking system this year. It goes as follows:

  1. This week was a fluke. Don't panic!
  2. I still have full faith in this player, but there are some red flags. Be cautiously optimistic moving forward.
  3. There are genuine concerns here. Consider selling on name value, but don't panic too much unless you receive an offer you can't refuse.
  4. This player will not be the player you expected him to be. Regardless, his value may be too low to trade, and his ceiling is going to be better than anything you can get in return. Panic, but hold tight.
  5. Absolutely abandon ship. We're not coming back from this.

For Week 3, the premise is simple: The Patriots are struggling, and any Patriot struggle should be centered around the legendary Tom Brady. Can he rebound?

 

Tom Brady and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Tom Brady's Week 3 stats: 14 for 26, 133 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Brady also ran for two yards and was sacked twice.

Meet Them At The Crossroads

The Patriots may be at a bit of a crossroads. The defending AFC Champions followed up a loss to a tough Jacksonville team with another loss to a not-so-tough Detroit team. The game highlighted the weakness in the New England offense: a lack of playmakers.

In the past, the team seemingly through out a ton of players that would contribute out of nowhere. Currently, the only offensive contributors have been Rob Gronkowski and James White. Rookie Sony Michel piled up 14 carries on Sunday, but only piled up 50 yards. Chris Hogan has been a complete disappointment so far this season. Phillip Dorsett, the team's leading wide receiver at (gulp) 110 yards, didn't even receive a target.

The Patriots will meet the undefeated Miami Dolphins next week.

Tom vs Time

It isn't just the loss to the Lions that has us concerned about the Patriots. The Patriots have stumbled out of the gate for sure. But this feels different.

There's seemingly been a quiet rebellion amongst the NFL community calling for the fall of New England this year. Tom Brady is 41 years old. Father time remains undefeated. Tom isn't showing major signs of regression, but it doesn't seem like this version of Tom Brady will win with no-names around him like he has in the past. Tom Brady at age 41 needs help. Plain and simple. We know Gronk is going to Gronk, but there is a ton of uncertainty surrounding the rest of the group.

Island of Misfit Toys

As it currently stands, here are the Patriots that have been active so far this season that may be able to have an impact this season.

  • James White - At this point, we know what White is. He's Brady's pass-catching back right out of the backfield. He'll be a factor this season. But he won't be much more than that. The Patriots need a certain rookie to be able to produce...
  • Sony Michel - Michel was the biggest question mark/x-factor combination on the offense until a few days ago. Belichick spent a rare first-round pick on a skill player when he chose Michel at the end of the first this year. The rookie has gotten more and more work as the season as gone on, and will continue to gain more work with the loss of Rex Burkhead. Will Michel get the opportunity to be a breakout star on this team? It's certainly trending that way. Is he capable of being a breakout star? That's the question we'll be waiting for an answer on.
  • Phillip Dorsett - Dorsett seemed poised for a breakout season after a stellar Week 1, but a target-less Week 3 and recent acquisitions have spelled out the writing on the wall for Dorsett. He won't be the breakout player Tom Brady needs.
  • Chris Hogan - Hogan has been a disaster this year. Over three games, he has seven receptions for 84 yards, with a two-touchdown Week 2 being the saving grace of his season so far. Hogan is another conversation for another day when it comes to fantasy. I'm not ready to completely write him off, but his value is deteriorating, and he isn't the answer Tom Brady is looking for.

That's it. Luckily, Bill Belichick may have a few aces up his sleeve..

The Cavalry is Coming

Two receivers will be entering the fold soon, but both have major question marks.

The Forgotten Son

When Julian Edelman returns in Week 5, he'll be returning to the field for the first time since doing this.

Don't pencil Edelman in as a sure thing just because he has a great history with Tom Brady. Edelman is 32 years old, entering his 10th NFL season, and coming off a complete ACL tear that caused him to miss the entire 2017 season. Are we really banking on a 32 year old coming off an ACL injury to save the Patriots season? Adrian Peterson was the outlier, not the norm.

Still, it's hard not to imagine Edelman injecting some life back into this offense, even if he's only 50% of the player he was in 2016. Sans Gronk, nobody on the roster has a connection with Brady like Edelman has, and even Gronk is up for debate. Edelman has had at least 90 receptions and 970 yards in his last three healthy seasons with Brady. He'll be out to prove something when he returns. I'm not sure he's the answer, but he surely won't hurt the offense. Brady will welcome the veteran with open arms.

Destiny has arrived. Or should I say... Flash has. 

The Patriots acquired the infamous Josh Gordon right before Week 3. The man known as Flash. Ahhh....

Here are Josh Gordon's per game averages in every game he's played since 2013: 3.9 receptions, 59.5 yards, .2 touchdowns in 11 total games.

I don't need to explain the upside with Gordon, but I will anyways. Josh Gordon's four game stretch in 2013 of 774 yards and five touchdowns was one for the ages. He's only 27 years old, and really only has about three seasons of NFL wear and tear on him. He's an immensely talented player who just hasn't been able to get his life back on track for a variety of reasons.

Just when things were looking up for Gordon, he injures his hamstring in a promotional shoot and Cleveland ships him out of town to New England. Gordon couldn't have found a better situation, but the Patriots are as cut-throat of an organization as they come. Gordon needs to keep himself in check to have success in New England.

If you believe he can keep himself in-line, you have to ask yourself another question. What Josh Gordon will we be getting? The Josh Gordon who's averaging 60 yards a game, or the peak level Josh Gordon that nearly averaged 120 yards a game in a season.

Honestly, both would help the Patriots. I'm betting we get a Josh Gordon somewhere in the middle. And with Tom Brady throwing him the ball, things could get special. Here's an important fact you need to remember about Gordon's career year: his quarterbacks were Jason Campbell, Brandon Weeden, and Brian Hoyer. He's never played with a quarterback that has a quarter of the skill Brady has in the pocket.

Did I just turn this into a Josh Gordon column? I have no regrets. Let's get to Brady's panic meter.

Panic Meter: 3/5

If you can sell Tom Brady for a high price, I'd pull the trigger. Quarterbacks tend to be overvalued and Brady isn't looking like he'll be in that top, top class of fantasy quarterbacks. The question marks are piling up and time isn't on his side.

But for those who don't want to get rid of Brady, know this: it's Tom freaking Brady were talking about. I can't imagine the one touchdown games piling up. He may not be as crisp as he once was and the Patriots may find themselves struggling on offense at time, but I'm betting on Tom Brady before I'm betting against him.

Edelman and Gordon should help. Michel can only get better. Maybe Hogan will actually get back to form. Don't go full panic mode on Brady yet, but sell if somebody is willing to buy at a high price.

What To Watch For

Josh Gordon. Obviously.

Also, look for the Patriots to get their running game moving a bit more with Sony Michel, and look for how Brady's chemistry is with everyone not named Gronkowski and White. The Patriots desperately need to have a good game against an undefeated Miami Dolphins team. The clock is ticking on Tommy Terrific.

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Andrew McCutchen18 mins ago

Tommy Pham Idle On Saturday
Curtis Mead30 mins ago

Out Of Saturday's Lineup
Tyler O'Neill37 mins ago

Ryan Mountcastle, Tyler O'Neill Sitting On Saturday
Houston Texans47 mins ago

Texans Sign E.J. Speed To One-Year Deal
Gary Sánchez48 mins ago

Gary Sanchez Making Baltimore Debut On Saturday
Mickey Moniak57 mins ago

Remains Sidelined On Saturday
Mike Yastrzemski1 hour ago

LaMonte Wade Jr. Sitting On Saturday
Hunter Renfroe1 hour ago

Sitting On Saturday
Luis García Jr.1 hour ago

Luis Garcia Jr. Sitting Against Southpaw
Buffalo Bills1 hour ago

Bills, Christian Benford Reach Agreement On Four-Year Extension
Heliot Ramos2 hours ago

Hitting Leadoff Against Lefty
Spencer Steer2 hours ago

Out Of Saturday's Lineup
Gleyber Torres2 hours ago

Dealing With Rib Pain
Lars Nootbaar2 hours ago

Back In Leadoff Spot For Cardinals
Yoán Moncada2 hours ago

Yoan Moncada Making Angels Debut On Saturday
Josh Lowe2 hours ago

Rays Place Josh Lowe On 10-Day Injured List With Oblique Strain
Giancarlo Stanton2 hours ago

Resumes Hitting
D'Angelo Russell2 hours ago

Won't Play Versus Washington
Paul Goldschmidt2 hours ago

Leading Off On Saturday
Nicolas Claxton3 hours ago

Resting On Saturday
Ja Morant3 hours ago

Future In Memphis In Doubt?
David Bednar4 hours ago

Nearly Blows Save Opportunity On Friday
Jake Cronenworth5 hours ago

Hits Pivotal Home Run In Win
Brent Rooker5 hours ago

Hits Home Run No. 1 In Win Over Mariners
Jeffrey Springs5 hours ago

Strikes Out Nine, Picks Up Win In Shutout
Owen Caissie6 hours ago

Goes Deep In Season Opener
Detroit Lions17 hours ago

Lions Re-Sign Kayode Awosika
Irvin Charles17 hours ago

Jets Re-Sign Irvin Charles
Green Bay Packers17 hours ago

Kristian Welch Signs With Green Bay
Pittsburgh Steelers18 hours ago

Jeremiah Moon Heading To Pittsburgh
Teagan Quitoriano18 hours ago

Falcons Sign Teagan Quitoriano
18 hours ago

Tetairoa McMillan Scheduled To Visit With Panthers
Baltimore Ravens18 hours ago

Ravens Reach Three-Year Contract Extension With John Harbaugh
Duncan Robinson18 hours ago

To Miss Third Straight Game Due To Back Issue
Andrew Wiggins19 hours ago

Will Not Play On Saturday
Cole Anthony19 hours ago

Doubtful To Play On Saturday
Walker Kessler19 hours ago

Misses Friday's Game
Payton Pritchard19 hours ago

Iffy For Saturday's Action
Jayson Tatum19 hours ago

Ready To Return To Action Saturday
Tyrese Maxey19 hours ago

To Miss At Least Two More Games
Giannis Antetokounmpo19 hours ago

Available Against Knicks
Stephen Curry19 hours ago

Expected To Play Friday
Pavel Buchnevich19 hours ago

Expected To Return On Saturday
Austin Reaves20 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Saturday
Kaiden Guhle20 hours ago

Back In Action Friday
Cole Sillinger20 hours ago

Returns To Blue Jackets Lineup
Alex Pietrangelo20 hours ago

To Miss At Least Two More Games
Rui Hachimura20 hours ago

Not Listed On Injury Report For Saturday
Andrei Svechnikov20 hours ago

Returns To Action Against Canadiens
Brad Marchand20 hours ago

Ready For Panthers Debut On Friday
Ja Morant20 hours ago

Questionable For Saturday Night
Noah Clowney20 hours ago

Won't Play On Friday Night
Ziaire Williams21 hours ago

Available On Friday
Jake LaRavia21 hours ago

Will Be Re-Evaluated In 7-10 Days After Injuring Left Thumb
Trendon Watford21 hours ago

Will Play Against The Clippers
LaMelo Ball21 hours ago

To Undergo Surgery
Max Strus21 hours ago

Out Versus Pistons On Friday
Las Vegas Raiders21 hours ago

Devin White Signs With Las Vegas
Daniel Jones22 hours ago

Gets Vote Of Confidence From Chris Ballard
Stefon Diggs22 hours ago

Looking Forward To Playing With Drake Maye
Steve Erceg1 day ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Brandon Moreno1 day ago

A Favorite At UFC Mexico City
Jacksonville Jaguars1 day ago

Jaguars Cut Dieter Eiselen
Hunter Renfrow1 day ago

Visits Panthers
Manuel Torres1 day ago

Set For Co-Main Event
Drew Dober1 day ago

An Underdog At UFC Mexico City
New England Patriots1 day ago

Patriots Expected To Release Ja'Whaun Bentley
Joe Pyfer1 day ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Kelvin Gastelum1 day ago

Set For Middleweight Matchup
Vince Morales1 day ago

In Dire Need Of Victory
Raul Rosas Jr.1 day ago

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Kansas City Chiefs1 day ago

Chiefs Re-Sign Nazeeh Johnson
Saimon Oliveira1 day ago

Looks For His First UFC Win
David Martinez1 day ago

Set To Make His UFC Debut
Kevin Borjas1 day ago

Set To Open Up UFC Mexico City Main Card
Ronaldo Rodríguez1 day ago

Ronaldo Rodriguez Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Hunter Renfrow1 day ago

Meeting With Raiders
1 day ago

Kyle Williams Visiting With Handful Of Teams
NFL1 day ago

Tush-Push Ban Is Gaining Momentum
Jaden Schwartz1 day ago

Scores Twice On Thursday
Casey DeSmith1 day ago

Stops 46 Shots Against Calgary
Matvei Michkov1 day ago

Scores Twice, Adds Assist On Thursday
Nikita Kucherov1 day ago

Tallies Four Points In Victory
Connor Zary1 day ago

Departs Thursday's Game Early
Atlanta Falcons2 days ago

Falcons Agree With Kicker Lenny Krieg
2 days ago

Saints To Check Out Jaxson Dart's Pro Day
Matt Rempe2 days ago

Out Week-To-Week Due To Upper-Body Injury
Kyle Connor2 days ago

Expected To Be Available Friday
Mikael Backlund2 days ago

Ready To Return Thursday
Rasmus Andersson2 days ago

Good To Go Against Stars
Joel Kiviranta2 days ago

Misses Thursday's Game
Jason Zucker2 days ago

Unavailable Against Penguins
Evgeni Malkin2 days ago

Out On Thursday
Leo Carlsson2 days ago

Scores Twice On Wednesday
Jake Oettinger2 days ago

Stops 41 Shots On Wednesday
Jason Robertson2 days ago

Scores Natural Hat Trick In Victory
Jhonattan Vegas3 days ago

Not A Good Play At Houston Open
Gary Woodland3 days ago

A Dark-Horse Candidate At Houston Open
Nick Taylor3 days ago

Keep An Eye On Nick Taylor At Houston Open
Mackenzie Hughes3 days ago

Avoid Mackenzie Hughes At Houston Open
Nicolai Hojgaard3 days ago

Looking To Rebound At Houston Open
Scottie Scheffler3 days ago

Returns To Houston Looking For Year's First Victory
Rory McIlroy3 days ago

Making Additional Start At Houston Open To Prepare For Augusta
Doug Ghim3 days ago

Looking For Iron Form In Houston
Aaron Rai3 days ago

Keep An Eye On Aaron Rai At Houston Open
Si Woo Kim3 days ago

Looks To Build On Recent History At Memorial Park
Harry Hall4 days ago

Looking For Consistency At Texas Children’s Houston Open
Harris English4 days ago

Looking To Build Off Solid Finish At The PLAYERS
Sahith Theegala4 days ago

A Risky Option At Texas Children’s Houston Open
Alex Smalley4 days ago

A Strong Play At Texas Children’s Houston Open
Michael Kim4 days ago

Bounces Back At Valspar Championship
PGA4 days ago

Sungjae Im Looking For Bounce-Back Performance At Texas Children’s Houston Open
Austin Eckroat4 days ago

A Player To Avoid At Texas Children's Houston Open
PGA4 days ago

Nico Echavarria A Volatile Option At Texas Children's Houston Open
Joe Highsmith4 days ago

Continues Post-Win Success And Is Looking For More In Houston
Adam Hadwin4 days ago

Far From Good Form As He Heads To Texas
Ben Griffin4 days ago

Looking For Consistency At Houston Open
Sean Brady5 days ago

Dominates At UFC London
MMA5 days ago

Leon Edward Dominated At UFC London
Carlos Ulberg5 days ago

Extends His Win Streak
Jan Blachowicz5 days ago

Outpointed At UFC London
Gunnar Nelson5 days ago

Drops Decision At UFC London
Kevin Holland5 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Molly McCann5 days ago

Retires After UFC London Submission Loss
Alexia Thainara5 days ago

Wins Her UFC Debut
Chris Duncan5 days ago

Gets Submission Win At UFC London
NASCAR5 days ago

Bubba Wallace Earns New Career-Best Finish At Homestead
Alex Bowman5 days ago

Falls Short Of Winning At Homestead
William Byron5 days ago

Has An Underwhelming Day At Homestead
Chris Buescher5 days ago

Earns A New Career-Best Finish At Homestead
Ryan Preece5 days ago

Scores His Second Consecutive Top-10 Finish Of 2025 At Homestead
Denny Hamlin6 days ago

Savvy Pit Strategy Helps Denny Hamlin Win Stage 2 At Homestead
Chase Briscoe6 days ago

Moves Above Playoff Cut Line With Fourth-Place Finish
Joey Logano6 days ago

Misses Top 10 Again After Pit-Road Spin
Tyler Reddick6 days ago

Underachieves But Still Finishes Eighth
Justin Haley6 days ago

Earns First Non-Drafting Oval Top-10 Finish For Spire Motorsports
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Michael Florio's Football Show - Podcast RotoBaller Network

Florio's Football Show: Scouting NFL Draft Prospects!

Michael F Florio goes over some of the top prospects from this years NFL Draft. Florio talks about what he looks for when watching prospect tape and explains what traits translate best to the NFL level. Be sure to also tune into RotoBaller Radio on SiriusXM (SiriusXM channel 87) on Sundays from 6-7 am. You can […]


Najee Harris - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Dynasty Fantasy Football Buy or Sell: Najee Harris, Rico Dowdle, Jordan Mason

One year ago, we discussed the futures of Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Aaron Jones as those free agents found new homes. This year's headliners are Najee Harris, Rico Dowdle, and Jordan Mason. Not quite the same. Still, with every transaction come implications for dynasty fantasy football rosters across the globe. Below, we […]


Romeo Doubs - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Early 2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Undervalued NFC Draft Targets

While the 2025 fantasy football redraft season is still several months away, there is no such thing as being too prepared for your fantasy draft. Fantasy football is year-round, even for those who only play in redraft leagues. The landscape of fantasy football will change between today and the start of redraft season, with the […]


Detroit Lions Defense, Aidan Hutchinson - Fantasy Football DST Rankings, Streamers, IDP Sleepers

2025 Fantasy Football IDP Sleepers: Five Draft Targets

It's notably difficult to identify sleepers in fantasy football IDP leagues. The skill of the players in question is very important, but situation also plays a large factor, as does a recent history of injuries. Rather than bucketing them into groups, it's better to analyze each one individually, look at where they are in terms […]


Ashton Jeanty - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

Ashton Jeanty's Top Potential Landing Spots For 2025: Fantasy Football NFL Draft Outlook

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty will enter the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the best prospects in the class. Jeanty just ran for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns across 14 games this past college season. Those 2,601 rush yards were the second-most of all-time in FBS history, only behind Barry Sanders's 2,628 rush yards […]


Bhaysul Tuten - NFL Draft Prospects, Rookie Rankings

2025 Fantasy Football Rookie Mock Draft: 12-Team, Single QB

The 2025 NFL Combine has now been completed, so it's worth doing another mock draft to see where everyone stands after the league's pre-draft testing event. Overall, there were a few surprises, but the order of many players will remain the same. The mental domain of the original rankings, which have been fairly set in […]


Rashid Shaheed - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Later-Career Breakout Candidates

Typically, most NFL players break out in the early parts of their careers. Between the ages of 20 and 25 is when you expect to see the majority of players have their first big season. Some waste no time and put together excellent years while they're rookies, while some need more time to develop. These […]


Davante Adams - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

NFL Free Agency Tracker - Updates On Every Free Agent Signing (2025)

HuThe NFL offseason is starting to heat up, and the league's legal tampering period is set to begin on March 10 at noon Eastern. Free agents cannot officially sign until the new league year begins on March 12 at 4 p.m. Eastern, but deals will be agreed to, and news will be coming in quickly […]


Marvin Mims Jr. - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Early 2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Undervalued Draft Targets For Every AFC Team

Fantasy football is year-round, even for those who only play in redraft leagues. Much will change over the next several months, including the rest of free agency, the NFL Draft, and training camp. However, it’s never too early to look at potential sleeper candidates and undervalued draft targets for next season. Therefore, let’s look at […]


Kirk Cousins - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Worst NFL Contracts: Seven Overpaid, Overvalued Players For 2025

Free agency is in full swing, and teams are handing out big contracts left, right, and center. Myles Garrett became the highest-paid non-QB just a few weeks ago, and Ja'Marr Chase broke that record almost instantly! But big contracts aren't always a success; just ask these teams. These teams had high hopes when they spent […]


Tank Bigsby - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Fantasy Football Dynasty Sleepers - Undervalued Running Backs For 2025

Getting ahead of the game is the name of the game in any game, especially if that game happens to be dynasty fantasy football and you want to find underrated running backs to add to your rosters. The shelf life for many RBs isn't very long in the NFL, so it's a position you want […]


Najee Harris - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Fantasy Football Outlooks For RBs On New Teams: Najee Harris, Javonte Williams, Rico Dowdle, Jordan Mason, Raheem Mostert, Elijah Mitchell, more

Free agency has fueled a massive wave of player movement that has transformed the fantasy landscape. This includes the results that have emerged after a collection of running backs garnered contracts that will launch them into new environments this season. These backs will be challenged to replicate the prolific numbers that were assembled by the […]


Ja'Marr Chase fantasy football rankings NFL DFS lineup picks

Dynasty Fantasy Football WR Rankings Analysis – Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Malik Nabers

There's no question that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, and New York Giants wideout Malik Nabers are all elite receivers with sky-high production potential for fantasy football. Lousiana State University is WRU, without a doubt. This trio, along with Brian Thomas Jr., proves it. While we won't be covering […]