New England Patriots: 5 Most Important Players Of 2016

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Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) runs onto the field before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s a boring time of the offseason, so I decided to break down who I thought were the five most important players of the 2016 season for the Patriots.

Let’s get into it!

5. Julian Edelman

Julian Edelman went down early in week nine against the New York Giants last year. In the eight games before his injury, the Pats averaged 34.5 points a game, and Tom Brady averaged 338.6 passing yards a game. In the eight games after Edelman’s injury (including the Giants game), the Pats averaged only 23.6 points a game, and Brady only averaged 222.6 passing yards a game.

That is huge.

Now, obviously there were other players that went down in those last eight games, but my point stands. Edelman is a focal point of this offense, and when he is off the field, it just isn’t the same.

Danny Amendola does a hell of a job as an Edelman replacement, but he isn’t as quick or as explosive after the catch. Edelman is impossible to cover in 1-on-1 situations, which gives this offense a dynamic that is incredibly tough to stop.

If number 11 is healthy, this offense will be fine.

Next: Number Four

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