New England Patriots: Who is the favorite target of Tom Brady in 2016?

The case for James White

Unlike Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett, Brady knows how to use his pass catching backs. That much was clear in Week 5 when White ripped off several big gains after snagging short passes from Brady.

Through five games, White boasts 17 receptions, 165 yards and seven first downs. 134 of those 165 yards have come after the catch, which isn’t too surprising considering where White normally receives passes on the field.

In many ways, this is a dream scenario for White. He is almost the forgotten man in the Patriots’ passing game, as opposing defenses are much more preoccupied with Edelman, Gronk and Bennett than they are with the undersized Dion Lewis clone.

Brady loves using those running backs out of the backfield, especially when the pass rush gets in his face. The case for White as Brady’s favorite target may not hold much water in comparison to Edelman, Gronk and Bennett, but it’s worth remembering the value of White nonetheless.

Next: The case for Chris Hogan