Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots: Fantasy Context
By Raju Byfield
Rizzla takes a look at the fantasy implications of the surprising trade that sent Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots.
In the first notable move ahead on the offensive side of the ball ahead of next week’s trade deadline, the New England Patriots have acquired veteran receiver Mohamed Sanu for a second round pick. Adam Schefter was the first with the news.
The New England Patriots have apparently been hot on the tail of Sanu since the 2019 NFL Draft, and continued to press with Josh Gordon hampered, and Julian Edelman dealing with injury issues of his own. There appeared to be hope for the Patriots offense with the strong play of undrafted free agent Jakobi Meyers, and the pending return of N’Keal Harry, but the Patriots likely wanted cover for Gordon, who has failed to make the impact they expected this season.
In Sanu, the Patriots get a reliable possession receiver who can play both inside and outside. He is a tremendous run blocker and should help the Patriots efficiency in the running game. The price tag is extremely questionable for a rental, but the Patriots have likely already calculated the compensatory pick they will receive for him if they lose him next spring in free agency. Add to that the fact that a Patriots second is going to be at the end of the round. The Patriots still have three third round picks to work with on day two of the draft.
The Atlanta Falcons have signaled to their fanbase and to the rest of the NFL, that they understand they are in the midst of a lost season and are officially open for business. Edge rusher Vic Beasley is also said to be available, but may come at a much higher price tag due to his draft pedigree. The team may have to relent and accept that due to his salary they may only get a fourth round pick at best. This is a wonderful trade for the Atlanta Falcons who whiffed on the entire offseason by failing both in free agency and the 2019 NFL Draft. They hopefully understand that they need to improve their NFC worst defense to have any hope of being competitive in 2020. This move could also be a sign that Matt Ryan may be dealing with a significant injury that may limit him going forward.