Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
QB Cam Newton had a fantastic season in 2013 for the Carolina Panthers. He focused on becoming a better pocket passer last season, and ended up posting career-highs in completion percentage and touchdowns.
While WR Brandon Lafell ended up benefiting a little from his quarterback’s increasing skill as a passer, there is no doubt that his outlook will look a little brighter now that he will be catching balls from a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback with the New England Patriots. During the 2014 NFL free agency period, the Patriots inked Lafell to a three-year, $9 million deal.
Many fantasy football owners may wonder if Lafell’s fantasy football stock will receive a bit of a boost in 2014 as well. Tom Brady made Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson look like fantasy studs on multiple occasions last year, so is it really that crazy of an idea to think that he can do that for Lafell this year?
According to Pro Football Reference, Lafell hasn’t scored over 100 fantasy points in standard scoring leagues throughout his entire career. One of the main reasons is that Lafell has never been a high priority on the Panthers’ depth chart. Fantasy owners should expect much of the same in New England, and depending on how Thompkins and Dobson perform in their sophomore seasons, Lafell may even find himself further down the depth chart.
2014 may be the first year in which Lafell is able to crack 100 fantasy points, but he shouldn’t be viewed as a player who will turn a corner just because he’s on a new team. Brady has had a habit of turning no-name receivers into household names many times throughout his career, but chances are that Thompkins or Dobson will be the recipients of the limelight rather than Lafell.
Alexander Muir is a writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @AmuirAlex, “Like” him on Facebook or add him on your network on Google.
