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Who is Chris Hogan? Maybe Tom Brady’s next favorite wide receiver.
The Patriots went out and signed Hogan to a three-year, $12 million deal back in March, and the Bills didn’t feel the need to match. And so, New England adds a 6-1, 220-pound receiver that runs a 4.50, 40-yard dash.
Hogan was claimed by the 49ers back in 2011 as an undrafted free agent. He moved around before finding a spot with the Bills in 2012, and he wouldn’t even appear in a game until 2013. Hogan’s best seasons came the last two years in which he caught 77 passes for 876 yards and six touchdowns.
Those numbers are far from eye-popping, but keep in mind this happened with Tyrod Taylor, EJ Manuel and Kyle Orton throwing to him. Hogan was mostly the third wideout behind Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods. However, Hogan saw plenty of time as the No. 1 WR, filling in for Watkins whenever he was hurt.
Hogan still has an undefined role with the Patriots, but he could play that outside role for them; or with his speed and route running, he could fill in for Julian Edelman.
Danny Amendola is higher on the depth chart at the moment, but he took a pay cut for a reason. His three seasons in New England have been far from flawless, and he’s still battling minor injuries in the offseason.
That’s also true with Edelman, who still isn’t 100 percent since breaking his foot in Week 10 last season. They rushed him back in the playoffs, and he clearly wasn’t himself. So, Edelman had a second surgery on his foot in the offseason, although the team is saying he is on track to return for training camp.
Maybe, maybe not. But what we do know is that Hogan has remained relatively healthy through his short NFL career. Even if Edelman and Amendola are completely healthy, Hogan will still see time in the role Brandon LaFell filled the last couple years. Throw in those injuries and Hogan may be the fantasy sleeper of the year.
For a guy, that’s being ranked as the No. 73 wide receiver in the FantasyPros consensus rankings (as of late May), his upside is rather high playing in the Patriots offense. Are people really going to draft Devin Funchess (No. 60) or Torrey Smith (No. 53) before Hogan? I wouldn’t.
Obviously, Brady being out the first four weeks is an issue as is the addition of Martellus Bennett to the offense. And most people are giving Nate Washington (No. 74) the same kind of respect as Hogan.
Washington has had the longer and more productive career, but he will be 33 years old when the season starts, and he fell off a lot in the second half of 2015. Hogan is bigger, just as fast and five years younger than Washington.
Hogan may be new to the team, but as long as the preseason goes well, he could easily turn into the fourth or fifth option for Brady. And in this offense, that’s enough to produce.
Two years ago, LaFell finished with 74 receptions for 953 yards and seven touchdowns. Those types of numbers probably aren’t attainable, but reaching 600 yards and five touchdowns isn’t out of the question. Those numbers would’ve put him in the top 50 of wide receivers last season. Throw in some injuries to any of the other Patriots receivers and those numbers improve.
Chris Hogan’s upside – and floor – shouldn’t be taken lightly.
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