Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels offered the following about Julian Edelman, who seems to have taken over Wes Welker's spot:
"I think we have a lot of guys that can do different things and help us make some plays and move the ball. Julian is certainly one of those guys.
"He made quite a few plays the other day in the game and really helped us, and came up big, in a couple of those two-minute situations there. He's a guy that gives you everything he's got on every play. He's got speed and has caught the ball well for us so far this year. He's a returner and gives you an element of run-after-catch that I'd say is something he does fairly well.
"Not to say that we don't have other players that do it very well too, but Jules, I think, has earned the right to get out there and play. We used him a lot in the three-receiver sets opposite of Brandon, with Wes inside. And then used him a little bit in there in those two-tight end formations as well."
The use of Wes Welker, or lack thereof, remains one of the bigger mysteries of the fantasy season, although those questions may get put on hold until TE Aaron Hernandez returns. The Pats are expected to move to a three WR set without Hernandez for the next 4-6 weeks. Regardless, Edelman was taking away plays that in the past have gone to Welker, and he seems to be the Pats WR2. However, he's more of a third option behind Rob Gronkowski and Brandon Lloyd.
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