The Patriots have once again swapped out a veteran wide receiver for yet another productive workhorse. 2012’s version replaces Ochocinco with 31 year old Brandon Lloyd. After an impressive 2010 campaign which many forget led the NFL in receiving yards, Lloyd has been snatched up by a team that loves finding veteran production.

The Boston Herald claimed Brandon Lloyd was “dynamite” throughout the off-season program and could be a great fit for the team moving forward. Although with Brady’s new found love for looking Rob Gronkowski’s way on just about every single down, some feel the outside wide receiver position is somewhat irrelevant in the Patriots offense. Great success has either made or missed the likes of Deion Branch, Randy Moss, Joey Galloway, Jabar Gaffney, Reche Caldwell and of course Ochocinco. The Patriots definitely have their style, and tend to prefer a player that has been around the block. A target who can adapt on the fly, handle complex patterns, and fit the offensive scheme. Randy Moss is the lone exception; he made a living catching the deep ball, and despite what anyone says about his “go-route” role for the team, he was a success story and a bargain player that made the team better.

Fantasy owners who bought into the Ochocinco fiasco are certainly not interested in Brandon Lloyd’s potential. Yet until he crashed and burned in New England, Ochocinco had only ever worn the color orange. His production hinged on grasping a new offense, which was a completely new experience. Brandon Lloyd on the another hand is now joining his 6th team, 3rd in two seasons, after being traded mid-season by the Broncos. Lloyd has caught passes from many different QB’s, and despite his short time as a Ram, he was able to contribute 51 catches, 683 yards, and 5 touchdowns. All this from a player that went to a completely different training camp.

Fantasy Factor: Brandon Lloyd’s current Fantasy ADP is 5.02, which is a lot higher than many would expect. There are some flashy fantasy targets available around the 5th round so Lloyd’s stock may get overlooked. The newest Patriot wide-out could be in for a huge season but does come with some risk. Brady loves to spread the ball around and has huge trust in his Tight ends. Lloyd is not a player you want to reach on, but he is definitely a player you don’t want to overlook.