A Closer Look: Patriots WRs

We know the obvious targets, but lets take a closer look at the WR group:

Randy Moss - What is there to say that you don't already know? The 6' 4" 210 pound Moss is coming off a 1008 yard 11 TD season on 69 receptions. With Tom Brady back under center, those number will most definitely improve and be closer to 2008's absurd numbers (98 catches, 1493 yards, 23 TDs)! Yes, he has the occasional drop, but Moss is a boss on the field and his chemistry with Brady this year is going to be clutch.

Wes Welker - No wide receiver has caught more balls the past two seasons than the elusive 5' 8" Welker. With 111 catches last year and 112 the year before, Welker is more than just a check-down when Moss is covered. Look for him to eclipse the 100 catch and 1000 yard plateaus again if he can stay healthy.

Joey Galloway - Coming off a down year (13 catches in 9 games), the 37-year old Galloway is looking to rebound to his 2005-07 form where he had 1000 each season. Obviously it will be tough to reach that type of yardage with the players around him, but he is going to be a valuable weapon is this explosive offense. Galloway still has wheels and is one of the faster WRs in the league, so when he's on the field Welker can push inside to the slot where he's at his best. Opposing safeties will have to pick their poison at that point because Welker will be over the middle, Galloway stretching the field deep, and Moss can be anywhere. If the oft-injured wide-out can stay on the field, look for him to be more involved than Jabar Gaffney was lining up opposite Moss.

Greg Lewis/Julian Edelman/Sam Aiken - These three wideouts will be battling for reps in the fourth and fifth receiver spots. Lewis was acquired from the Eagles in May, and Belichick mentioned how he was looking to add the versatile Lewis for some time now, and he may be the best of this bunch. Edelman is one of the more popular names in camp playing all over the field after playing QB at Kent State. Julian showed a good understanding of the position and playbook hauling in five passes with the first team in the Eagles' preseason game. Sam Aiken will struggle to get on the field at wide receiver (he caught 9 passes last year and not more than two in any game). What do all three of these players have in common though? They can all really help the squad on special teams which will probably help in keeping them on the final 53-man roster.

Tom Brady is back and throwing the rock again, and this looks like a good bunch to be on the other end.

In case you missed it, check out the RB competition.