Aaron Dobson

Aaron Dobson in line to be Patriots starter?

New England Patriots wide receiver Aaron Dobson would be team's starting X receiver if the season started today, ESPN reporter Mike Reiss believes.

What It Means:

Dobson continues to impress without pads on -- and even flashed in past spring and training camp practices -- but he's never been able to stay healthy or deliver on his upside when the regular season begins. With just one year left on his deal, it's now or never for Dobson.

Dobson has never had a Reception Net Expected Points (NEP) per target mark above his 2013 rate of 0.66. Last year, on 21 targets, Dobson generated just a 0.57 rate in this metric.