Edelman facing 4-game suspension

Patriots WR Julian Edelman is facing a 4-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Edelman has appealed the ban, so we'll see if it gets reduced. But fantasy owners should now be drafting as if he'll miss the first 4 games of the season. Edelman is returning from last August's torn ACL but had averaged 9.6 targets per game over the previous 3 seasons. So this is a big opportunity opening up in an offense that's finished top 12 in passing yards in an incredible 16 straight years. WR Chris Hogan is a good bet to serve as New England's #1 WR during Edelman's suspension. Jordan Matthews, Malcolm Mitchell, Kenny Britt, Phillip Dorsett and Cordarrelle Patterson will battle for snaps behind Hogan.

Patriots WR Julian Edelman announced his retirement. It's not surprising news if you've been following the reports on his knee trouble. Edelman finishes an 11-season career with 620 catches, 6,822 yards and 36 scores. He had some monster performances in the postseason, including 9-109-1 and 10-141 lines in the Super Bowl. The Patriots likely had a good idea that Edelman was done and added WRs Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne in free agency.

Patriots WR Julian Edelman is still "trying to work his way back" from the knee injury that cost him the final 10 games of last season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. We never got any details on that injury, but it was obviously significant. Edelman wants to play in 2021, per Rapoport, but it's unclear if his knee will let him. We'll keep an eye on the situation, but Edelman is hardly worth even a late-round dart in early fantasy drafts.

The Patriots aren't expected to activate WR Julian Edelman for tonight's game against the Bills, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that it's "unlikely" he returns for Week 17. We'll see whether that means the end of the 34-year-old's career. New England will close out the year with Jakobi Meyers, Damiere Byrd and N'Keal Harry as its top 3 wideouts.

Patriots WR Julian Edelman has been placed on the COVID list. He's been out since Week 7 and remains on IR with his knee injury. You can continue to ignore him in fantasy football.

Patriots WR Julian Edelman (knee) is expected to be placed on IR, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. That'd cost Edelman at least the next 3 games. Edelman had surgery on Thursday to address what's become a bone-on-bone condition in his knee. He simply hasn't looked right all season and can be dropped in fantasy leagues of 12 or fewer teams.