WR Danny Amendola, New England Patriots

HT: 5-10, WT: 183, Born: 11-2-1985, College: Texas Tech, Drafted: ---

2013 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of May 21st. [Full ADP list]

Overall: P Garcon (63), R Wilson (64), Danny Amendola (65), A Luck (66), A Brown (67)
Position: M Wallace (58-WR22), P Garcon (63-WR23), Danny Amendola (65 - WR24), A Brown (67-WR25), T Smith (68-WR26)
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PPR Average draft position

Current as of May 21st. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: C Kaepernick (53), D Bowe (54), Danny Amendola (55), P Garcon (56), M Stafford (57)
Position: E Decker (52-WR20), D Bowe (54-WR21), Danny Amendola (55 - WR22), P Garcon (56-WR23), A Brown (59-WR24)
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Outlook

With Wes Welker gone, Danny Amendola will pick up the role of 'slightly undersized receiver with great hands and fantastic ability after the catch'. Younger and closer to the start of his career than the end, Amendola is just hitting his stride. While his numbers have never been all that great—the last two years due to injury—that was in part because of the4 misfiring offense of the St. Louis Rams. Amendola has the ability to really take advantage of what a quarterback like Tom Brady has to offer, and with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez possibly missing the start of the season, Brady could rely on him a lot. If that happens, it's only a matter of staying healthy.

Latest News

Patriots | Danny Amendola gets on same page with Tom Brady (Tue May 21, 02:49 PM) - New England Patriots WR Danny Amendola is working on getting on the same page with QB Tom Brady. The two worked out together earlier in the offseason in California and are now taking part in organized team activities. 'I said it today; he darted me in the chest with one ball, and inside my head I was like, 'Wow, this guy can really wing it,'' Amendola said after Tuesday's practice. 'That's why he's Tom Brady.'

Our View: The chemistry between Amendola and Brady should build quickly. Amendola is set to play the Wes Welker (Broncos) role in the offense this year. The two players have a similar skill set and in fact it was Amendola who followed Welker at Texas Tech. If he can stay healthy for a full season then Amendola should catch over 100 passes in the Patriots' high octane offense.
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2013 Schedule

2012 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Danny Amendola looked like the #1 WR for STL and Bradford leaned on him heavily. Amendola was used heavily in short routes and ran underneath a lot for his QB, hauling in short passes and getting a lot of yards after the catch for first downs. He was an excellent chain mover for his team and Bradford depended on him to get open many times. Amendola was also threat down the field, catching in deep in breaking routes and seam patterns for big chunks of yards against Detroit. He also had a shot at a deep pass down the sideline but QB misfired and overthrew the WR. Amendola has exceptional quickness and agility, with a great ability to run away from defenders and get open for his QB. He was heavily involved in the offense and helped them move in the redzone. However, he is not a redzone threat due to his short stature and the Rams had to look at bigger targets when they got in the redzone. Amendola helps the Rams take advantage of defenses who stack 8 men in the box vs. RB Jackson

Week 2 - Amendola started the Rams’ home opener in an ominous manner, fumbling his first reception for a Washington touchdown. He settled down immediately, catching his next five targets, and looking primed to threaten Brandon Marshall’s single-game reception record of twenty-one catches, while also getting his quarterback, Sam Bradford, in a solid rhythm. Amendola fell five receptions short, but still lit up the Redskins’ secondary for one hundred and sixty receiving yards. His touchdown reception was nothing special – a one-yard gut check pass from Sam Bradford – but Amendola found other ways to dazzle the home crowd. In the final minutes of the second quarter, Amendola hauled in his tenth reception from Bradford and turned it into a fifty-six yard catch-and-carry, exhibiting superb vision and agility. Arguably, no other player 
impacted the game like Amendola, especially for the Rams. He spent all afternoon exploiting the soft zone coverage that Washington employed, moving the sticks for the Rams and acting as a safety valve for Sam Bradford.


Week 3 - Amendola was held in check after his 15 catch, 160 yard performance last week. The Bears kept him blanketed all game, and he didn’t even have a pass thrown his way until there was only 1 minute left in the second half. His first catch was two plays later, a ten yard square in where Amendola was immediately tackled. His biggest play came on the second play of the third quarter – where Sam Bradford hit him in stride as Amendola broke up the hash mark. The pass was a bit high, but Amendola made a nice catch and run for a big 30 yard gain. It was the biggest play of the day for the Rams. Amendola had another great catch in the 4th quarter – a nice double move down the right hash mark where Bradford hit him in the open field for another 18 yard catch and run. He was the target of the pass two plays later, but Tim Jennings had position and knocked it away into the waiting arms of Major Wright. Bradford tried to get the ball into Amendola’s hand quickly on slants and quick outs, but the Bears were all over him. He finished the day with just five receptions. He also returned the punts for the Rams, but longest return was just 17 yards in the third quarter.

Week 4 - Amendola proved to be QB Sam Bradford’s safety blanket in this contest, routinely running underneath routes as he often does. He thrives on quick passes in the middle of the field and takes advantage of soft coverage underneath. His final line of 6 catches for 55 yards and 1 rush for 6 yards would look a lot less impressive had he not been the recipient of a TD pass from P Johnny Hekker on a fake field goal. Amendola has quick feet and can make defenders miss in space but does not have the long speed to stretch the field. He knows his role and plays it well.

Week 5 - Amendola looked spectacular on almost every catch he made. He showed excellent concentration and athleticism to catch a long pass that was slightly underthrown. Then, another very athletic attempt, leaping between three defenders but could’t quite hold on. And finally, an absolutely beautiful diving catch, but the ball touched the ground and upon review, was ruled incomplete. Amendola was hurt on that play, and did not return to the game. The clavicle injury may keep him sidelined for as many as 6-7 weeks.

Week 10 - Amendola had a great game, but was only an illegal formation penalty away from having an amazing day. Throughout the game, Amendola used his incredible quickness to gain separation on short routes, whether they were pivots or crossing routes, such as when he beat Carlos Rogers on a pivot, and with an accurate pass was able to catch and run with Rogers on his back. After the catch, Amendola often showed the determination and power to turn up field and shed tacklers to pick up extra yardage, such as on a screen pass where he ran through arm tackles for an 11 yard gain. And it wasn’t just short routes that Amendola was able to gain separation, such as in the first half when Amendola beat his man down the sideline, but Bradford under threw him. The next time Amendola had his man beat down the sideline Bradford threw a perfect deep ball for Amendola to run underneath. Catching the ball and shedding Carols Rogers, Amendola was in a full sprint to the end zone and was only kept out by a diving safety 80 yards downfield. However, the incredible play was nullified by an illegal formation penalty. Later in overtime, Amendola ran a slant, and with the corner hanging on his back, Amendola plucked the ball out of the air for a 1st down, showing incredible strength, concentration and timing for a receiver fresh off a serious injury.

Week 11 - Despite leaving the game late in the first half with what looked to be an Achilles injury, he returned in the second half, but was unable to make any big plays down the field. He even left for a few plays in the third quarter after clutching his previously injured right shoulder, and yet, Amendola grinded out the rest of the game, leading the Rams’ receivers in snaps and targets. While the foot injury was a non-contact injury, the diminutive receiver does take a ton of shots and should think about going down instead of being pinballed between defenders. Regardless of Bradford’s atrocious performance, Amendola still had a good day in PPR leagues, and with his quickness and ability to make plays down the field (Bradford missed him on a few throws downfield), he’s a must start in just about every fantasy league.

Week 12 - Amendola wasn't in on every snap, but he did make the biggest receiving play for the team down the left sideline in the first half. Amendola used his acceleration to escape man coverage and catch the ball over his shoulder for 38 yards.

Week 15 - Amendola's first reception came on first and 10 underneath dropping coverage for eight yards. Amendola's second reception went for a first down when he ran a quick out for five yards. Amendola caught a crossing route underneath for five yards on third and five. Bradford went straight back to Amendola for a touchdown as he rolled out of the pocket and Amendola came free at the back of the endzone. Amendola made an outstanding reception deep over the middle after running straight down the field and absorbing a big hit from a defensive back. Amendola caught the two point conversion over the middle of the field after Lance Kendricks' touchdown in the fourth quarter. Amendola caught a quick out for a first down when the game was lost on the Rams' final drive.

Week 16 - A tough game for Amendola, as the receiver was unable to separate from his coverage. Bradford was also unable to throw precise passes that might have freed Amendola up a bit and this ultimately lead to the wide receiver having a meager output. Amendola was also responsible for a fumble on a short hook route, as the receiver caught the ball and took a heavy blow from the defender, but St. Louis was able to recover. Even though his receiving numbers were low, Amendola did contribute an excellent downfield block during Lance Kendricks’ long touchdown. With both safeties converging in the middle to squeeze Kendricks, Amendola pushed one in to the other and then blocked both, allowing the tight end to run the last chunk of yards free from pressure.

Week 17 - Clearly Bradford’s favorite target, Amendola led the team with nine targets. Amendola was only able to corral four of his targets for a paltry 27 yards, however. Working exclusively shorter routes, Amendola’s long was only nine yards on a short toss over the middle as the Rams tried to get into FG range just before half. Amendola did receive one red zone target, but the coverage was in perfect position and Bradford was forced to go high on his throw, overthrowing the WR considerably. Amendola looked incredibly quick, but the physical DBs combined with Bradford spreading the ball around made for a tough day for Amendola.