Jacoby Brissett, Julian Edelman, LeGarrette Blount Post-Week 3 Fantasy Advice

The New England Patriots rolled to a 27-0 win over the Houston Texans on Thursday night, but it wasn't a great night for fantasy football owners who relied on many the Patriots' top offensive players.

Running back LeGarrette Blount was one of the exceptions, rushing for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Jacoby Brissett and Julian Edelman, on the other hand, didn't deliver much in the way of fantasy points.

Below is the outlook for all three players based on Thursday's game.

Jacoby Brissett

Comp./Att.	Yards	Avg.	TD	INT	Carries	Yards	TD
11/19	103	5.4	0	0	8	48	1

Credit Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for devising an offense that catered to Brissett. New England didn't post gaudy stats, though, which further clouds whatever small fantasy value the rookie QB has.

A healthy Rob Gronkowski would undoubtedly have been a boost for Brissett. According to ESPN.com's Mike Reiss, the All-Pro tight end played nine of the team's first 25 snaps.

Still, Brissett is largely a fantasy non-factor in standard leagues, Gronk or no Gronk. Tom Brady has only one game remaining on his Deflategate suspension after Thursday, which diminishes Brissett's fantasy ceiling in 2016.

In keeper leagues, the 23-year-old is a more intriguing case, since Brady can't be the QB forever. Either Brissett or Jimmy Garoppolo will ascend to the starting QB job at some point down the road.

Julian Edelman

Receptions	Targets	Yards	Avg.	TD	Carries	Yards	TD
4	6	38	9.5	0	3	14	0

Edelman had his third somewhat underwhelming week, but he remains a must-own in standard leagues, especially those that give points for every reception.

Anybody who drafted Edelman didn't expect him to post WR1 numbers every week. With that said, he would've ideally done more in Gronkowski's absence.

Depending on the state or your wideouts, Edelman might be a candidate to be benched in Week 4 before things are back to normal. While Gronk's return could eat into Edelman's targets, that impact will be offset by having Brady back in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns.

LeGarrette Blount

Carries	Yards	Avg.	TD
24	105	4.4	2

Blount's value could take a minor hit with Brady at quarterback. As long as he remains the Patriots' primary ball-carrier, though, he'll continue to be a productive starter in standard leagues.

Blount had 22 and 29 carries, respectively, in New England's first two games. While it's unrealistic to expect that to continue, his ability to punch the ball in at the goal line will ensure he maintains steady production throughout the year.

You're in major trouble if Blount is the best running back on your roster, and even RB2 may be a bit too optimistic over the long term. Starting Blount as a flex would offer a little more protection in the event his rushing numbers trend downward upon Brady's return.