Cordarrelle Patterson's Frustrating Season Makes Him Fantasy Nightmare in Week 7

No player had more helium in fantasy circles coming into the year than Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. Six weeks into the season, however, it's time to accept the reality of the situation with the speedster. 

The optimism was understandable. Patterson entered the NFL with a lot of excitement as a speed freak and seemed to hit another gear late in his rookie season with six touchdowns in the final five games. 

After proving his believers right in Week 1 with 128 total yards and one touchdown against St. Louis, Patterson has been a bust in five games since. He's touched the ball 16 times (14 receptions, two carries) for 173 yards and no touchdowns. Here's how that translates in fantasy points, via Alex Gelhar of NFL.com:

Even as a returner, Patterson hasn't been the same. After leading the NFL with 32.4 yards per kickoff return in 2013, the former first-round pick has seen his average drop to 27 yards per return. That's still good for fourth in the NFL, though not what the Vikings were counting on. 

Among all qualified players, Patterson ranks 88th in yards (204), tied for 65th in receptions of at least 20 yards (three) and tied for 135th in yards per reception (12.0). This is for a wide receiver whose average draft position in ESPN fantasy leagues was 62nd, ahead of Michael Floyd, Emmanuel Sanders and T.Y. Hilton. 

There are reasons for Patterson's futile efforts in Minnesota's passing game. Vikings quarterbacks lead the league with nine interceptions and are 29th in completion percentage (57.9), 29th in yards per attempt (6.4), 30th in passing yards per game (194.8) and last in touchdowns (three). 

Then, put those numbers with these stats from Pro Football Focus, per Matt Vensel of The Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Those are ugly numbers that would make it impossible for any receiver to have fantasy value, let alone one who is so dependent on creating in space like Patterson.

The pressure seems to be weighing on the receiver, who had this to say about his role in the offense during an interview with Andrew Krammer of ESPN Radio 1500: "People expect a lot of things out of me, man," Patterson said. "But I'm only human. I only can do what I can do. I can't be a superman. I can't get everybody fantasy points how they want it. I just got to go in and play my game."

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Another problem for Patterson is his health. He told Ben Goessling of ESPN.com after Week 6 that a hip injury he suffered the previous week against Green Bay isn't 100 percent, though he did add that "I should be (100 percent) next week."

While the hip will explain Patterson's recent performance, it doesn't do anything to alleviate the concerns that have come up in the previous three weeks. 

This week, Patterson and the Vikings will be going to Buffalo. The good news is the Bills pass defense ranks 26th against the pass and tied for 17th with 10 touchdown passes allowed. 

Therein lies the conundrum every fantasy owner faces with Patterson. He's had the matchups to put up numbers, facing soft defenses in New Orleans, Atlanta, Green Bay and now Buffalo. Yet there is nothing to show for it since Week 1. 

It's hard to give up on a player with Patterson's playmaking ability. Devin Hester used to present the same problems for fantasy owners, but eventually you have to cut bait. 

At 23 years old, Patterson isn't at an age where you should release him if you're in a keeper league. If you are in a standard one-year league like most of us, there's no reason to think anything will get better. The Vikings offense is a mess, and he hasn't helped in five weeks. 

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