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As 2014 NFL season has kicked off, you can tell the New England Patriots to break a leg as the team looks to make another run at postseason glory February — just don’t be telling tight end Rob Gronkowski that, or anything like it, for that matter. Sometime tells me he wouldn’t appreciate the sentiment.
The ferocious two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro TE has enjoyed success through four NFL seasons that most other players dream about, but few actually experience. His numbers speaks for themselves. Tom Brady has been more than partial to the 6-foot-6, 265-pound behemoth, and with good reason. Gronk has scored 42 touchdowns in 50 games, and has long established himself as one of the top TEs in the fantasy game.
However, fantasy GMs should exercise extreme caution before giving Gronkowski the starting nod for Week 1. The fifth-year TE is, after all, just nine months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. It isn’t just the knee, however; he has suffered ongoing injuries to his forearm and back throughout his career, both of which have been subjected to multiple surgeries in the past.
He took a hit in the minds of most owners this offseason, with his ADP tanking to 5.04. The Patriots will play the Miami Dolphins in their season opener, a team that surrendered the fifth-most points to tight ends only a year ago. Still, that doesn’t negate the inflated risk of playing Gronkowski at this time — not even close.
Understandably, it would be very difficult to bench one of the league’s most electric tight ends. Yet, fantasy owners proceed at their own risk in Week 1, as there is simply no telling what form he’ll be in after his latest ailments. The risk is simply too enormous at a position like tight end. Fantasy owners should sit Gronkowski to start the season.
