Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will finally make his long awaited season debut Sunday, and fantasy owners everywhere are surely excited to get the star tight end off their bench and into their lineup. However, there is always concern about whether or not an injured player will be able to make an immediate impact, and Gronk has not played in a very long time.
However, owners should feel very comfortable starting Gronkowski this week. Tom Brady has missed him tremendously over the first six weeks, and he will target Gronk as often as he can. Gronkowski has a history of success against the New York Jets, with 18 receptions for 222 yards and 4 TDs in his last three games against New York.
Related: Fantasy Football: Rob Gronkowski’s Return Big Boost to Tom Brady’s Value
The Jets have also struggled to cover tight ends this season, and Tony Gonzalez was able to have a big game against them two weeks ago. Gronk may not see a full slate of snaps, but he will definitely get enough to make an impact.
Even if Gronk gets something in the range of 5o yards and a touchdown, he is going to be better than most options at tight end. If you have been sitting on Gronkowski all season then it is safe to assume you don’t have a stud at tight end, meaning that even a limited Gronkowski is a significant upgrade.
This being Gronk, injury is always a concern, and there is no way of knowing if he will re-injure himself or find out early in the game that he is not as healthy as he thought. However, that is a risk that owners should be willing to take, and Gronkowski should be started in all formats on Sunday.
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