Week 5 vs Jacksonville
Rob Gronkowsi put up a signature 7-113-1 Gronk-esque line in Week 2. He is fantasy's TE1, to the surprise of no one.
This is the third week Gronk highlights the top of our TE rankings. If he stays healthy, we just may see this streak extend to 16 games. Simply put: If you drafted Gronk, start Gronk. This is now the third week I've copied this paragraph, and I'll copy it next week too If he's healthy.
Week 2 at BUF
After scaring owners early on with a hip pointer of sorts, Gronk came back on the field with authority, putting up a monstrous 5-94-3 line. Not on the Week Two injury report whatsoever, Gronk faces off against an opponent he has crushed in the past, averaging a 5.3-77.6-1.3 line in seven career games versus the Bills. The Bills defense may be improved since some of those games, but we're not sure anyone can stop a healthy Gronk from scoring fantasy points.
This is the second week Gronk highlights the top of our TE rankings. If he stays healthy, we just may see this streak extend to 16 games. Simply put: If you drafted Gronk, start Gronk. If Gronk finishes Week Two healthy, I plan on copying and pasting this analysis for Week Three.
Week 1 vs Pittsburgh
In Week One, Gronk starts what may just be his 16 week streak of being our projected TE1 for 2015 (not counting his bye week). Simply put: If you drafted Gronk, start Gronk. If Gronk finishes Week One healthy, I plan on coping and pasting this analysis for Week Two.
Fantasy Upside
Gronkowski is the most dominant tight end in real football and in fake football. Gronk averages a 4.75-67-.83 line over his CAREER. Those numbers include his rookie campaign and a few stretches of playing on snap counts while recovering from injuries. Anyone not ranking him as the top TE in 2015 is overthinking things.
Fantasy Downside
Aside from having missed 15 games over the last three years, there is no real downside to Gronk. Gronk spike. Gronk smash.
Bottom Line
Drafting Gronk early in the first round presents some philosophical questions about positional values. However, at his ADP in the early 2nd round, we would be all over one of the most dominant players at any position.
Week 20 vs Colts
In a plus matchup against a Ravens' secondary weak against TEs, Gronk put up a monstrous 7-108-1 line. In an unfair turn of events, this weekend Gronk faces a secondary even worse against TEs. The Colts give up the 29th most aFPA points to TEs, so, in short, Gronk should have a field day. He's our top non-QB fantasy commodity on the weekend.
Week 18 vs Ravens
The Ravens offer up a plus matchup to tight ends, but Gronk would undoubtedly be our top option this weekend if they didn't. We project him to score nearly double our second ranked tight end, in standard leagues, and over 60% more in PPR. Gronk, as always, is a no-brainer.
Week 17 vs Bills
In Week 16, Gronk put up a 6-31-1 line, fulfilling his championship week duties to his owners. In Week 17 we rank Gronk not as the top tight end, for the first time in over two months. With the toughest aFPA matchup to opposing TEs, and with question marks surrounding playing time, with the #1 seed already wrapped up, we have Gronk "only" as TE9, and TE10 in PPR.
Week 16 at Jets
Gronk's Week 15 opponent, Miami, did their best to hold Gronk down, keeping him entirely off the fantasy scoreboard in the first half. No problem for Gronk, though, who put up a cool 3-96-1 in the second half. There's no stopping the best fantasy tight end in the game, and we have him as our top TE option of the weekend. Again.
Week 15 vs Miami
In Week 14, Gronk put up a 8-81-1 line against a very tough aFPA matchup in San Diego. While his Week 15 opponent offers up the lowest aFPA out of anyone, we remain confident in Gronk's ability to score fantasy points, regardless of opponent. Even in this tough matchup, we have Gronk as our #1 TE options this week, as he has been every week for quite a while now.
Week 14 at Chargers
Gronk put up another signature Gronk line in Week 13, with a 7-98 line on a team-leading 12 targets. He also extended his "TD drought" to include all of two games. While this wouldn't be note-worthy for any other player, we know Gronk can't stay out of the end zone for too long. Despite the bottom 10 matchup this weekend, via aFPA, we rank Gronk as the top TE option, again.
