Fantasy football impact: Rob Gronkowski waiver wire replacements
After missing basically the first four weeks of the fantasy football season, Rob Gronkowski will reportedly miss the rest of 2016. Multiple news outlets report the Patriots tight end will undergo back surgery on Friday to repair a herniated disc. If that sounds familiar, it's because Gronk also underwent similar back surgeries in 2009 and 2013.
Fantasy football owners is a tizzy, should take a deep breath. While he averaged better than 21 fantasy points per game in October, Gronkowski really only impacted those four games. In the other four games in which he was active, he caught four passes for 67 yards. He finishes the season averaging 12.3 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues. If you’re quick to the waiver wire and take advantage of playoff matchups, you can hedge if not improve upon the 12.3 FPPG average.
Here are the teams allowing the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends and their fantasy playoff schedule:
For our Week 13 tight end rankings, please click here. Our Gronkowski update will be posted as part of overall Week 13 rankings update on Saturday, but there are plenty of options to consider. Martellus Bennett seems the obvious choice, but he's also battling ankle/shoulder injuries and is far from 100 percent despite a pledge to play in Week 13. Bennett has scored double-digit fantasy points (PPR) only once in his last six games.
If you plan on living the stream and swapping out tight ends over the next four weeks, give the Chargers' Hunter Henry and Giants' Will Tye a long look. San Diego faces the Panthers Week 14 and Browns Week 16, two of the worst defenses against the tight end. Yes, Antonio Gates still lingers, but Henry has scored in back-to-back games. Tye faces a Lions' defense that's allowing these averages to tight ends (per game):
6 Recs. | 57 Rec. Yards | 9 TDs (season) | 17.5 FPPG (PPR)
Vernon Davis is another solid candidate to replace Gronk. Jordan Reed is still dealing with his separated shoulder sustained on Thanksgiving and isn't on schedule to play Week 13. Davis averaged better than 13 fantasy points per game earlier this season with Reed out. Davis has scored double digit fantasy points (PPR) in five out of his past six games.
Bonus Pick: Cameron Brate. Although his fantasy points-per-game average has dipped over the past two weeks, Tampa Bay's tight end faces the Saints pass defense twice during the fantasy playoffs. Brate is averaging better than 12 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues and is available in 42 percent of leagues on FOXSports.com
WATCH: Fowler & NESN - Waiver Wire Tight Ends (before Gronk news broke)
