Is This The Week Rob Gronkowski Breaks Out For Patriots -- And Fantasy Owners?
BOSTON (CBS) -- Is this finally the week Rob Gronkowski breaks out?
That's the question on the minds of not just New England Patriots fans, but fantasy football owners who invested a high pick on the tight end. A hamstring injury he suffered in training camp has severely hampered Gronk's output, and he has just one catch in his two games so far this season. He's been used mostly as a blocker and a decoy, and wasn't even targeted in New England's Week 3 win over the Texans.
So with Tom Brady returning this weekend against the Cleveland Browns, is this the week Gronk is unleashed? CBS Sports Fantasy Football expert Dave Richard joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich on Thursday morning, and despite some injury concerns, says there's no way you can sit Gronkowski this weekend.
"You would think so, but there is a report out there that says he isn't 100 percent. I went back and watched him play last week, and he didn't even run a route in the first quarter," said Richard. "In the second quarter when he was running around, he looked like Frankenstein out there. In the second half, it looked like he got a little loose and he had to run routes because they were playing from behind, but it baffles me that he ended up not doing anything. I don't get it, but hopefully with Tom Brady back the offense will be in sync quickly.
"It's a great matchup, so I don't see how you can sit Gronkowski," he said.
Richard also passes along some advice for Odell Beckham Jr. owners, and gives a few replacements at running back if you have Latavius Murray on your roster: