Rob Gronkowski Making Case to be 2012 First Round Fantasy Draft Pick

Alex Dunlap, Rosterwatch.com

Why not? Just because he is a Tight End? That is why you should.

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has averaged a position-high 15.3 fantasy points a game in 2011. In second place is Saints TE Jimmy Graham with a very, very sick average of 12.2. After that, you get down to the 3rd ranked TE in Tony Gonzalez at 9.5 points.

He averages more fantasy points per game in standard leagues than any WR in the league today.

He has Tom Brady throwing him the ball, and has forced himself into an overly productive offensive system as an unlikely receiving centerpiece.

Fantasy Football players need to understand that winning in fantasy football is not about scoring the most points. It is about increasing your probability of winning. Having the league’s most productive receiver in your TE slot increases your probability of winning more than having the league’s most productive receiver in you WR slot. The reason is simple. Aside from one other player (Jimmy Graham) you are starting out with at least a 5 point advantage at that position. No one is close.

To gain a five-point plus advantage from your WR slot, you would need to have a player like Calvin Johnson (14.2 FPG) and be facing a player like Pierre Garcon (9.3 FPG) to get as lopsided a mismatch as Gronkowski has against all but one TE in the league. That is huge.