• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • In-Season Rankings
    • Standard
    • PPR
  • Waiver Wire
  • Members Only
    • DFS LU TOOL
    • Player Tracker
    • Forum
    • Cheat Sheets
    • Log In
  • Join
Fantasy Knuckleheads

Fantasy Knuckleheads

Fantasy sports news, rankings, sleepers, cheat sheets, stats and tools.

Tony Gonzalez Coming Back: What It Means For His Fantasy Value

March 14, 2013 by George Banko

Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez decided it’s not time to hang up the cleats just yet. The 13-time pro bowler tweeted yesterday “I’m happy to say that after speaking with my family, I am coming back.”

One could understand Gonzalez’s reasoning behind sticking around, despite claiming he was 95 percent sure this was his last season back in November. At 37-years old, he’s coming off a fantastic 2012 campaign where he caught 93 passes (most since 2008 when he was still with Kansas City). He’s also playing on a loaded Falcons team that fell just short of a Super Bowl berth after his team blew a 17-point lead to San Francisco in the NFC championship game. Gonzalez also finally won his first playoff game in his sixth postseason appearance when the Falcons defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC divisional round.

Check out our best fantasy football picks!

While he’s a year older, Gonzalez shouldn’t see much of a slow down in production in 2013. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is entering a contract season and coming off his best year as a pro. Roddy White and Julio Jones are the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL when healthy. When they draw double coverage, it takes immense pressure off Gonzalez to be the primary playmaker.

Though he’s clearly lost a step speed-wise, Gonzalez is still a productive receiver due to his immense size. At 6’5, 247, he rarely falls backward upon initial contact with a defender, and often gets slippery and pushes his way past the first-down marker.

The Falcons also play in a division stockpiled with weak defenses. In 2012, rivals Tampa Bay and New Orleans were the NFL’s top-two worst pass defenses, with Carolina ranked slightly better in the middle of the pack. While the Buccaneers may be in the midst of curing secondary woes if they can sign Darrelle Revis, it’s safe to say the Falcons have the most favorable division for throwing the football right now.

The only obstacle standing in the way for Gonzalez’s fantasy value is the football itself — there’s only so much to go around.

Atlanta’s roster is a spectacle of offensive talent. First you have Jones at wideout, a highlight-reel receiver entering the prime of his career.  Then you have White, an offensive rock who is Ryan’s favorite target and is relied on most to move the chains. Even speedy Jacquizz Rodgers showed enough upside as a receiver to warrant a meatier role in 2012. With his advanced age and so much explosive talent around him, Gonzalez could get lost in the shuffle at times during offensive shootouts.

Fantasy spin: Despite a few minor concerns, Gonzalez is still a No. 1 tight end. He’s a lock for at least 5 touchdowns due to his size, velcro hands and flawless route-running in the redzone. He’ll continue to benefit from a slew of younger talent and while he probably won’t repeat the same numbers he did last season, he should still be good for 600-700 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in 2013.

Category - Fantasy Football Draft - Tony Gonzalez Coming Back: What It Means For His Fantasy Value

Dominate Your League

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Fantasy Football Draft Psychology: How To Outsmart Your League Mates

    Fantasy Football Draft Psychology: How To Outsmart Your League Mates

  • Which Quarterback Should You Draft in 2021?

    Which Quarterback Should You Draft in 2021?

  • Team Defense Committee vs Streaming Draft Strategy

    Team Defense Committee vs Streaming Draft Strategy

  • Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

    Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups

  • Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

    Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

Need To Know

  • Fantasy Football Rankings
  • Average Draft Position (ADP) Report
  • Fantasy Football Draft Projections
  • The Best Waiver Wire Picks
  • Best Optimal Lineup Tool
  • ESPN Insider Coupon Code
  • Premium Fantasy Football Draft Guide
  • Fantasy Football Projections Video Series

Footer

ABOUT US

Established in the summer of 2009, Fantasy Knuckleheads is devoted to providing quality fantasy football news, advice, cheat sheets, tools and services. We’re not a mega-sports-site that churns out content by the pound. We’re simply a small, tight knit group of fantasy experts turned writers that love what we do, especially when we’re right. We strive to tell you something you don’t already know that’s actionable and at the very least, informative.

Fantasy Blog Network

Get This <a href="https://fantasyknuckleheads.com" title="Fantasy Football Rankings"><b>Fantasy Football for all you knuckleheads</b></a>

INFORMATION

  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Write For Us
  • Fantasy Sports Widget

Copyright © 2023 · Fantasy Knuckleheads ·

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in