I don’t know that we’ll see another tight end as dominating as Rob Gronkowski. It would take a perfect storm of a really good player landing in a perfect spot.
With the ability to line up as a traditional tight end or split out wide like a wide receiver, Gronkowski created all kinds of mismatch opportunities. And he happened to land in a city where Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Josh McDaniels and others were there to fully utilize those talents.
Using standard scoring, Gronkowski averaged at least 11 fantasy points per game seven times. In this century (19 seasons) only seven other tight ends ever started half of a season and averaged 11 points per game. A reader from the fine state of Nevada asked for the per-game numbers, and they are as follows …
| TIGHT END PER GAME (2000-2018) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | St | No | Yds | TD | FPG |
| 2011 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 16 | 5.6 | 82.9 | 1.13 | 15.0 |
| 2010 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 10 | 5.0 | 78.2 | 1.00 | 13.8 |
| 2013 | Jimmy Graham, N.O. | 16 | 5.4 | 75.9 | 1.00 | 13.6 |
| 2012 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 11 | 5.0 | 71.8 | 1.00 | 13.2 |
| 2011 | Jimmy Graham, N.O. | 16 | 6.2 | 81.9 | .69 | 12.3 |
| 2014 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 15 | 5.5 | 74.9 | .80 | 12.3 |
| 2015 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 15 | 4.8 | 78.4 | .73 | 12.2 |
| 2018 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 16 | 6.4 | 83.5 | .63 | 12.1 |
| 2013 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 7 | 5.6 | 84.6 | .57 | 11.9 |
| 2016 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 6 | 4.0 | 88.2 | .50 | 11.8 |
| 2004 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 15 | 5.4 | 64.3 | .87 | 11.6 |
| 2015 | Jordan Reed, Wash. | 14 | 6.2 | 68.0 | .79 | 11.5 |
| 2005 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 15 | 5.9 | 73.4 | .67 | 11.3 |
| 2017 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 14 | 4.9 | 77.4 | .60 | 11.3 |
| 2009 | Vernon Davis, S.F. | 16 | 4.9 | 60.3 | .81 | 10.9 |
| 2000 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 16 | 5.8 | 75.2 | .56 | 10.9 |
| 2013 | Vernon Davis, S.F. | 15 | 3.5 | 56.7 | .87 | 10.9 |
| 2013 | Julius Thomas, Den. | 14 | 4.6 | 56.3 | .86 | 10.8 |
| 2015 | Tyler Eifert, Cin. | 13 | 4.0 | 47.3 | 1.00 | 10.7 |
| 2018 | George Kittle, S.F. | 16 | 5.5 | 86.7 | .33 | 10.7 |
| 2009 | Dallas Clark, Ind. | 16 | 6.3 | 69.1 | .63 | 10.7 |
| 2004 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 16 | 6.4 | 78.6 | .44 | 10.5 |
| 2008 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 16 | 6.0 | 66.1 | .63 | 10.4 |
| 2018 | Zach Ertz, Phil. | 16 | 7.3 | 72.7 | .50 | 10.3 |
| 2009 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 16 | 4.9 | 72.3 | .50 | 10.2 |
| 2012 | Jimmy Graham, N.O. | 15 | 5.7 | 65.5 | .60 | 10.1 |
| 2017 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 15 | 5.5 | 69.2 | .53 | 10.1 |
| 2014 | Julius Thomas, Den. | 12 | 3.6 | 40.8 | 1.00 | 10.1 |
| 2015 | Delanie Walker, Tenn. | 15 | 6.3 | 74.9 | .42 | 10.0 |
The only flaw in Gronkowski’s game was his durability. He took a beating, and his body didn’t seem to hold up as well as some others, with a variety of injuries. Those slowed him and often sidelined him, especially during the second half of his career. (On the chart above, notice that Gronk started only 7 and 6 games in two of his big seasons – so he actually averaged over 11 points per game while starting half of a season only five times, but that’s still the most by a tight end.)
As another aside, those in PPR formats are aware that Gronkowski isn’t quite as prolific in that format. He tended to be used more as a downfield and red zone threat, rather than a high-volume catcher piling up short catches around the line of scrimmage. When going to the PPR format, guys like Tony Gonzalez, Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz and Jason Witten increase in value.
But Gronk was great, and he’ll be a first-ballot choice for Canton.
My only question is whether he’s truly finished. I think he is. But suppose the Patriots contact him in November, trying to talk him into making one last playoff run. Maybe the tight end they drafted in the first round or signed via free agency suffers a season-ending knee injury. Maybe they promise he would be used only in a part-time role.
Jason Witten is 7 years older than Gronkowski, and he’s coming back after missing a year. Stranger things have happened.
—Ian Allan