Rob Gronkowski Injury Update Clouds Week 8 Fantasy Outlook

Fantasy managers have been anxiously awaiting the return of tight end Rob Gronkowski. However, his latest injury update didn't cement his status for Week 8 quite yet. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers starter is considered a game-time decision against the New Orleans Saints due to his lingering rib injury.

Gronkowski has not played since Week 3 and has been adamant that he won't be back on the field until he feels he is completely ready. It looks like whether or not he suits up will come down to how he looks during warmups and that obviously clouds his fantasy value.

#Bucs TE Rob Gronkowski (ribs) is considered a game-time decision after missing about a month, and he’ll likely work out pre-game to be sure. One source described optimism about his playing status, which would be a big lift for TB against the #Saints.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 31, 2021

Rob Gronkowski Fantasy Outlook

If Gronkowksi plays, he is absolutely worth a start. The 11th-year pro hauled in 16 of his 21 targets for 184 yards and 4 touchdowns during the first three weeks of the season. Gronkowski ranked as the TE2 in fantasy scoring during that span and remains a favorite target of quarterback Tom Brady.

The Saints have been tough against opposing TEs, but Gronkowski has seen a red zone look in every game he has played in 2021. The Buccaneers have also posted the second-highest passing play percentage in the NFL (65.84%) and average a whopping 324.3 passing yards per game (No. 1 in NFL).

With kickoff set at 4:25 p.m. EST, it's important for fantasy managers rostering the veteran TE to have a backup plan ready to go if he is ruled out. One option is OJ Howard, who has shown flashes during Gronkowski's absence. The former Alabama standout is worth picking up as an insurance option.

Gronkowski checks in at TE7 in The Duel's Week 8 fantasy football rankings. Just make sure he is officially active before sliding him into the starting lineup.

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Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

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