The New England Patriots are heading into the 2013 with a completely different outlook and roster at tight end than they did last year after losing Aaron Hernandez to jail and Rob Gronkowski to an injury and as Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills looms, Zach Sudfeld appears to be the top starting option for the team.
Gronkowski is still considered a prime tight end option in fantasy drafts despite coming off multiple surgeries in the offseason, but a smart move for owners would be to snag Sudfeld in one of the later rounds if they can as a handcuff. Head coach Bill Belichick leaving Gronk on the 53-man roster is encouraging, but the team likely will be cautious with him early and Sudfield could put up big numbers in his absence. Belichick said that the timetable for Gronk's return is still up in the air and that his status for Week 1 is no sure thing. Despite being injured last season, Gronkowski still had 55 receptions for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Obviously Hernandez is gone after his criminal issues and while many saw Daniel Fells and Jake Ballard as potential replacements for him, Belichick opted to cut both players while keeping Sudfeld. The tight end came undrafted from Nevada and fits into what Belichick likes at the position and his size gives him a chance to have solid mismatches on the field for the Patriots. Sudfeld comes in after playing in 13 games and making 45 catches for 598 yards and eight scores while at Nevada and Matthew Berry says that if Gronk's injury issues keep coming up, he could be a top 10 tight end.
Berry cites the fact that Hernandez and Gronk missed 12 games last season and now that more pressure will be on Gronkowski, there is a chance down the line Sudfeld will continue again. According to ESPN.com, no team has thrown more passes to the position over the past three seasons and with Wes Welker leaving for the Broncos, Brady will need new targets to step up along with Danny Amendola. Having a consistent running game again will be a primary factor and after seeing what Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen did last year, the Patriots should be explosive again on offense.
The Patriots were one of the most balanced teams in the NFL last season and ranked in the top 10 in both passing and rushing yards per game, including averaging over 290 yards in the air and 130 on the ground. Tom Brady has no problem working with new receiver and he will have plenty to choose from with Amendola, Subfield, Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins. The team opens with the Bills on Sunday and then will play at home against the New York Jets on Sunday night and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following week.
