Gronk plus <Cook/Cameron/Thomas> Owners: Sell or Hold? (1 Viewer)

[PhantomJB]

Good early returns for owners who got Gronk plus a high-upside later TE pick such as Jared Cook, Jordan Cameron or Julius Thomas.

What is your strategy going forward?

Sell Gronk?

Sell upside TE pick?

Hold both and try to play one as a WR when Gronk comes back?

Hold both until Gronk comes back then re-evaluate (weighing risks of TE2 value coming back down to earth, potentially having a hole in your lineup but maximizing TE2 value now, etc.)?

 

[Man of Zen]

Selling Thomas over Gronk for sure. Too much uncertainty in DEN with the sheer number of viable targets out there, plus some dinged up TE competition coming back. Not that I don't believe in JT's ability. Just believe in Gronk more, and think JT may be near peak value right now.

With Cameron, I'll play it by ear. I'm not convinced he brings in that much value yet. Calling him a hold unless teams come a'lookin.

Cook, I'm keeping. Clearly a focal point of an offense that's got a lot of smurfs. Should be a primo red zone guy all year, and seems to be a downfield alpha read to boot. Factor in the health, and I keep him over Gronk. I don't expect him to be quite as good per game or anything, but he cost a lot less, so I doubt I could get fair value, whereas I know I'll get fair value for Gronk if he comes back and has a good game or two.

 

[socrates]

I think it is either a hold or sell the upside TE. You know what you have (or will have) with Gronk. Not so much with the TE flavor of the week. I believe Cook and Cameron are more likely to hold their value than is Julius Thomas. Thomas appears to be a liability as a blocker, and that could ultimately limit his snaps. I would sell Thomas now, as I do not see his value increasing. Perhaps hold either Cook or Cameron until Gronk returns to form.

 

[FDC]

Good question

Its a fairly unique situation really. If you went shotgun approach at TE and all of them hit - you basically have to trade 1 or 2 to free up roster flexibiility (in shallower leagues at least). I have no idea what you can get though and I doubt you will ever really get fair value.

 

[az_prof]

Selling Thomas over Gronk for sure. Too much uncertainty in DEN with the sheer number of viable targets out there, plus some dinged up TE competition coming back. Not that I don't believe in JT's ability. Just believe in Gronk more, and think JT may be near peak value right now.

With Cameron, I'll play it by ear. I'm not convinced he brings in that much value yet. Calling him a hold unless teams come a'lookin.

Cook, I'm keeping. Clearly a focal point of an offense that's got a lot of smurfs. Should be a primo red zone guy all year, and seems to be a downfield alpha read to boot. Factor in the health, and I keep him over Gronk. I don't expect him to be quite as good per game or anything, but he cost a lot less, so I doubt I could get fair value, whereas I know I'll get fair value for Gronk if he comes back and has a good game or two.

This is a good analysis.

 

[elbowrm]

Cameron / Gronk owner here - holding unless I get blown away by an offer, which I doubt. Too many viable TEs to expect much of a return, and I like the insurance if Gronk goes down again. Of course, I still need to figure out my week 12 TE.

 

[ShaHBucks]

Not of your set at other positions. Hold on and get through bye weeks and injuries.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

Cameron / Gronk owner here - holding unless I get blown away by an offer, which I doubt. Too many viable TEs to expect much of a return, and I like the insurance if Gronk goes down again. Of course, I still need to figure out my week 12 TE.

This. I'm also carrying Fred Davis as TE3, so that bye week. I won't be shopping, but as far as considering offers, I'm all ears.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Agree with Zen.

Also, Gronk + Cook might actually leave you with a viable flex play in PPR, and definitely should in TE-favored leagues. Have always loved having two elite TEs for the roster flexibility it gives.

 

[pollardsvision]

I wouldn't think there are many situations where it makes sense to sell.

So, you might have a great back-up for Gronk. Great, there's a good chance you'll need it more than you think.

Considering most everybody had a TE blow up this week and in many leagues, starting 2 solid TEs is a viable option, it's hard to imagine the value of selling is better than that of holding and taking the (usually) cheap points.

 

[panhead55]

Before you trade anyone, you must wait until you know Gronk is fully recovered and up to full speed. This will likely be answered somewhere between weeks 4 and 6. By that time you'll have a much better read on Cook/Cameron/Thomas.

Gronk has the history, and healthy is late 1st or early 2nd round talent. Therefore he'll give you the best return. The trade value of Cook/Cameron/Thomas is questionable as none of them have much history. Cook has blown up before, but then would disappear for weeks. The Rams clearly have different plans for Cook, than the Titans had. Still fantasy owners aren't going to pay for Cook anything close to what they'd pay for the time tested Gronk.

If I owned Cook/Cameron/ or Thomas, and I felt good about his role going forward, then I'd trade Gronk for the comparable value RB or WR to strengthen the weak area of my team.

What kind of trade value do Cook, Cameron, or Thomas have today? At best you might get a 6th round value. If I were weak at WR, I'd rather trade Gronk for a DT or a Julius Jones, than trade Cook, Cameron, or Thomas for a Steve Smith or a DeJean Jackson.

Having Gronk and one of these emerging TEs is a nice problem to have, but I think it is a bit early to be trading them, unless it is an offer you can't refuse.

 

[rickyg]

The move here is to sell gronk and sell him now or before week 3 while other owners are still having wet dreams of gronk's potential when he returns to action. All the news coming out of NE on him is positive and its looking like a week 3 return

If you have an wedging stud behind gronk, go ahead and trade him now for a stud Rb or wr. You will upgrade your team immensely by doing so and if you were lucky enough to snag Julius thomas, Cameron, cook, or even Finley behind gronk you won't miss a beat at your tight end spot.

Its funny...Pre-draft, it was thought that tight end was a very thin position this year. Post draft, we've got some legit monsters at the position:

Graham

Gronk

Written

Davis

Gonzo

Finley

Cook

Cameron

Thomas

Then you've still got solid guys like:

Olsen

Myers

Bennett

Gates

Celek

And upside guys like

Eifert

Fleener

Allen (although I think he was injured which makes fleener even more attractive)

Ertz

Kelce

Housler.

Trade gronk away now while the perception is still out there that top tight ends are a commodity.

 

[Man of Zen]

Yeah, that's the flipside for sure.

After week one, it's totally a buyer's market. Nobody is going to feel desperate to go out and pay a premium for a surprisingly good TE...because almost everybody already has one. For the few that don't, they're looking at waivers and probably seeing Kellen Winslow and God knows who else out there, and thinking, what's the big deal? These guys grow on trees in the 2013 NFL.

Probably the smart answer is just to hold for now, if you think the guys you have retain their value while the market dries up a little moving forward. While if you don't think the market dries up, you sell the premium commodity and ride the value the rest of the way.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

As a Brady owner, it's going to be hard to lure Gronk away. I keep having these visions of doubling up my points in the playoffs.

 

[Breesisdaman]

Holding until I am sure of Gronks health.

 

[jmo87usc]

Any Cook owners worried that he might start seeing more double teams since he is clearly the best talent at receiver? Or anyone know how well he performs if he is doubled? I didn't see the game yesterday and he may have already been doubled. But I can't see how defenses won't start if they weren't already planning to.

 

[Man of Zen]

Any Cook owners worried that he might start seeing more double teams since he is clearly the best talent at receiver? Or anyone know how well he performs if he is doubled? I didn't see the game yesterday and he may have already been doubled. But I can't see how defenses won't start if they weren't already planning to.

Not really worried, no. I mean, if he keeps being big in games, I'm sure some teams will try it. But I can't imagine leaving Austin, Givens, et al in isolation being an effective way to minimize damage for opposing D's.