Player Spotlight: Tony Gonzalez (1 Viewer)

[Jason Wood]

2008 Player Spotlight Series

One of Footballguys best assets is our message board community. The Shark Pool is, in our view, the best place on the internet to discuss, debate and analyze all things fantasy football. In what's become an annual tradition, the Player Spotlight series is a key part of the preseason efforts. As many of you know, we consider the Player Spotlight threads the permanent record for analyzing the fantasy prospects of the player in question. Last year, we published more than 140 offensive spotlights covering the vast majority of expected skill position starters. This year will be no different.

Each week we will post a list of players to be discussed. Those threads will remain open for the entire preseason, and should be a central point to discussion expectations for the player in question. Importantly, analysis done in the first week of posting will be part of the permanent record in two ways. 1) At the end of the week, we will tally the projections into a consensus. 2) We will select a number of pull quotes from forum contributors who make a compelling statement or observation. Both the projections and pull quotes will be part of a published article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

Player Page Link: Tony Gonzalez Player Page

Each article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

In order for this thread to provide maximum value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

Focus commentary on the player in question, and your expectations for said player
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, you MUST provide projections for the playerProjections should include (at a minimum):

For QBs: Passing Yards, Passing TDs, Ints, Rush Yards, Rush TDs
For RBs: Rushes, Rushing Yards, Rush TDs, Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs
For WRs & TEs: Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDsNow let's get on with the conversation! We look forward to your contributions and let me offer a personal thanks in anticipation of the great debate and analysis.

 

[Ketamine Dreams]

Good value. People tend to underrate him. Was the #2 TE last year in PPR and was on a terrible team. Did 99/1172/5 last year, which sounds hard to believe. Finally has another good receiver (Bowe) to take some pressure off. However, the QB and OLine situation in KC isn't great. LJ should be healthy again, and the Chiefs will have to play from behind quite a bit again. Some fall off in numbers is probably expected, but less than you'd think.

2008 88/1080/6

 

[Tanner9919]

Good value. People tend to underrate him. Was the #2 TE last year in PPR and was on a terrible team. Did 99/1172/5 last year, which sounds hard to believe. Finally has another good receiver (Bowe) to take some pressure off. However, the QB and OLine situation in KC isn't great. LJ should be healthy again, and the Chiefs will have to play from behind quite a bit again. Some fall off in numbers is probably expected, but less than you'd think.2008 88/1080/6

 

[travdogg]

Dare I say the #1 TE in FF:

90-1,100-7

 

[The Jacket]

Gonzalez still gets open as well as anyone bar A-Gates, and he catches everything, but KC's QB and offensive scheme don't work in his favor when it comes to big plays and touchdowns.

90 rec.

1000 yards

4 TD

 

[The Man with the Plan]

There's something to be said for drafting an all-time great at a position. Season in and season out you know they're going to at least put up good if not great numbers. You don't have to reach to draft Tony Gonzalez either which is always nice.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

75/900/5 minimum, and that is if he just gets terrible QB play IMO.

No WR2 on the team so he could easily hit 90/1,100/5

I don't think he will have a ton of TD but he will get his rec and yds as he passes 10,000 rec yds this season and maybe 1,000 receptions as early as the end of next season, more likely in 2010.

he is only 31 folks...not completely ancient yet.

 

[rzrback77]

Value Tony Value Gonzalez Value. This is Gonzo's twelth year and he has missed only two games. He has finished as TE 1 three times, as TE 2 three times, as TE 3 twice ( in 06 and again in 07). In the last nine years he has finished lower than TE 3 only once!

He has a decent WR1 to give him a little freedom and not much at WR2 to divert the targets. He has a lackluster QB who depends on his experienced TE. He was targeted more last year than in any year where FBG has records.

I look for another outstanding season and his current ADP is 60 overall and TE4. He is even more of a bargain in ppr leagues.

Tony Gonzalez 149 targets 100 catches 67% 1160 yards 11.6 ypa and 7 TDs

 

[obxlegends]

True stud. Has a knack for creating space between him and the defender. His game isn't really predicated on speed, but rather on precise route running and quickness inside of those routes. I don't see much of a drop off from him over the next 2 years. Poor quarterback play hasn't seemed to hinder his numbers either.

85-920-5

 

[Jon_Moore]

People are allover this board saying that Croyle is one of if not the absolute worst starting QB in the entire NFL. With that wretched quarterback, he caught 99 balls for nearly 1200 yards and 5 tds. Consider he was without Larry Johnson for half the season, and the quarterback play can only improve...he's in store for a good 2008.

It's also worth noting he scored 4 TDs in his 1st 8 games....when Johnson played. Only 1 in the last 8---no Johnson. With Bowe showing he's a legit #1 Receiver, defenses FINALLY have to cover someone not named Tony Gonzalez.

Croyle can't be any worse, Johnson's going to be healthy, Bowe has a full year of starting experience...Gonzalez should contend for the title of TE1 again this year as the offense is considerably better than it was in the 2nd half of 07.

94 Receptions

1137 Yards

8 TDs

 

[Phlash]

Nothing fancy - he's just going to be a top 3 TE by the years end. The guy is only 31, and considering how well he keeps himself in shape I expect him to play at least 2-4 more *very good* seasons. Next year, I think he'll be putting up numbers similar to what he did this year. Considering how dreadful the QBing was last year, the passing offense can only go up - although I think that while Tony G's numbers will stay the same, I believe the extra production will land in the hands (pun intended) of Dwayne Bowe.

Tony Gonzalez 2008-2009 predictions:

90 receptions/1100 yards/8 TDs

 

[The Jacket]

It's also worth noting he scored 4 TDs in his 1st 8 games....when Johnson played. Only 1 in the last 80---no Johnson.

Very, very good point. A lot of people hate on Johnson and say he's overrated and a product of the system and blah blah blah. And even I'm mixed on him as a Chiefs fan. But you cannot deny his ability and his impact on a game.Chiefs with LJ: 4-3 and leading the Green Bay PackersChiefs without LJ: 0-8

 

[winwithike]

It's also worth noting he scored 4 TDs in his 1st 8 games....when Johnson played. Only 1 in the last 80---no Johnson.

Very, very good point. A lot of people hate on Johnson and say he's overrated and a product of the system and blah blah blah. And even I'm mixed on him as a Chiefs fan. But you cannot deny his ability and his impact on a game.Chiefs with LJ: 4-3 and leading the Green Bay PackersChiefs without LJ: 0-8

Were the 4 TDs in the first 8 games because LJ was playing, or because Huard was? Only getting 1 TD in the last 8 could be because LJ was out, but its just as likely because Huard was the QB and not Croyle