Plenty of New England Patriots players won't be in action for the team's second preseason game on Friday, but a couple of absences are notable: tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Aaron Dobson, as reported by Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Neither have been cleared for full contact since suffering injuries this offseason, and it's unclear if either will play at all this preseason.
Aaron Dobson won’t play Friday; fantasy value still unclear
Aaron Dobson could do big things this year, but he won’t be in action for Friday’s preseason game. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Gronkowski is obviously the bigger name, and his injury struggles are well-known. If he gets healthy, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with. But Dobson’s foot injury is just an extra question mark on a player entering his second year in the league. He played in 12 games as a rookie, catching 37 passes for 519 yards and four touchdowns. He looked solid and should be ready to take the next step, but he’s gotta get healthy first.
Fantasy Impact: Dobson isn't exactly a WR1 or a WR2 at this point, but he's expected to find his way onto the field as the third receiver behind both Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman. With Tom Brady at quarterback and always willing to spread the football around, Dobson carries a tentative recommendation as a potential sleeper for your fantasy team. Unfortunately, this injury makes it even harder to recommend him with confidence.
