Fantasy football 2018 draft or avoid: Patriots offer plenty of risk/reward options

Alec Brzezinski

Fantasy football 2018 draft or avoid: Patriots offer plenty of risk/reward options image

As the 2018 fantasy football draft season approaches, we will showcase a player to draft and a player to avoid from all 32 teams.

The New England Patriots fell flat while losing last year's Super Bowl, which caused a surprising amount of roster turnover during the offseason. But Tom Brady is back under center and Bill Belichick is still coaching, so this team should have some firepower.

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Usually a tough team to gage in fantasy football, the Patriots have a number of intriguing options this year.

Here is a player to draft and avoid from their squad this season:

Draft

Sony Michel, RB — The Patriots offloaded last year's leading rusher, Dion Lewis, and selected Michel in the first round of the 2018 Draft to replace him atop the depth chart. Michel is big, bruising and strong at the point of attack, making him an ideal leading rusher and goal-line back.

New England usually has a notoriously short leash with its runners, but Michel is smart and hasn't been fumble prone. If he can beat out Jeremy Hill and Mike Gillislee (he should) for early-down work, then he would make a quality fourth or fifth-round pick in fantasy drafts.

Avoid

Rob Gronkowski, TE — "Gronk" finally remained healthy most of last season, hauling in 69 receptions for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns, but can he do it again? Arguably one of the best tight ends to have ever played, Gronkowski reportedly thought about retirement this offseason.

All of the arm, knee and back injuries that have plagued his stellar career could haunt him on any play. At his likely second- or third-round asking price, he's too big of a risk to take a gamble on this season.

Alec Brzezinski