FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 4/5/2013 3:22pm et

Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez said 2013 will be his last season even though he signed a two-year deal. He said he is a little tempted to try to break the all-time receiving record but understands it would probably take him four years to break the record.

Huddle Up: Gonzo didn't look like he was on his last legs in 2012, so another near miss in 2013 could bring him back yet again. That said, the Falcons may want to add Gonzo's potential replacement in this year's draft in case this time Gonzalez really means he's done.

Posted: 3/15/2013 1:35pm et

Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez agreed to a two-year $14 million dollar contract with $7 million guaranteed. Gonzalez's cap number for 2013 is $5.25 million.

Huddle Up: It's official, Gonzo returns to the Falcons. If last year is any indication, he has more than enough left in the tank to remain one of the top fantasy tight ends.

Posted: 3/12/2013 9:50pm et

Free-agent TE Tony Gonzalez called the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday, March 12 to announce he will return to the team instead of retiring. He's reportedly seeking $7 million for the 2013 season in addition to a reduced training-camp workload.

Huddle Up: With Gonzo finishing second among league TEs in receptions (93) and fourth in TD catches (8) in 2012 and the Falcons being a legit Super Bowl contender, it was hard to see the TE simply walking away. He'll be another year older and another step slower this fall, but he still figures to be among the game's top TE red-zone threats once again.

Posted: 3/10/2013 2:29pm et

Free-agent TE Tony Gonzalez (Falcons) could re-sign with the Atlanta Falcons if the price is right and if the team would allow him to miss most if not all of training camp. The team is cautiously optimistic about re-signing Gonzalez and neither issue is expected to be a deal breaker.

Huddle Up: Sounds as if the Falcons' full-court press on the retiring TE may be working.

Posted: 2/22/2013 5:09pm et

Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff sounded cautiously optimistic about the possibility of impending free-agent TE Tony Gonzalez playing next season during his press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine. Gonzalez still has not given the Falcons a definite answer about his future.

Huddle Up: The Falcons clearly want Gonzo back, and Gonzo clearly has something left in the tank physically. Now he just needs to convince himself to put off his Hall of Fame induction one more year. If he does return, he'll be among the top fantasy options at tight end.

Posted: 2/19/2013 1:34pm et

While Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan will be pursued for a contract extension this offseason, the front office's top priority is convincing TE Tony Gonzalez to stave off his expected retirement for one more season.

Huddle Up: Gonzo deserves to be a priority after he finished second among all TEs with 93 catches in 2012, but this and the pursuit of a Ryan extension doesn't bode well for the Atlanta futures of current free agents Sam Baker, William Moore and Brent Grimes.

Posted: 2/14/2013 11:21pm et

Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said he believes impending free-agent TE Tony Gonzalez is having trouble deciding on his future and believes it is close to 50-50 in terms of Gonzalez returning next season. Dimitroff said the team still lists Gonzalez as their No. 1 tight end during personnel meetings.

Huddle Up: This is definitely a tough call for Gonzo, who wants to leave the game healthy but on the other hand, he enjoyed one of his best seasons in 2012 for the Falcons, who were thisclose to reaching the Super Bowl.

Posted: 2/13/2013 11:54pm et

Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith said the team does not have a timetable for when they would like TE Tony Gonzalez to make a decision on his future.

Huddle Up: The Falcons will need to have some idea of Gonzo's plans prior to free agency and the draft, which in turn provides fantasy owners with more than enough time to slot him accordingly on (or remove him entirely from) their draft boards.

Posted: 1/31/2013 11:21pm et

Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said he has talked to impending free-agent TE Tony Gonzalez about the possibility of coming back for one more year. Gonzalez has said he is 95 percent sure that he will retire this offseason.

Huddle Up: The heat has been on all season, and it's only intensified now that the Falcons are starting to solidify their 2013 plans. Regardless, Gonzo looked like anything but a player at the end of his career, matching or exceeding his career averages with 93 catches, 930 yards and 8 TDs in 2012.

Posted: 1/25/2013 9:53pm et

Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff praised TE Chase Coffman when talking about possible replacements for the retiring Tony Gonzalez. "Chase is a very good receiving tight end, and he continues to grow and learn as he receives very good coaching under Chris Scelfo," Dimitroff said. "If Chase can stay healthy, I think Chase has a very nice chance of being a quality football player in this league."

Huddle Up: Gonzo's retirement isn't set in stone just yet, but if he does start the countdown to Canton this summer Coffman would be first in line to take over his role in the Falcons' high-powered offense.

Posted: 1/23/2013 12:39am et

Minnesota Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph was selected to his first Pro Bowl for the NFC squad, and he'll replace Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez (undisclosed), who will not play due to injury.

Huddle Up: Nice honor for Rudolph, but could this possibly be a sign that Gonzo might decide to return next season? Bowing out with one last trip to Hawaii sure would've seemed like an ideal NFL finale.

Posted: 1/20/2013 10:36pm et

Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez indicated after the NFC Championship Game loss against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Jan. 20, that he likely played in his final NFL game. 'It's probably the last time I'm going to wear that uniform,' Gonzalez said. 'I didn't want to take it off, to tell you the truth. All good things come to an end and, like I said all season long, this is probably my last one. What an unbelievable ride.'

Huddle Up: If Gonzo is bowing out, he's leaving on top as easily the greatest TE in league history. And even in his 16th season, he still was one of the top handful of contemporary tight ends, hauling in 93 passes for 930 yards and 8 TDs in 2012.

Posted: 11/29/2012 11:53pm et

Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez caught 4 passes for 58 yards and a TD Thursday night in a 23-13 win over the New Orleans Saints.

Huddle Up: Gonzo's fantasy owners were sad to see the Falcons' close out the season series against the Saints after the TE totalled 15 receptions for 180 yards and 3 TDs in his 2 games against New Orleans.

Posted: 11/11/2012 10:15pm et

Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez rolled up 11 receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints. Gonzalez now has 101 career touchdowns, one of only eight players ever with 100 or more. He is the first TE to eclipse the century mark in TD grabs.

Huddle Up: Gonzalez still refuses to act his age as he did his part in trying to keep the Falcons' undefeated run going. Gonzalez had 11 receptions for 107 yards and no scores over his previous 3 games, but bettered those marks in 60 minutes Sunday.

Posted: 11/10/2012 8:47pm et

Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez has 99 career receiving touchdowns and he needs one more to become the first tight end with 100.

Huddle Up: Gonzo has the milestone on deck for the 4th straight game Sunday as he hasn't scored since Week 5 against the Redskins. He also hasn't more than 4 catches or 42 yards in a game since that contest.

Posted: 9/18/2012 12:45am et

Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez posted seven catches for 70 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos Monday, Sept. 17. As is his tradition, the former University of California basketball player dunked the football over the goal post.

Huddle Up: That's 2 dunks in 2 weeks for the seemingly ageless TE, who has 12 receptions for 123 yards through 2 games. At 36, Gonzalez isn't going to rack up a gaudy yards-per-catch average but still has a nose for the end zone and is a viable every-week fantasy starter in just about every league.

Posted: 8/29/2012 7:06pm et

The Atlanta Falcons may decide to keep only TEs Tony Gonzalez and Michael Palmer on their final roster. The team would use OG Garrett Reynolds as a tight end in short-yardage situation.

Huddle Up: Gonzalez is 36, but he only has missed 2 games in 15 NFL seasons. Obviously, the Falcons are banking on his remarkable run of health to continue.

Posted: 6/21/2012 11:45pm et

Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said he is not worried about TE Tony Gonzalez missing minicamp this week because he is a veteran player that will be able to pick up the scheme. 'Tony is one of the greatest tight ends to ever play the game,' Koetter said. 'We are not re-inventing football out here. ... He's seen it all and done it all. We don't need to be worried about that. He'll be fine.' Gonzalez attended a few of the involuntary workouts but stayed in California for most of the offseason.

Huddle Up: The most productive, most durable tight end in NFL history will pick up the offense easily.