Fantasy: Checking up on TEs returning from serious injuries

Player injuries are an annual cause of torment for fantasy owners, but in the offseason, those same injuries can be one of the best ways to find value in drafts.

Some are hesitant to invest a high pick in a player they last saw being carted off the field, creating an opportunity for owners who can accurately assess the recovery times for potential fantasy stars.

Let's take a look at five tight ends who are on the mend and how they should be approached heading into the season.

Players returning from injury

• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Tight Ends

Rob Gronkowski

The King of Tight Ends was sidelined from Week 12 on with a back injury that prevented him from participating in the Patriots' Super Bowl victory, unless you count the parade. The injury led to his third back surgery, which seems ominous, but Gronkowski is on record saying he'll be "ready to roll" for OTAs. It's worth noting that Gronk looked healthy when he entered the ring at Wrestlemania.

Fantasy Prognosis: Appearing in just eight games last season, Gronkowski still finished as the TE22, while averaging more fantasy points per contest than any other player at his position. The back issues could eventually bring an end to the party, but for now Gronk should be the clear first tight end off the board, in the early part of the third round.

Tyler Eifert

Another offseason and another surgery for Eifert. This time the Bengals tight end went under the knife for a back injury that cost him the last two games of the season. Eifert seems optimistic that he can be on the field when the season starts, but he's likely going to miss some or all of the team's offseason program.

Fantasy Prognosis: Injuries have limited Eifert to 22 games over the last three seasons, which should cast doubt into the minds of fantasy owners. Eifert is extremely touchdown dependent, which can be a volatile stat to rely on. The Bengals will also need to adapt to playing with an inferior offensive line, after significant losses in free agency. It all adds up to Eifert falling down into the low-end TE1 ranks.

Ladarius Green

Despite still not being cleared from his latest concussion, Green plans to attend the Steelers' offseason workouts. Injuries have limited Green's impact throughout his career, and his time in Pittsburgh has been no different. Not only is Green's future with the Steelers in doubt due to his injury history, but his NFL career might be cut short as a result.

Fantasy Prognosis: Green actually showed well during his short stint in the Steelers' lineup, but his concussion history is extremely worrisome. Unless we hear very positive news about his health, Green is someone to avoid in fantasy drafts.

Zach Miller

Miller is working his way back from a Lisfranc injury which he suffered in November. Stunningly, this isn't the first time he's dealt with this type of injury, after overcoming the same ailment on his other foot in 2014. Foot injuries in pass catchers are problematic and the Bears already started to get reinforcements at the position, signing Dion Sims in free agency.

Fantasy Prognosis: The 32-year-old was on pace for 75 catches, 777 yards, and six touchdowns before going down in Week 10. Those are TE1 numbers. The question becomes do you believe in a late-bloomer tight end coming off his second serious foot injury? The answer to that should be a resounding no. Keep Miller on your watch list, just don't draft him.

Julius Thomas

Thomas claims he's 100 percent healthy after a fractured tailbone ended his season after nine games. With his back-to-back 12-touchdown seasons in the distant past of 2013 and 2014, Thomas is hoping a fresh start in Miami will restore his career that faltered in Jacksonville.

Fantasy Prognosis: Searching for players with new opportunities on a different team is one of the ways to mine for fantasy values during the offseason. Thomas has proven to be a capable red-zone threat in the past and will be reunited with Adam Gase who was the offensive coordinator in Denver during Thomas' most productive years. It's still a long shot, but Thomas restoring his worth as a TE-heavy fantasy tight end is well within the realm of possibility.

Players returning from injury

• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Wide Receivers
• Tight Ends