A lot has changed in terms of how Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez is viewed in the fantasy football world today, as opposed to a year ago. I looked him up in ESPN The Magazine Fantasy Football Guide -- on newsstands now! -- and there he is on page 65, ranked 73rd among wide receivers, notably behind Roy E. Williams, Devin Thomas and Antwaan Randle El. A year ago, Gonzalez could be found on page 57, the No. 29 wide receiver, ahead of Donald Driver, Lance Moore and Percy Harvin. Did one knee injury really change everything?
Gonzalez is back in the news because he's apparently making a strong recovery and ready to contribute to what has become a crowded Colts receiving corps. He participated in the team's spring workouts and declared his right knee, which suffered a PCL ligament strain, ready for action. Here's what Gonzalez told the Indianapolis Colts Examiner recently:
"My speed is back. My route running feels like it is there. There is a little bit of rust there, but I think that's just being out for a year, not necessarily having an injury. I think I'm as close as I'll be, but I do feel good."
Gonzalez injured his knee in Week 1, before he caught a pass, and that was pretty much it for his season. Of course, his season didn't officially end with that game, and fantasy owners were strung along for more than half the season until it became obvious Gonzalez would not return. What a shame it was. Hey, don't blame the player; he was trying to play. I think, though, in a way Gonzalez is being held to a higher standard for that reason.
