Free agent tight end Martellus Bennett has retired from the NFL, according to Field Yates of ESPN. Bennett had been considering retirement before his trade to the Patriots and made it official when they did not bring him back. After spending his first four years as a backup in Dallas, Bennett was one of the better receiving tight ends in the league for parts of six seasons with the Giants, Chicago, Green Bay and New England. He finishes his 10-year career with 433 catches, 4,573 yards and 30 touchdowns. Bennett made one Pro Bowl appearance (2014). He won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2016.
The New England Patriots are releasing tight end Martellus Bennett on Wednesday, according to a league source. After posting a career-high seven touchdowns on his way to a Super Bowl ring with the Pats in 2016, Bennett was a big disappointment last year with the Packers and Patriots, mainly due to a shoulder injury. He caught just 30 passes combined and didn't score once. The soon-to-be 31-year-old should find work if he wants to continue his playing career, but he'd probably be just a TE2, at best, depending on where he ends up. Bennett's release may mean that Rob Gronkowski is serious about playing in 2018.
The Green Bay Packers lost their grievance against New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett in their effort to recover the signing bonus they gave him, according to a source. Bennett was a free-agent bust for Green Bay, catching just 24 passes for 233 yards and no touchdowns in seven games while dealing with his shoulder injury. He's fully healthy now, although New England could choose to move on from him. However, they'd likely keep him around if Rob Gronkowski hangs up his cleats.
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett has decided that he wants to continue playing despite contemplating retirement in 2017, according to sources. Bennett is due a $2 million roster bonus March 14, so the Patriots must make a decision. He'll carry a modest $6.2 million salary cap hit. After surprising for New England in 2016, Bennett was a flop in Green Bay and back with the Pats last season, catching a combined 30 passes for 286 yards and no touchdowns, but a shoulder injury especially hampered him. He will have very little fantasy value in 2018 unless Rob Gronkowski retires and leaves Bennett as the team's main pass-catching tight end.
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (shoulder, hamstring) will be placed on Injured Reserve, which will end his season, according to a league source. Bennett played in just two games with the Patriots after being claimed from the Packers, and he was limited to only a handful of snaps in both games. He'll reportedly have surgery on his ailing shoulder, and it's unclear if he'll choose to continue his playing career into 2018. Dwayne Allen, who has been a non-factor for New England, will return to his backup duties behind Rob Gronkowski.
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (shoulder, hamstring) and running back Mike Gillislee are inactive for Week 12 against the Dolphins. Bennett was doubtful to begin with, and the Patriots are giving him a week to rest up in a game they should easily win. Bennett has been serving as Rob Gronkowski's backup since being claimed off waivers several weeks ago. Dwayne Allen will serve in that role Sunday, but he isn't anywhere near the fantasy radar. Gillislee is a healthy inactive and has quickly fallen out of favor in New England and is also nowhere near fantasy relevance. He hasn't played since Oct. 29 against the Chargers and is clearly behind Dion Lewis, James White and Rex Burkhead.
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (shoulder, hamstring) did not practice Thursday and Friday and is doubtful to play in Week 12 against the Dolphins. Bennett has been playing through an injured shoulder for much of the year, but New England will likely rest him against a poor Miami team. Rob Gronkowski remains the club's best pass-catching tight end, so Bennett is a weak TE2 option even when active. Dwayne Allen should resume backup duties this weekend but isn't a fantasy option.
New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (shoulder) and tight end Martellus Bennett (shoulder, hamstring) are both not practicing Friday. Hogan hasn't practiced in recent weeks and hasn't played in a game since before Halloween, so don't expect him to be active. Bennett, however, has been playing through his shoulder injury all year and could still suit up as Rob Gronkowski's backup. Bennett will likely continue to see limited snaps if he plays and is a weak TE2 consideration. If Hogan is inactive again, Danny Amendola would once again be a worthwhile flex play against a suspect Dolphins secondary.
New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (knee) and tight end Martellus Bennett (shoulder, hamstring) were both limited in practice Wednesday. Unless they suffer setbacks this week, both players should be active in Week 12 against the Dolphins. Amendola blew up for a season-high eight catches on nine targets for 66 yards and his second touchdown of the year against Oakland last week with Chris Hogan (shoulder) sidelined. Hogan looks doubtful to play again this week, so Amendola is once again on the WR4/flex radar in another good matchup. Bennett continues to back up Rob Gronkowski and is seeing limited snaps underneath. He's not a realistic starting tight end.
Martellus Bennett Not A Fantasy Option Despite Favorable Matchup
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett has six receptions for 53 yards in two games since re-joining the team via waivers. Bennett will go up against a Dolphins defense that has allowed the fifth most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, including allowing four touchdowns over their last five games. The matchup is highly favorable but Bennett's role on the Patriots right now is to work the underneath passing game. It is no secret he is dealing with shoulder issues so the Patriots may be trying to protect him from situations that could hurt him further. He is, for now, just another one of the many weapons the Patriots like to throw at opponents. It would be dicey to expect a lot from Bennett in fantasy for Week 12.
