The Dolphins have signed TE Dwayne Allen to a 2-year, $7 million deal. The 29-year-old totaled just 13 catches across the past 2 seasons in New England but does have 6- and 8-TD campaigns on his resume. Allen does his best work as a blocker, though, and figures to be doing a bunch of that in Miami behind pass-catching TE Mike Gesicki.

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (ankle, back) is inactive for tonight’s game against the Packers. Dwayne Allen will operate as New England’s lead TE but would be a desperation fantasy play. We’d rather use Titans TE Jonnu Smith tomorrow night if you’re searching for a Gronk replacement.

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski doesn’t know whether he’ll play Monday night against the Bills, according to ESPN. Gronk does plan to travel with the team, so it sounds like a game-time decision. He’s officially questionable. If you have another quality option, that’s probably the way to go in your fantasy lineup. If you’d be reaching for a streaming-level replacement, then it might be worth waiting and stashing Dwayne Allen as lineup insurance.

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (back) is officially inactive for today’s game against the Bears. His injury isn’t considered a long-term concern, and he’s tentatively expected back for Week 8. Dwayne Allen will serve as New England’s lead TE today but is just a fantasy flier.

The Patriots have downgraded TE Rob Gronkowski (back) to doubtful for Sunday's game against the Bears. We just removed him from the Week 7 Rankings, and he should be on fantasy benches now. New England also ruled out TE Jacob Hollister with a hamstring injury. That leaves Dwayne Allen as the only healthy TE on the roster. But he'd still be just a desperation play for Gronk owners. Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon and James White should lead the way in targets tomorrow.

TE Troy Niklas has inked a 1-year deal with the Patriots. A 2nd-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2014, Niklas has totaled just 19 receptions across 4 NFL campaigns, missing time with 4 separate ankle sprains and a wrist injury. He's still just 25, though, and goes 6'6, 270 pounds with a 70th percentile SPARQ score. Niklas will push Dwayne Allen for #2 TE duties in New England.

Patriots QB Tom Brady talked Monday morning about how the team will replace WR Julian Edelman. "We have to find a different way to do it," Brady said. "I mean obviously with Danny [Amendola], I’ve had that [chemistry] with Danny. Danny has been such a great player for us. Hogs [Chris Hogan], he’s had a great camp. Brandin Cooks has done a great job. Malcolm [Mitchell], when he has been out there, I have a lot of trust in him. All the backs and tight ends, we’re just going to have to pick up the slack. The production has to come from a different place." Hogan is the best bet to finish 2nd among Pats WRs in targets. But Amendola, RBs James White, Rex Burkhead and Dion Lewis and TE Dwayne Allen could also see volume boosts. Edelman averaged a whopping 9.7 targets per game over the past 4 seasons, so there's a lot of fantasy production to go around here. We'll be keeping a close eye on what this passing game looks like early on this season.

The Patriots have acquired TE Dwayne Allen from the Colts. No word yet on the compensation. Allen turned in a promising rookie season, tallying 521 yards and 3 scores on 45 grabs. But he's missed 23 games and totaled just 81 catches over the past 4 seasons. He was passed by Jack Doyle on the depth chart last year. Allen remains just 27, though, and landing in New England gives him a chance to revive his career. If nothing else, he's a strong blocker and red-zone presence. Allen has scored on 19 of 126 career catches -- a 15.1% TD rate. He'll make for an intriguing TE2 pick in 2017 fantasy football drafts. Allen's arrival means TE Martellus Bennett won't be back in New England. Jack Doyle, meanwhile, appears locked in as the Colts' lead TE.

Update: New England shipped a 4th-round pick to Indianapolis in exchange for Allen and a 6th-rounder.

Hopefully you didn't chase Colts TE Dwayne Allen's 3-TD explosion from a week ago. He followed that up with a big, fat goose egg in Sunday's loss to the Texans. Allen was targeted just twice and appeared to spend most of the game blocking. TE Jack Doyle, meanwhile, hauled in 5 of 6 targets for 55 yards. Neither guy can be trusted in fantasy lineups the rest of the way.

Colts TE Dwayne Allen (ankle) is active for today’s game against the Packers. He’ll be operating at less than 100%and shouldn’t be in Week 9 fantasy lineups.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that Colts TE Dwayne Allen (ankle) is expected to play against the Packers today. Rapoport adds that Allen is still "banged up," which jibes with HC Chuck Pagano saying Friday that he's still not at 100%. Allen can't be trusted in Week 9 fantasy lineups, but his return puts a dent in TE Jack Doyle's outlook.

Colts TE Dwayne Allen (ankle) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game against the Packers. He practiced all week, including a full workout on Friday. It looks like he’ll play, but HC Chuck Pagano said Friday that Allen still isn’t at 100%. He’s an extremely risky fantasy starter, although there’s TD upside in what should be a shootout.

Colts TE Dwayne Allen (ankle) practiced on Wednesday for the 1st time since going down in Week 6. It gives him a shot to return for this weekend's game against the Packers. That'd make TE Jack Doyle tough to trust in fantasy lineups.

As expected, Colts TE Dwayne Allen (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs. That means another start for TE Jack Doyle. WR Donte Moncrief's return dents his target projection a bit, but Doyle is still a solid TE1 for Week 8.

Colts TE Dwayne Allen (ankle) is out for Sunday’s game against the Titans. That turns TE Jack Doyle into something close to a full-time player — and a viable Week 7 fantasy spot starter.

Colts TE Dwayne Allen is considered "week-to-week" with the sprained ankle he suffered in Sunday night's loss to the Texans, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "Likely means he'll miss some time," Rapoport confirms. Allen's absence will leave Jack Doyle as Indy's lead TE -- and a TD-dependent fantasy spot starter.

Colts TE Dwayne Allen injured his ankle in the 1st quarter of Sunday night's game against the Texans. He's officially questionable to return but was shown getting the ankle iced and heavily taped on the sideline. Don't expect to see him again tonight.

The Colts and TE Dwayne Allen have agreed to a 4-year, "nearly" $30 million deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.  It's a surprising move on both ends after Allen seemed to fall out of favor last year.  He finished with just 16 catches for 109 yards and a score in 13 games.  The contract, especially considering the dollar value, figures to mean the end of free-agent TE Coby Fleener's time in Indy.  That obviously helps Allen's stock.  Remember that he posted a 45-521-3 line as a rookie and scored 8 times back in 2014.  There's bounce-back potential here if Allen can stay on the field.  He's missed 21 games over the last 3 seasons.

Colts TE Dwayne Allen (calf) has been placed on IR.  That ends a disappointing 2015 season and likely ends a disappointing Colts career.  Since being selected in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft, Allen has missed 21 games and totaled just 46 catches over the past 3 seasons.  He's still only 25, though, and has flashed an impressive all-around skill set when healthy.  Allen has a good shot to land a starting job when he hits free agency this offseason.

Colts TE Dwayne Allen (ankle) is practicing in full this week and will return for Thursday night's game against the Texans.  He split snaps with TE Coby Fleener in Week 1 and out-targeted his teammate 6 to 1.  Allen's return makes both Colts TE shaky fantasy starters.