NFL: 5 records that could fall during the 2014 season

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Nov 3, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) congratulates tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) on scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

Most tight end receiving yards

Current record: 1,327 yards (Rob Gronkowski)

The health question is a looming, and painful one here. But if Rob Gronkowski can stay in one piece and play a full 16-game season for the first time since 2011, he has a shot at breaking his own record.

He has a chance to do that every year due to the sheer volume of targets chucked his way. Gronkowski played less than half a season last year, appearing in seven games. Yet he was still bombarded by footballs, showing how much a healthy Gronk (or even a sort of healthy Gronk) is leaned on as the engine of the Patriots offense.

In those games Gronkowski was targeted a total of 66 times, an average of 9.4 per week. That includes 17 targets in his first game back from injury, and 10 that he turned into 143 receiving yards in Week 9. He needed only those seven games to accumulate 594 yards, putting him on pace for 1,357 over a full season.

A healthy Gronk is a busy Gronk, and a record-setting Gronk.

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