In the red zone Rob Gronkowski may be getting all the glory scoring touchdowns and finishing with his signature spike, but after taking a look at the numbers through the first twelve games, he's actually not New England's leading receiver.
Wes Welker currently leads the team in red zone receptions with 16 catches, including 6 touchdowns, which puts him 3 catches ahead of Gronkowski. However, Gronk's got him by 3 touchdowns, with the tight end currently having 13 catches and 9 touchdowns inside the 20.
Doing even a little more digging, it's Welker and Gronkowski doing all the heavy lifting inside the 20 down to the 5 yard line, with both seeing the majority of targets when the Patriots reach that part of the field (17 each). However, when New England gets inside the 5 yard line, it's Deion Branch and Aaron Hernandez who have been targeted the most in the passing game on that part of the field.
Here's a look at how each category broke down:
| Red Zone Receiving Stats: | |||||
| Player | |||||
| Rob Gronkowski | |||||
| Wes Welker | |||||
| Aaron Hernandez | |||||
| BenJarvus Green-Ellis | |||||
| Deion Branch | |||||
| Danny Woodhead | |||||
| Chad Ochocinco | |||||
| Dane Fletcher | |||||
| Kevin Faulk | |||||
Totals: | |||||
| Red Zone Receiving Stats Inside the 20 and down to the 5 Yard Line: | |||||
| Player | |||||
| Rob Gronkowski | |||||
| Wes Welker | |||||
| Aaron Hernandez | |||||
| BenJarvus Green-Ellis | |||||
| Deion Branch | |||||
| Danny Woodhead | |||||
| Chad Ochocinco | |||||
Totals: | |||||
| Red Zone Receiving Stats Inside the 5 Yard Line: | |||||
| Player | |||||
| Deion Branch | |||||
| Wes Welker | |||||
| Aaron Hernandez | |||||
| Rob Gronkowski | |||||
| Dane Fletcher | |||||
| Kevin Faulk | |||||
| Danny Woodhead | |||||
Totals: | |||||
You can also view more numbers in our stats database, which includes more red zone numbers that are sortable by down, quarter, home, away, and more. You can also find links to each individual game which include these same breakdowns in the upper navbar.
More News Headlines:
TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel Press Conference 8/1
By: Ian LogueHere's the full transcript of what New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had to say during his press conference on August 1, 2026:
MORSE: Notes From Patriots Training Camp Practice Day 6
By: Mark MorseAnalyzing Patriots Training Camp Day 6: Drake Maye's strong performance, Kayshon Boutte's emergence, and updates on key position battles and injuries.
TRANSCRIPT: Drake Maye Press Conference 7/31
By: Ian LogueHere's the full transcript of what New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had to say during his press conference with the media on Friday, July…
MORSE: Notes From Patriots Training Camp Day 5
By: Mark MorsePatriots training camp Day 5 saw pads come on, highlighting WRs like Kyle Williams and AJ Brown, QB play from Drake Maye, and defensive performances.
Vrabel Confirms DeAndre Hopkins’ Patriots Departure
By: Ian LogueVrabel confirms DeAndre Hopkins' brief Patriots coaching stint has ended. The former wide receiver's departure occurred during training camp.