QBs aside, keep an eye on Gronk, Thomas, Fitz and Stewart

Posted January 24, 2016 6:00 am

By ROB MAADDI

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski faces reporters before an NFL football practice, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots are to play the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship on Sunday in Denver. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) The Associated Press

Championship Sunday is more than just the quarterbacks.

Sure, Brady-Manning 17 dominated headlines for the AFC title game and Cam-Carson is a battle of former No. 1 overall picks in the NFC. But several other offensive stars are playing in both games.

Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Ronnie Hillman, Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, David Johnson, Jonathan Stewart and Greg Olsen are among the skill players who had productive seasons.

Some of the league's best blockers will be on display, including Evan Mathis, Louis Vazquez, Mike Iupati, Ryan Kalil and Trai Turner.

A total of 11 offensive players were picked for the Pro Bowl this season, though all of them would prefer to skip it and go to the Super Bowl instead. Four are first-team All-Pros.

Here are the four offensive players to watch Sunday not named Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer or Cam Newton:

PATRIOTS: Tight end Rob Gronkowski. He's a four-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time All-Pro. Gronkowski is a beast, Brady's go-to target and doesn't go down easy. Gronk is 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, so he can run through arm tackles and run over defensive backs. He has five touchdown catches in his last four playoff games.

BRONCOS: Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. He's a three-time Pro Bowl pick who has a knack for big plays. Thomas has averaged 100 receptions, 1,447 yards and 10 TDs per season since Manning joined the Broncos in 2012. His streak of TD catches in the playoffs was snapped at five games last week against Pittsburgh.

CARDINALS: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. An eight-time Pro Bowl pick, Fitzgerald moved to the slot and caught a career-high 109 passes at 32 years old. He always turns it up a notch in the playoffs. Just ask the Packers. Fitzgerald has 912 yards receiving and 10 TDs in eight postseason games.

PANTHERS: Running back Jonathan Stewart. He had 989 yards rushing in 13 regular-season games and ran for 106 yards and two TDs last week vs. Seattle. Stewart takes pressure off Newton and keeps defenses off-balance.

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi

Denver Broncos wide receivers Demaryius Thomas, left, and Emmanuel Sanders take part in drills during an NFL football practice, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, at the team's headquarters in Englewood, Colo. The Broncos will host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game Sunday in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) The Associated Press

Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald looks on during practice at the Cardinals training facility in Tempe, Ariz., Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. The Cardinals will play against the Carolina Panthers in the AFC Championship NFL football game on Sunday. (David Wallace/The Arizona Republic via AP) MARICOPA COUNTY OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT The Associated Press

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