Week Fourteen Drop: It might be hard to stomach dropping one of the decade's top tight ends right in the middle of your fantasy playoffs, but sometimes championship teams need to go outside their comfort zone. Gates has not scored in three straight weeks, topped 17 yards only once in those three weeks, and topped 50 yards only three times this season. His upcoming schedule does not breed confidence either. The Steelers, Panthers and Jets each have the ability to absolutely shut down a passing game. With widely available options such as Dennis Pitta, who was highlighted in the add section, and Marcedes Lewis, who has topped 50 yards or scored in each of the Chad Henne games, Gates seems expendable right now.
Week Three Analysis: The only reason I include the slash here is if for some odd reason Antonio Gates can't play again and you need a fill in. Dante Rosario filled in nicely last week for Gates grabbing three scores from Phillip Rivers. The Falcons have given up the occaisional score to tight ends, but have held all opposing players at that position to under 57 yards for the last nine weeks.
Week Two Analysis: Antonio Gates' four catches for 43 yards on Monday night would be an average night for most tight ends, but it's a bit disappointing for fantasy owners. Good thing for Gates that his matchup against the Titans this week should help showcase his talents. The Titans gave up the ninth-most yards to tight ends last season and allowed two tight end touchdowns last week alone. Granted they were playing the Patriots' freaky tight end duo, but I didn't make the schedule. Gates will get back in the groove this week.
| |
Targets |
Rec |
Yds |
TD |
Rush |
TD |
Pts |
| Week 1 |
8 |
4 |
43 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4.3 |
| Season |
8 |
4 |
43 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4.3 |
Week One Analysis: Before there was Gronk or Graham, another "G" tight end dominated the game for years. Antonio Gates has been doing it for as long as they've been playing with helmets on. He's been playing against the Raiders since the days of real pirates. In fact, he's been playing them for so long, that just against Oakland he's accumulated 74 catches for 1,040 yards and 10 touchdowns. In an injury-plagued 2011, Gates still managed to find the end zone seven times (which tied him for fourth-most among tight ends). What's shocking about that stat, is that 2011 was his lowest touchdown output in eight years!
NEXT: #5 Jason Witten
