Week 6 vs. Washington Football Team
Golden Tate had another modest outing last week, putting up 42 yards on four receptions against a vulnerable Dallas defense. Tate has averaged 5.75 targets in four games this year, giving him some value in deep PPR leagues, but his 145 total yards and no touchdowns on the season give him limited upside in a dreadful offense.
Tate faces a Washington defense that ranks sixth in aFPA to opposing wide receivers, limiting his upside. Washingotn held Cooper Kupp – who operates primarily out of the slot – to just 66 yards on five receptions, numbers that should be considered high-end potential for Tate this week. Start him in only the deepest of PPR formats.
Week 5 at Dallas Cowboys
Golden Tate had just 20 yards last week in a loss to the Rams, but he caught four of his six targets and has 14 receptions through three games. Tate has some high-floor value in PPR formats, as he continues to get targets out of the slot, but the Giants offense is awfully hard to trust lately. Still, the Cowboys rank 28th in the league in aFPA to opposing wide receivers this year, giving Tate some upside in a nice matchup. We have him ranked outside of starter status, but if your team is in need for help, he could put up decent PPR numbers in deeper leagues as a WR3 option.
Week 4 at Los Angeles Rams
Golden Tate had five catches for 36 yards last week in a disappointing game for the Giants. The 49ers blew them out, 36-9, and the Giants’ offense never got going, despite attempting 32 passes. It was encouraging to see seven targets for Tate though, and with Sterling Shepard on IR for the time-being, expect those numbers to continue. In most weeks, Tate should be able to do better than 36 yards on five receptions.
This week, Tate should benefit from Jalen Ramsey probably staying outside and covering Darius Slayton. He isn’t a great start by any means, but fantasy owners in PPR leagues that need a safe 10 points or so with some touchdown upside should consider Tate as a deep, WR3 option. Cole Beasley was the most productive option for the Bills against the Rams last week. Tate and Beasley play a similar role.
Week 3 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Golden Tate missed the opener against the Steelers and the Giants missed him. Last week, he caught five balls for 47 yards. The Giants may be without Sterling Shepard, who’s dealing with turf toe, so they’ll need Tate to step in and fill that production. Tate has been a popular target for Daniel Jones when he’s been active, averaging 7.5 targets per game since arriving in New York last year.
This week, Tate has some upside with additional targets stemming from the absence of Sterling Shepard – and to a lesser extent, Saquon Barkley – and he should benefit from the 49ers missing so many weapons on both sides of the ball. Braxton Berrios managed six catches and a touchdown out of the slot last week against San Francisco, and similar numbers are well within reach for Tate. He’s a low-end WR3 option in PPR formats.
Week 1 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Golden Tate had an up-and-down season with the Giants last year, but wound up with 676 yards and six touchdowns in just 11 games. He was third on the team with 49 receptions and should continue to be an active part of the offense. The Giants’ trio of wide receivers includes Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton however, and it’s likely the three of them will take turns when it comes to being the most productive in a given week. It’s encouraging that Tate was targeted 85 times in 11 games last season, but much of that was without Shepard in the lineup. A healthy offense should equal more volatility for Tate. He’s a nice guy to have on the bench this week in a tough matchup against the Steelers.
Fantasy Upside
Golden Tate was fairly productive in his 11 games last season, averaging 4.5 receptions, 61.5 yards and 0.5 touchdowns per game. Those project to about 72 catches and 984 yards over the course of a full season, good for borderline WR2/WR3 numbers in most leagues. He’s been a consistent PPR target since taking over as a full-time player after signing in Detroit back in 2014. Tate should benefit from his second year with Daniel Jones at quarterback and from playing on a team that will often be playing from behind for the second consecutive season.
Fantasy Downside
Tate is 31 years old and is now three years removed from his last 1,000-yard season. While there are definitely circumstances that have held him back – suspension last season and a mid-season trade in 2018 – it’s very possible he’s simply on the downside of his career. Tate also plays the slot, which pushed Sterling Shepard outside more frequently last season. If the Giants decide the younger Shepard should move back to the slot to increase his efficiency, Tate could be pushed outside, where he hasn’t been featured heavily since 2016.
2020 Bottom Line
Tate’s ADP makes him a value-pick in the late-12th round of 12-team leagues. He’s currently ranked in the mid 40’s in our rankings, but he’s being drafted among rookies and boom/bust players like Robby Anderson and Jalen Reagor. Fantasy owners looking for a fairly consistent plug-and-play option should consider adding Tate as the first receiver off the bench.
Week 17 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Golden Tate was targeted 11 times last week against Washington, catching six balls for 96 yards. It was good to see him so involved with Daniel Jones back behind center after single catches in each of the previous two games he played. Jones is set to start the season finale against the Eagles, giving Tate some upside in PPR formats. He and Jones developed a nice rapport earlier in the season when Sterling Shepard was out, and while Shepard is active once again, Darius Slayton is questionable, and Evan Engram is gone for the season. Against the Eagles’ 17th ranked defense in aFPA to opposing wide receivers, Tate could be a quality WR3 option.
Week 16 at Washington Redskins
Golden Tate was held to just one catch last week, although it was a 51-yard touchdown. While he’s caught four touchdowns in his last four games, Tate’s caught just nine passes during that timeframe with Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton both producing in recent weeks. While Tate will continue to see the field, the Giants’ offense simply isn’t good enough to sustain three wide receivers, and Tate has fallen behind Shepard and Slayton in offensive snaps when all three are active. Tate has some value in deep leagues, but most fantasy owners shouldn’t risk it if better options are available. We have him outside our top-40 this week.
Week 15 vs. Miami Dolphins
Golden Tate played a full snap count – 88% of the team’s offensive snaps – last week despite coming off a concussion and being questionable in the days leading up to the game. However, he was held to just one catch and 11 yards with Eli Manning at quarterback. Tate was targeted five times, however, and his role in the offense should continue to be significant over the final weeks of the season.
It’s hard to trust Tate with so many mouths to feed in New York, but another five targets could yield better results against the Dolphins this week. Only the Buccaneers rank lower in aFPA to opposing wide receivers this season and Tate has been productive when active for much of the year. He’s a risky option, but in deep leagues, he could be considered as a WR3 option.
Week 14 at Philadelphia Eagles
Golden Tate missed last week with a concussion and he’s still a question mark heading into this week against the Eagles. While it’s a nice matchup, fantasy owners need to be ready with a backup plan in case he misses another game. The Giants play Monday night, so fantasy owners without another viable option from that game should consider sitting Tate and taking a wait-and-see approach as he tries to come back from injury.
