Week 9 vs. Chicago
Antonio Gates had four catches for 56 yards on five targets last week after not playing in Week 7. It was his lowest total in his short time back from suspension. The team's loss of Keenan Allen should be good news for Gates owners as he'll likely be the team's top target overall, especially in the red zone. Gates is ranked third on our TE list, but it's not a great matchup against the Bears (who are seventh in allowing fantasy points to the position). In fact, this is the middle of a string of very tough tight end matchups for the Chargers.
Week 7 at Oakland
It wasn another big game for Antonio Gates, who caught nine balls for 95 yards last week and was targeted 16 times. He has an 18-187-2 stat line over the last two weeks since his return from suspension. This week, Gates has a great matchup as the Raiders are 32nd in allowing fantasy points to TEs. As a result, Gates is ranked third at the position and is a must-play in fantasy lineups.
Week 6 at Green Bay
With the Chargers WRs a bit banged up, and Antonio Gates coming back from a suspension, there wasn't a lot of doubt that he was going to be involved in the offense right away. Gates was targeted 11 times and caught nine passes for 92 yards and two TDs. He played on 56-percent of the snaps which was less than Ladarius Green. Those numbers could actually go up, but even if they don't, Gates is going to be a legit fantasy play at the position for those who either stashed him or picked him up at the right time. The Packers are 9th in fantasy points allowed to TEs, but Gates is a high-end TE1 option.
Week 5 vs Pittsburgh
Antonio Gates is back from suspension this week and the big question will be how the Chargers use him. Ladarius Green is still expected to be somewhat of a factor, but we like Gates as a low-end TE1 option this week. It's a nice matchup against the Steelers, who are 21st in allowing fantasy points to the position. If anything, Gates should be used in the red zone where he's been one of the best ever at the position. That alone makes him worth being in lineups.
Fantasy Upside
Antonio Gates merged back onto the highway to the Hall of Fame at age 34, holding off the pronounced arrival of backup Ladarius Green with another Pro Bowl year in 2014. He caught 69-821-12 last season and while he turned 35 during minicamp, health questions are abated by the veteran treatment afforded from the coaching staff. There is tread remaining on these tires. The opponents that know Gates best -- AFC West rivals -- remain confounded by how to slow him down (three TDs vs. DEN, over 18 yards per catch vs. KC).
Fantasy Downside
But there's a problem to start this season. Gates was suspended four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Bottom Line
The news drops him out of the TE1 range and offers Green a chance to establish a more significant role, but that doesn't mean Gates won't have value as a TE2. He will be eligible to return to the Chargers’ active roster on Oct. 5 following the team’s game against the Browns. Gates will still be eligible for 12 games. I'll note that scored 10 TDs in 2010 while appearing in just 10 games.
Week 17 - Gates vs. Kansas City
Antonio Gates took advantage of no Keenan Allen in the lineup, as well as a deficit to overcome last week. Gates finished with a line of 7-92-2 against the 49ers. The two TDs gave Gates 12 on the year.
It was an area we thought the Bolts may attack as the 49ers were ranked in the bottom half of the league in allowing fantasy points to TEs, making Gates a nice play in Week 16. This week, the Chiefs provide a much tougher matchup, coming in ranked in the top-10 in terms of allowing fantasy points to the position. Back in Week 7, Gates was in the middle of a TD streak that saw him score six over the span of four games and against KC he went for a line of 3-61-1. He's now scored in two-straight games so he has a lot of potential for owners this week.
Week 16 - Gates vs. San Francisco
For the first time since Week 8, Antonio Gates found the end zone last week. He finished with six catches for 54 yards and a TD on seven targets. The targets have been there for Gates over the last three weeks, averaging right around 8 per game. He has 18 catches over that span as well after going Weeks 9-12 with just eight catches total. With Keenan Allen out for at least this week, and the 49ers only ranking 22nd in allowing fantasy points to TEs, Gates is shaping up to be a decent option at the position and again comes in as a mid-range TE1 option.
Week 15 - Gates vs. Denver
Antonio Gates caught five balls for 34 yards last week on eight targets. The Bolts struggled to produce against the Pats and Gates was among many with below average fantasy numbers. This week Gates is back among our top TE plays in a pretty nice matchup against the Broncos who are 22nd in allowing fantasy points to TEs. Back in Week 8, Gates put up a 5-54-2 line so there is reason to be optimistic Gates can have a nice day in Week 15. TE is such an up and down position this year, but Gates at least provides some upside.
Week 14 - Gates vs. New England
Antonio Gates caught seven balls for 83 yards on eight targets last week in the Chargers come-from-behind effort. It was his best fantasy output since Week 8 when he put up 5-54-2 on Denver. This week, Gates' potential looks good in a nice matchup against the Pats at home. NE ranks just 28th in allowing fantasy points to TEs and Gates comes in fifth on our list this week. This may be a point of attack for the Bolts in the passing game as the Pats, with Darrelle Revis, do a pretty good job against WRs.
Week 13 - Gates vs. Baltimore<.b>
Antonio Gates had just two catches for 14 yards in Week 12. He had only two targets. It was considered a tougher matchup, as the Rams have proven to be pretty good in defending TEs this year, ranking seventh. This week, and the next three, are much more favorable matchups. Baltimore is in the middle of the pack, and while Gates has struggled to get involved in terms of fantasy production the last three weeks, he still has to be considered a lower-end TE1 play in just about any format.
