Week 12 - Gates vs. St. Louis
Antonio Gates had three catches for 32 yards last week on three targets. It marks two-straight games where Gates has just put up average fantasy numbers. Prior to that, Gates had a stretch of six TDs in four games. Gates comes in as a top TE play and is ranked fifth despite a tough matchup against the Rams who rank 10th in allowing fantasy points to TEs. Gates owners should keep in mind QB Philip Rivers is possibly dealing with a rib injury, which may have a lot to do with Gates' production dip, but the TE landscape is a relative wasteland after the top three.
Week 11 - Gates vs. Oakland
Back in Week 9, Antonio Gates was held to just three catches for 28 yards on five targets as the entire Charger offense didn't seem to make the trip to Miami.
This week should be a rebound game against the Raiders. Oakland ranks 17th in allowing fantasy points to TEs so this could be an area the Bolts attack again at least in the passing game. Gates had a 2-27-1 line back in Week 6 when the teams last met. Gates is a top play this week at the position.
Week 9 - Gates vs. Miami
Antonio Gates continued a great season last week with five catches for 54 yards and two TDs on eight targets.
It's now four-straight games with at least one TD for Gates and in that same span has a total of six. He continues to be the go-to guy whether the Bolts play from behind or with the lead. This week's matchup is just an average one as Miami ranks 11th in allowing fantasy points to TEs. While it could be a tough go throwing the ball, Gates is still among our top TE plays this week.
Week 8 - Gates vs. Denver
Antonio Gates put up very solid fantasy numbers for the third straight week last week, finishing the game vs. KC with a line of 3-61-1 on five targets.
Gates now has four TDs in his last three games, including a score in three-straight weeks. He's got seven TDs on the season and seems to be the go-to target against for QB Philip Rivers, at least over WR Keenan Allen this year. Denver ranks 16th in allowing fantasy points to TEs but Gates has been on enough of a roll that he makes for a good play and comes in fourth on our list this week.
Week 7 - Gates vs. Kansas City
Antonio Gates caught three balls for 27 yards but added his sixth TD of the season, saving fantasy owners from what would have been just an average day.
Gates now has three TDs in his last two games. He also saw eight targets last week, the most since Week 1 when he had 10. Those eight targets were more than Keenan Allen and Malcom Floyd saw, so Gates is still getting looks from Philip Rivers, especially in the red zone. It's a tougher matchup this week as the Chiefs are fourth in allowing fantasy points to TEs, but given the inconsistent play from a lot of TEs this year, Gates remains at least a low-end TE1 option.
Week 6 - Gates vs. Oakland
It was another big game for Antonio Gates last week, catching two TDs for 60 yards on four catches and six targets. He only played 54% of the snaps in the blowout win.
Gates gets another good matchup this week against the Raiders. Oakland is 25th in allowing fantasy points to TEs so Gates is ranked sixth this week with potential to put up big numbers. The problem with Gates, and probably most TEs, is he's been boom or bust this year. His five TDs come in two games. Week 3 and 4 he totaled just four catches for 38 yards. But for the most part, the team is making Gates a big part of the offense again this season.
Week 5 - Gates vs. NY Jets
Antonio Gates caught three balls for 30 yards on five targets. After starting the first two weeks with a 13-177-3 line, Gates has a line of 3-38-0 the last two weeks. He's dropped from 17 targets the first two weeks to 6 targets the last two.
Ladarius Green was perhaps a factor in Week 3 with his 6-64-0 line, but last week Green didn't play. Instead, Eddie Royal is likely a cause for the drop in Gates' production as Royal has four TDs over the last two weeks.
Gates comes in ranked 10th this week in what is a good matchup as the Jets are 24th in allowing fantasy points to TEs. The Bolts should have a tough time running the ball between a struggling run game and a good Jets rush D, so it's possible they take to the air a bit more making Gates a low-end TE1 play.
Week 4 - Gates vs. Jacksonville
After a monster Week 2, Antonio Gates owners almost had to see Week 3's line of 1-8-0 coming against the Bills.
After two good games to start the season, Gates put up a clunker and was only targeted once on top of it. It was a tough matchup as the Bills are 4th in allowing fantasy points to TEs. While this week's matchup is a good one and Gates is back in our top-10 plays at the position, one has to wonder if this gets too out of hand will the Bolts lay off the gas. Gates should still be in lineups regardless this week and pretty much has to bounce back from last week.
Week 3 - Gates vs. Buffalo
Antonio Gates busted out last week for seven catches, 96 yards and three TDs. No one is really a safe play against the Seahawks, but Gates rewarded those who played him with a big day.
Gates even climbs our charts a bit, now coming in as a TE1 play this week. Gates takes on the Bills who rank just 21st in allowing fantasy points to TE, so this is a potentially good matchup. The next several weeks also look good (outside of a Week 7 matchup with KC) with defense ranked between 11-29 through Week 9. If Gates is your TE2 or even on your wire, it would be a good time to plug him in your lineup...
Week 2 vs. Seattle
Antonio Gates tweaked his hamstring last Saturday and was a bit in doubt for Week 1 on Monday night, but ended up with six catches for 81 yards. It was a very favorable matchup against the Cards so his numbers shouldn't be too much of a surprise.
This week it's a different story as the Seahawks come to town ranked fifth in allowing fantasy points to TEs. He comes in ranked 14th on our list so he's a low-end TE1 in deeper leagues or a second option in leagues with multiple TE plays. But either way, it's not really a great matchup and in typical leagues you may want to go with a different option.
