Week 5 vs. Green Bay Packers
In the last-second loss at Dallas last week, Golden Tate had his best game of the season, catching all eight of his targets for 132 yards and two TDs. It was the first time he was in the end zone since Week 1 but is averaging 11 looks and seven grabs per game. Green Bay shut out a bad Buffalo offense last week which helped their stats, but there is no way Tate should be left on your bench.
Week 4 at Dallas Cowboys
Matthew Stafford continues to spread the ball around, as he completed 27 passes to nine different pass-catchers in the win over the Patriots last Sunday night. Golden Tate was targeted a team-leading eight times, resulting in six grabs for 69 yards. He has been thrown to 36 times already in 2018 and is averaging 88 total yards per game. Even though the Cowboys' defense has been tough against the pass through three weeks, Tate should remain in your starting lineup.
Week 3 vs. New England Patriots
In the loss to the 49ers last Sunday, Golden Tate saw a team-high 13 looks from Matthew Stafford, which led to seven catches for 109 yards. In the first two weeks of the season, Detroit QBs have already thrown the ball 105 times, with 28 of those attempts directed towards Tate. The Lions would like to be a more balanced team but have been playing from behind for most of the first two games. Even if the Sunday night affair versus the Patriots is a closer contest, Tate should remain in your starting lineup, especially after the game Blake Bortles and the Jaguars had versus the New England secondary.
Week 2 at San Francisco 49ers
While there wasn’t much for Lions fans to be excited about in the embarrassing loss to the Jets last Monday, Golden Tate finished with good fantasy numbers—seven catches, 79 yards and the lone offensive TD. He was targeted a team-high 15 times, as Detroit signal-callers threw 52 passes. Despite continued struggles on the ground, expect a more balanced attack in what should be a more competitive contest at San Francisco. Tate remains a WR2 play.
Week 1 vs. New York Jets
After registering over 90 grabs for more than 1,000 yards last season, Golden Tate remains a model of consistency since his arrival in Detroit. Matthew Stafford looks his way often, which led to Tate catching at least seven passes in eight contests last year. Look for the Lions' passing game to feature Tate on Monday night, so be sure he is part of your starting lineup.
Fantasy Upside
It was just another 90+ reception, 1,000-yard season for Golden Tate in 2017. All four years he’s been with the Lions, Tate has registered over 90 grabs and has eclipsed 1,000 yards in three of those. He scored five times last year, his average since he came to Detroit. Tate corralled at least seven passes in eight contests last year and went over 100 yards three times. Despite his size (5-foot-10 and under 200 pounds), Tate has a knack for staying healthy, missing just one game since 2011.
Fantasy Downside
Tate just turned 30 years old, so you have to wonder if his quickness will start to diminish. With the emergence of Kenny Golladay, it’s expected that Tate will lineup more in the slot, which could hurt the number of targets he sees from Matthew Stafford—last season’s 122 looks were the fewest Tate has seen with the Lions.
2018 Bottom Line
As long as Matthew Stafford remains healthy, something he’s done for seven consecutive seasons, it should be another solid year for Tate. The Lions offense continues to have more success via the air than on the ground, a trait that likely won’t change in 2018. Tate is listed as a top-30 fantasy WR and makes for a value pick in the middle rounds—especially in PPR formats.
Week 17 vs. Green Bay Packers
Golden Tate came so close to coming up with a deep pass from Matthew Stafford that may have saved Detroit's season last week in Cincinnati, but the ball was knocked away. In the loss, Tate finished with 3 receptions for just 14 yards on 6 targets. In the past two weeks, he’s totaled only 47 yards and has only one touchdown the past six games. Tate caught 7 passes for 113 yards in the win at Green Bay in Week 9, but he is a risky fantasy start in the rematch.
Week 16 at Cincinnati Bengals
Over most of the past five weeks, Golden Tate has become a forgotten member of the Lions' passing attack. During that span, he has 26 grabs, but for an average of only 45 yards and 1 TD. He was targeted just 5 times last Saturday in the win versus the Bears and ended up with 3 receptions—tied for his season-low. With Matthew Stafford continuing to utilize all of his weapons, Tate makes for a WR3/FLEX option on the road Sunday, even against a depleted Cincinnati secondary.
Week 15 vs. Chicago Bears
In the last-second win over the Bucs last week, Golden Tate was targeted 9 times by Matthew Stafford, leading to 8 grabs for 85 yards and his fourth TD of the season—his first in four games. Stafford has looked Tate’s way 27 times the past three weeks and the WR is up to 79 catches on the year. The Bears are No. 9 against the pass and Tate finished with just 3 receptions for 32 yards at Chicago in November. Consider him a FLEX play based on the way his QB distributes the ball around.
Week 14 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With the Lions behind for much of the game at Baltimore last Sunday, Detroit quarterbacks threw the ball 34 times for a total of 316 yards. Golden Tate was targeted a team-high 10 times, leading to 8 grabs for 69 yards—a much better performance than what owners have seen from him the previous couple weeks. Tate has only two 100-yard games on the year and has not been in the end zone in three straight, but continues to see plenty of looks from Matthew Stafford. Tampa Bay allows over 260 yards per game through the air, so Tate makes for a WR2 play during your playoff run.
