How Good can Gates be this year? (1 Viewer)

[ptber]

Although the conventional vbd wisdom says wait on TE, you risk missing on nearly all if there is a mega run, especially in TE premium leagues ( 1.5 points per reception ). I think Gates is the perfect guy to target this year, even as early as the 3rd round to be sure you can get him.

With the receiver situation on that team, I see him getting a record amount of targets this year. He is leaner, in shape, and healthy for the first time in years. Yes he is old for a tight end, but arguably has less tread due to some extended absences over the past couple of seasons. I see him with 1100 yards and double digit touchdowns. I am not sure Gronk and Hernandez are up for that given the new competition for targets.

Elite (top 12) QB + Elite TE + Poor WRs = Top Fantasy TE.

When I look at these 3 factors, to me the only guys that meet the 3 criteria are Graham and Gates. No one else. Due to Washington, NE's, and San Fran's upgraded receiving core, Davis, Gronk/Hernandez, and Davis aren't as likely to be PPR monsters at the TE position.

 

[kinghill]

I feel pretty confident saying Gates can be pretty good. Perhaps even Top 5 TE. That's my expert analysis. Good luck.

 

[Freedonia]

I pick at 1.9 in my ppr draft this weekend. I am high enough on gates that I may shy away from Graham at 1.9 hoping to get Gates at 4.3.

 

[texasheat]

Poor receivers = more double coverage

 

[Beerguzzler]

Gates has been getting double coverage since he came into the league.

 

[TS Garp]

He's going to see a ton of targets this season. With the departure of Vincent Jackson, the injury to Vincent Brown, and the fact that no one really knows what to make of Meachem yet, Rivers will look more than ever to his favorite and most trusted target. Supposedly, Gates is healthier than he's ever been (some of that may be camp noise) and the Chargers will ride him hard if he's healthy. If Gates can play a full season, 80/1100/12 are within reach. Granted, that's a big if, but while he may not be the sexy pick that Gronkowski and Graham are at this point, his upside isn't far off.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Poor receivers = more double coverage

For real life purposes it isn't great. For fantasy purposes it's a great situation. The more balls thrown his way the better. Unless you get points for catch % you want a high volume.

 

[LHUCKS]

He's going to get a ton of balls and redzone targets.

The question will be his health.

 

[Sudoku_in_the_Bathtub]

I see a career year for him. Floyd is a nice WR when healthy. I took Meachem completely off my draft board. Vincent Brown was a big time loss to SD.

Gates is gonna be at or near the top of league targets if healthy.

I'm still completely baffled by that Meachem signing. I'd pay $26 mil guaranteed for Jackson (and that 6 seasons of chemistry he has with Rivers) over 2 years before I'd guarantee $14 mil to Meachem over that same 2 year period.

 

[Grahamburn]

Gates' game logs in 2010 when Vincent Jackson was holding out:

5/76/1

5/57/2

7/109/1

7/144/2

5/92/1

2/12/0

4/50/1

5/123/1

4/46/0

6/73/1

 

[sspunisher]

Gates is a must draft this year IMO. He offers Graham/Gronk upside at a fraction of the cost. Anyone who uses the "VJax is gone" argument clearly doesn't remember what Gates did when VJax was holding out. He was on pace to shattering TE records before his foot acted up.

I'm in about 8 or 9 $ leagues, he's the only player I have on every single one of my teams.

 

[Anonymous Internet User]

I love Gates this year, but am not willing to spend the late 2nd/early 3rd pick necessary to lock him up in 1.5 TE PPR leagues.

 

[LHUCKS]

I love Gates this year, but am not willing to spend the late 2nd/early 3rd pick necessary to lock him up in 1.5 TE PPR leagues.

Took him at 3.07 in my FPC draft yesterday which is 1.5 PPR.I think he and Hernandez should go in the 3rd in that format.

 

[DeaLerZ]

Gates' game logs in 2010 when Vincent Jackson was holding out:

5/76/1

5/57/2

7/109/1

7/144/2

5/92/1

2/12/0

4/50/1

5/123/1

4/46/0

6/73/1

Which would have been on pace for 80 rec, 1250yds, 16tds... guy is a steal at his current ADP because of the potential for this to happen again

and I had him that season.. and the thing you have to remember as well was that for the last 3 or 4 of those games he was hurt every week.. and still put up those types of numbers...I remember because it was crazy trying to decide whether to start him every week.. but he just kept on producing

if he can stay healthy all year.. which it appears he has got the best chance to do so that he has had in years.. he could win a lot of Fantasy Championships for people this year

 

[VikingFrog]

Got him in the 6th round of my 12 team draft and loving the pick. Graham and gronk went 1st and 2nd round and I had no hope that gates would fall that far, but he did. If he does what I think he can do, could be the steal of the draft.

 

[Beerguzzler]

Gates in the 6th really? Wow

 

[skillz]

Gates' game logs in 2010 when Vincent Jackson was holding out:

5/76/1

5/57/2

7/109/1

7/144/2

5/92/1

2/12/0

4/50/1

5/123/1

4/46/0

6/73/1

Which would have been on pace for 80 rec, 1250yds, 16tds... guy is a steal at his current ADP because of the potential for this to happen again

and I had him that season.. and the thing you have to remember as well was that for the last 3 or 4 of those games he was hurt every week.. and still put up those types of numbers...I remember because it was crazy trying to decide whether to start him every week.. but he just kept on producing

if he can stay healthy all year.. which it appears he has got the best chance to do so that he has had in years.. he could win a lot of Fantasy Championships for people this year

This is the problem with Gates. His recent injury history and fact that he plays on the west coast so many weeks it becomes a crapshoot as to whether he would play his game later in the day, and, even if he did, how long he'd play before reinjuring himself. I am hoping he can stay healthy since he dropped to me in the 5th in a 12 team league and I just couldn't pass him up at that point. He seems as healthy as he's ever been the last two years but who knows if he'll stay that way. He was a monster in 2010 when Jackson was holding out so it would be great if he was able to do what he did in 2010. He is certainly being overlooked.

 

[TitanicHornet]

I got him on the turn of 4-5 last night and pretty happy with that.

 

[VikingFrog]

Gates in the 6th really? Wow

Yeah I lucked out. I was wrong in not mentioning Hernandez though. Here's how the top TEs played out in my league. Standard scoring 6 pt all TDs. I think they went late due to te fact that everyone who was taking qbs and wrs early was catching up on rbs at the time.1.11 Graham1.12 Gronkowski5.10 Hernandez6.4 Gates (me)6.7 Bump Finley6.8 Vernon Davis6.10 witten6.11 tony g7.1 Fred Davis7.7 pettigrew10.10 celek11.4 tamme11.12 GreshamNice to be on the front end of a run in this situation.

 

[Lott's Fingertip]

64 rec, 778 yards, 7 TDs in 12 games last year = 85/1037/9 prorated

And that is playing hurt. I like me some Antonio Gates this year.

 

[flooredyas]

Why am I weary about his foot problems from last year then?

Has there been a cure that he's recieved allowing him to become a $6 million dollar TE?

 

[Banemorth]

Took Gates at 6.11 and Witten at 7.02 in a dynasty draft the other day. Can start two TE's so I figured why not? Expect big things from him this year.

 

[12punch]

Gates in the 6th really? Wow

Yeah I lucked out. I was wrong in not mentioning Hernandez though. Here's how the top TEs played out in my league. Standard scoring 6 pt all TDs. I think they went late due to te fact that everyone who was taking qbs and wrs early was catching up on rbs at the time.1.11 Graham1.12 Gronkowski5.10 Hernandez6.4 Gates (me)6.7 Bump Finley6.8 Vernon Davis6.10 witten6.11 tony g7.1 Fred Davis7.7 pettigrew10.10 celek11.4 tamme11.12 GreshamNice to be on the front end of a run in this situation.

I am really amazed how little interest olsen still gets....or fails to get....it seems he's everybody's hot sleeper te that nobody drafts -- how does that work?

 

[Lott's Fingertip]

Why am I weary about his foot problems from last year then? Has there been a cure that he's recieved allowing him to become a $6 million dollar TE?

He played the last 11 games, and played well.If he played the first 11 games, then missed the rest of the season, I would be more worried. The foot is a concern, but there are a lot of good backup TEs... Gates is one of a very few TEs that can be elite.

 

[VikingFrog]

Gates in the 6th really? Wow

Yeah I lucked out. I was wrong in not mentioning Hernandez though. Here's how the top TEs played out in my league. Standard scoring 6 pt all TDs. I think they went late due to te fact that everyone who was taking qbs and wrs early was catching up on rbs at the time.1.11 Graham1.12 Gronkowski5.10 Hernandez6.4 Gates (me)6.7 Bump Finley6.8 Vernon Davis6.10 witten6.11 tony g7.1 Fred Davis7.7 pettigrew10.10 celek11.4 tamme11.12 GreshamNice to be on the front end of a run in this situation.

I am really amazed how little interest olsen still gets....or fails to get....it seems he's everybody's hot sleeper te that nobody drafts -- how does that work?

He went 13.8 in that same draft.I'm not that high on him. Was supposed to do what everyone is predicting last year.

 

[sspunisher]

He wasn't healthy last year, didn't miss any games ONCE HE RETURNED and put up very respectable stats that were overshadowed by ridiculous years from Gronk and Graham. He lost weight specifically to lessen the load on his feet but it'll be a bonus to see a quicker Gates on the field.

The way I see it, the only people who get a "pass" for not drafting Gates are the ones who drafted Graham, Gronk or Hernandez. He's a must draft this year at his ADP.

 

[Eminence]

Poor Receivers = Double Coverage

 

[12punch]

Poor Receivers = Double Coverage

who were their receivers in 2010?

 

[Tau837]

Poor Receivers = Double Coverage

You don't seem to be well informed. Check out the revolving door of WRs the Chargers had in 2010, when Gates was completely dominant until he was shut down due to injury.He was dominant despite playing with WRs signed off the street and despite playing hurt.

 

[Sudoku_in_the_Bathtub]

Gates in the 6th really? Wow

Yeah I lucked out. I was wrong in not mentioning Hernandez though. Here's how the top TEs played out in my league. Standard scoring 6 pt all TDs. I think they went late due to te fact that everyone who was taking qbs and wrs early was catching up on rbs at the time.1.11 Graham1.12 Gronkowski5.10 Hernandez6.4 Gates (me)6.7 Bump Finley6.8 Vernon Davis6.10 witten6.11 tony g7.1 Fred Davis7.7 pettigrew10.10 celek11.4 tamme11.12 GreshamNice to be on the front end of a run in this situation.

I am really amazed how little interest olsen still gets....or fails to get....it seems he's everybody's hot sleeper te that nobody drafts -- how does that work?

Gates/Olsen is a very very good TE pairing to grab. (JMO the latter also has Top 5 TE upside this year & gives you Gates injury protection as well)I think Olsen (not LaFell) is the receiver breakout there in Carolina in a very TE friendly offense.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Poor Receivers = Double Coverage

Poor receivers = more double coverage

For real life purposes it isn't great. For fantasy purposes it's a great situation. The more balls thrown his way the better. Unless you get points for catch % you want a high volume.