Brate was the 7th highest fantasy scoring tight end in 2016. He was the 9th highest fantasy scoring tight end in 2017. He played most of 2018 with a torn labrum in his hip but still finished the 19th highest while only playing 47% of snaps. He has been a consistently productive receiver with the snaps he has gotten at all times in his career. That includes Brate being a productive receiver in the snaps he has gotten this year in Arians' system. Here are
two touchdowns that were called back because of holding in week 2 of this year. He moves well in the first one and shows high level wide receiver skills in the second one. He is an elite level red zone threat. You can call him a one trick pony but touchdowns score a lot of fantasy points. Touchdowns score enough fantasy points to have pushed him into the top ten of tight end fantasy scoring in 2 of the last 3 years.
Howard has clearly been in the doghouse this season. Arians thinks he isn't working hard and has probably been punishing him by not featuring him as a receiver. Arians is trying to build a culture and OJ Howard is an easy target to make an example. Brate is not in the doghouse. And Arians has been using him as a receiver. While Brate's blocking duties will certainly increase with more snaps, so will his receiving opportunities. The real question isn't whether his receiving opportunities will increase but by how much they will increase in a Howardless world.