FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 12/11/2012 7:21pm et

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates had only three catches for 31 yards in the team's Week 14 win, and he has been held to under 50 yards since Week 9. Gates has had four or fewer receptions in 10 of his 12 games this year. Gates was targeted eight times in Week 14, but he dropped a deep pass and wasn't able to gain separation from Pittsburgh Steelers LB Lawrence Timmons over the middle. The extra burst that Gates used to leave single coverage in the past appears to be gone. He's being double-teamed at times this year, too.

Huddle Up: Gates has been a major disappointment -- even in a down year for the position as a whole -- as he currently ranks 17th among fantasy TEs with 69 points (Huddle Performance scoring).

Posted: 10/26/2012 8:08pm et

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates said he still deals with the rib injury that he suffered Week 1 from time to time.

Huddle Up: Gates definitely hasn't been his old studly self this season, and this lingering issue may partially explain that. Gates remains a risky play.

Posted: 10/16/2012 12:26am et

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates posted team-highs with six receptions, 81 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Week 6 game Monday, Oct. 15, against the Denver Broncos.

Huddle Up: With his fantasy owners more than a little restless, Gates had his best outing of the year -- hitting season-highs in receptions and yards and scoring his first TDs of the campaign. He was targeted a team-high 10 times.

Posted: 9/21/2012 6:52pm et

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (ribs) is listed as probable for the team's Week 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Huddle Up: Gates practiced fully Thursday and Friday and all indications are that he will return to action after being a late pre-game scratch in Week 2.

Posted: 9/20/2012 8:12pm et

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (ribs) practiced in full Thursday, Sept. 20.

Huddle Up: Good news for Gates' fantasy owners who were forced to find another late-minute option in Week 2 after the TE was declared inactive in a somewhat unexpected game-time decision.

Posted: 9/19/2012 7:41pm et

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (ribs) was limited in practice Wednesday, Sept. 19.

Huddle Up: Fantasy GMs are starting to wonder if Gates' original injury -- sustained in the season opener -- might be worse than first reported after he was a late scratch in Week 2. Monitor his progress closely throughout the week as he has another late-afternoon game in Week 3.

Posted: 9/16/2012 10:03pm et

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (ribs) and RB Ryan Mathews (clavicle) were inactive for Sunday's Week 2 game against the Tennessee Titans.

Huddle Up: Mathews' absence was expected, but reports as late as Sunday morning said Gates would give it a go. That wasn't the case, though, as he was inactive with the sore ribs he injured in last week's game against the Raiders. In his place, reserve Dante Rosario starred with 4 receptions for 48 yards and a trio of TDs in San Diego's 38-10 win.

Posted: 9/14/2012 4:12pm et

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (ribs) is participating in practice Friday, Sept. 14. He has sat out the last two days of practice with sore ribs.

Huddle Up: This is good news for any Gates owners after he missed practice earlier this week. It seems like the big tight end is dealing with injury issues on an annual basis, but this one won't keep him out of action.

Posted: 9/12/2012 9:17pm et

Updating a previous report, San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner expects TE Antonio Gates (ribs) to practice Thursday, Sept. 13. Gates, who did not practice Wednesday, Sept. 12, is still 'a little sore.'

Huddle Up: The Chargers were coming off a game Monday night, so it's no surprise Gates was held out Wednesday. If he practices Thursday and/or Friday, consider the TE good to go as far as your starting fantasy lineup is concerned.

Posted: 9/11/2012 1:55am et

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (ribs) returned to the field in the third quarter in Week 1 against the Oakland Raiders after leaving for the locker room for treatment on a rib injury.

Huddle Up: Gates got banged up fighting for a first down after making a reception. The TE led San Diego with 8 targets in his team's 22-14 season-opening win and finished with 4 receptions for 43 yards.

Posted: 8/24/2012 3:51pm et

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates will not play in the third preseason game Friday, Aug. 24, even though he is healthy.

Huddle Up: Considering Gates has been injured often the past couple of seasons and his longstanding chemistry with Philip Rivers, this should come as a relief to his owners. If healthy he can still be a force at the position, and it is encouraging to see that the Chargers are doing everything they can to keep him that way.

Posted: 6/22/2012 12:12pm et

San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner said QB Philip Rivers and TE Antonio Gates have had their best minicamp he has seen. "I told our guys, I don't have to, but if I listed 10 guys who have been outstanding," Turner said, "and probably have had their best camp that I'm aware of, (Antonio) Gates falls in that category. Ryan (Mathews) is in that category. Philip Rivers is in that category. He's still been here (at the team facility) more days probably more than any other guy on the team."

Huddle Up: Those three are the players the Chargers need to set the tone for their offense. Rivers will be working with some new receivers, so the extra time spent at the facility is worth noting. That Gates is healthy enough to have a good camp is also a positive sign, as every fantasy owner knows a healthy Gates is an incredibly productive Gates.

Posted: 6/13/2012 9:38am et

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates has chosen to trim his playing weight this season. He said Tuesday, June 12, that he is cutting down to 255 from his usual 260 in hopes of gaining longevity. 'I've always felt deeply that as you get older, you have to lose a little weight,' Gates said. 'I've always played at 260 (pounds). I felt like this year, I can play at 255. That's just the key. When I watch guys who have longevity and played for 15, 16 years, one thing I continuously hear is guys maintaining healthy, maintaining weight. They control their weight.'

Huddle Up: All the way down to 255 from 260? He'll need a whole new wardrobe. Seriously, Gates has missed nine games in two seasons and was also a sore-footed decoy in at least four other games. Fantasy owners don't expect as much from Gates anymore, as his ADP is at its lowest since 2004 (late fifth-round).