2012 Fantasy Football Week 6: Tight Ends (TE) Rankings / Projections

Despite a poor showing through the first month of the season, I told fantasy owners to give Antonio Gates one more week in the starting lineup with an attractive matchup against the Saints last week.

Gates rewarded us (or disappointed us, I should say) with a three-catch effort for 19 yards and no touchdowns in a back-and-forth shootout game.

I watch the veteran close in this game, and it didn’t appear he was favoring an injury. Throughout the game, Norv Turner did a good job of moving him around, working from the slot, outside and in a variety of formations.

Whatever the reason(s) Gates isn’t getting the football enough and his 25 targets on the season are concerning putting him tied with Coby Fleener for 20th at his position in the NFL. Now, part of the reason for that low total is because Gates missed a game against the Titans, a contest where his backup Dante Rosario scored three touchdowns.

Only one game has Gates had fewer than seven targets and that was his first game back (three targets) from his rib injury against the Falcons. At the same time, Gates has seen no more than eight targets in a game, as the Chargers seem content spreading the football around.

I have to believe at some point (maybe as soon as this week) we will see Gates featured in the offense for a big game. It is troubling that we’ve yet to see it up to this point, however, and that makes me believe that fantasy owners with Gates could be in for an up-and-down season.

Time will tell but for now, Gates is worth benching if you have a respectable backup like Brent Celek.

What Did We Learn From Week 5?

- Only Tony Gonzalez can tell us if this is officially his final season in the NFL, but it’s clear he will leave this game on his own terms. Gonzalez continues to play at a Hall of Fame level, and while he’s not the same weapon he was in his prime, Gonzalez has proven he will be a top-five fantasy receiver this year, once again.

- Heath Miller failed to find the end zone last week but was still a part of the offense with four receptions. Playing against the Titans, Miller is worth thinking about as a starter.

- After a hot start Dennis Pitta hasn’t done much in recent weeks. I still like him as an option to hold but he may not be a reliable weekly starter for us.

Sean’s Week 6 Watch List

- Owen Daniels is putting together a good season and he has a terrific matchup against the Packers this week. Let’s see if he can keep it going with another TE1 performance.

1	Tony Gonzalez	Raiders
2	Vernon Davis	Giants
3	Rob Gronkowski	@ Seahawks
4	Jason Witten	@ Ravens
5	Brent Celek	Lions
6	Aaron Hernandez (I)	@ Seahawks
7	Jermaine Gresham	@ Browns
8	Brandon Pettigrew	@ Eagles
9	Antonio Gates	Broncos
10	Owen Daniels	Packers
11	Jermichael Finley (I)	@ Texans
12	Heath Miller	@ Titans
13	Jacob Tamme	@ Chargers
14	Dennis Pitta	Cowboys
15	Scott Chandler	@ Cardinals
16	Kyle Rudolph	@ Redskins
17	Jared Cook	Steelers
18	Martellus Bennett	@ 49ers
19	Fred Davis	Vikings

Week 6 Standard Rankings – QB | RB | WR | K | D |