Antonio Gates Injury: Assessing Week 4 Fantasy Stock of Chargers TE

The San Diego Chargers' Antonio Gates, the most coveted fantasy football tight end of recent years, is apparently still feeling a significant amount of pain in his right foot after tearing the scar tissue that had built up after last season's plantar fascia injury.

Gates visited a specialist on Tuesday, and admitted to the San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee that he's weighing sitting out the next three to five weeks of the season so that he can finish out the year without missing additional time.

This is the third time since August that Gates has torn the scar tissue and it's thought that his returning to the field before letting it fully heal has caused this latest setback. An extended period of rest might be the best course of action for the tight end, but for his fantasy owners, this news has to serve as a great source of frustration.

Gates, who had 50 receptions for 782 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games last season, is easily the first tight end to go in fantasy drafts, being picked up a number of rounds before his counterparts around the NFL.

He's already missed one game this season, and now that he could miss up to five more, his fantasy value has encountered some turbulence.

Considering the depth of the fantasy tight end market this season, it is conceivable that you could offer him in a trade to another team, get a starting receiver or running back in return, and find a high-quality starting tight end on the waiver wire.

However, Gates could prove hard to move while hurt, and whoever you choose to replace him with for the season could easily be a significant downgrade from a healthy Gates (and I do believe he will get healthy).

If you choose to move Gates, keep in mind the value you'd be giving up once he returns at full strength. He's a tight end who puts up numbers consistent with a starting wide receiver. If the rest of your roster is strong, you can easily field a nightmare combination of offensive players and dominate your league with Gates as a starter.

While you may not want to use a bench spot for an injured tight end whose next few weeks are up in the air, at some point you'll have to do so, with bye weeks commencing in Week 5. I recommend holding on to him.

Personally speaking, if I were faced with having to make a decision regarding Gates for my team, I would keep him on the bench until healthy and start another tight end in his stead, rather than trying to trade him. I'd keep that value for myself.