Fantasy Football Week 4: Antonio Gates and 3 Players to Dump Now

Now that the NFL season is soon to close out it's first quarter, clearer pictures of players and teams are emerging. This obviously helps you asses the performance of your fantasy team and the usefulness of the players on your roster.

Here, I will detail three players who you should consider either trading or dropping before their value takes any further hits.

TE Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers

Gates has been bothered by torn scar tissue in his foot, which remained after tearing his plantar fascia last season. He missed last week's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, is out this week against the Miami Dolphins and may choose to rest the foot for up to five weeks.

The overall No. 1 fantasy tight end for a number of seasons, Gates is a highly-coveted player when healthy, but now that he's likely out for an extended period time, his value is up in the air.

If you'd rather not wait out the injury, or if you think he won't be effective once he returns, you can definitely find a willing trade partner in your league.

Keep in mind that while Gates is hurt, he will be a sell-low trade prospect, and you will need to either package him with another player to get value in return or exchange him with a lower-level starter.

I don't recommend dropping him to the waiver wire; you can definitely get something for him, and considering you likely drafted him a number of rounds before the rest of the tight ends starting moving, to can him for nothing wouldn't be smart.

RB Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins

Reggie Bush hasn't proven to be the savior of Miami's running game that he was signed to be; whether it's Bush's fault, the Dolphins' fault or a little of both doesn't matter when discussing his fantasy value—or what little of it that remains.

Bush has been both improperly utilized and an underperformer through the first three games of the season, and he has been usurped in just about every down by fellow back Daniel Thomas.

While the signing of Steve Slaton earlier this week shouldn't directly impact Bush by taking away any of his time on the field, it definitely indicates that the Dolphins are looking for another solution at running back to supplement Thomas.

Unlike Gates, it will be difficult to package Bush in a trade; he's quickly becoming a fantasy football pariah. For lack of better waiver options, you may choose to keep him on your bench, which is fine. But don't expect him to develop into a must-start player this season.

Either ditch him or hold him on your bench for desperate times or a bye week.

WR Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints

ESPN's John Clayton is notoriously wrong about players' injury and playing status, so it is to be taken with a healthy dose of salt that Saints wide receiver Marques Colston will be on the field with his team this Sunday. 

However, Colston will be returning sometime soon, and with that, the marginal amount of fantasy value that Devery Henderson has will likely evaporate.

Henderson is inconsistent, even though he does come down with a big play on occasion. That, combined with quarterback Drew Brees' tendency to spread the ball around to a number of receivers, makes Henderson a risky start even without Colston playing.

Regardless of Colston's status, this week may be your last opportunity to trade Henderson for any kind of value. After Sunday, Henderson will either need to languish on your bench in case of emergency or be dropped to the waiver wire.