Antonio Gates Injury: Does San Diego Chargers TE Have Any Fantasy Value in 2011?

San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates will be inactive for this week's game against the Miami Dolphins, and may not return until after the team's Week 6 bye, suffering from torn scar tissue in his right foot.

The injury stems from tearing his plantar fascia in 2010 and continuing to play on it, tearing the scar tissue a number of times since the start of this year's training camp. It has hindered both his team and his fantasy standings, going from the highest-drafted, most coveted fantasy tight end in the league to a millstone around the necks of his fantasy owners.

But while Gates may miss a significant amount of the season, that does not mean his fantasy value has vanished. He anticipates returning when he is fully healthy, and while he still runs a significant risk of tearing that scar tissue yet again when he does, don't run away from the tight end just yet.

There are two ways to approach handling Gates should be be on your roster. One is to just sit and wait, keeping him on your bench until he's healthy enough to play, and starting another tight end in his stead. Considering the great deal of tight end fantasy depth this year, it shouldn't be hard to find a workable replacement for the intervening weeks.

Another option is to trade him. A straight-up trade might not yield much value, because other owners are certainly aware of his injury and the risk that entails. A savvy GM might be willing to give you some solid value, either a mid-high level starting wide receiver or No. 2 running back, but it's more likely that you'd have to package him with another player to get much value in return.

If you have a serviceable option at tight end, you might be better off moving Gates in a trade once he's returned to the field. A triumphant return is just the kind of trade bait that can benefit your team, especially if you've concerns about Gates' ability to stay healthy once he comes back.

Either way, don't drop Gates. In many leagues, he's on the can't-cut list, and for good reason. Regardless of injury, he's still the top tight end in the NFL; don't let the injury blind you to that fact. But if you do have the option to drop him to the waiver wire, don't do it. He's still got fantasy value left in him this season, whether for your team or someone else's.