Antonio Gates is Your Must-Add Tight End Pickup of the Week

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ANALYSIS: August, 2014. I sat in my friend's backyard, in the midst of our hotly-anticipated keeper league draft. As we rolled along past the middle rounds, it became apparent that I had shorted myself at tight end. I noticed that two San Diego tight ends remained on the board. One, LaDarius Green, was 24 years old and seemingly primed to replace the other, future Hall of Fame candidate Antonio Gates.

I chose Green, who finished the season with 19 receptions, instead of Gates, who rounded out 2014 with 12 touchdowns and proved that he had more than a bit left in the tank. What I thought represented brilliant foresight on my part was actually a colossal error in judgement, as Gates left cartons of eggs on my face.

As we know, Gates has subsequently opened the door for Green to replace him in earnest, by getting himself suspended for the first four games of this season. Green has answered the bell reasonably well, with 14 grabs and two scores through four weeks. The question now is: was 2014 Gates' last gasp, or will he pick up where he left off upon his return Monday night against Pittsburgh? And what does that mean for Ladarius Green?

Also, why would you take advice from a guy who completely botched almost exactly this scenario last season? Because I learned my lesson, and that is this: don't count out Antonio Gates.

For Green owners with an opportunity to also add Gates, I'd recommend a wait-and-see approach. Hang on to both until one emerges as the guy to own. Gates is probably the safer play Monday, as he will be energized by his return, but I wouldn't preclude some combination of Gates' age and potential injury resulting in a renewed feature role for Green at some point this season.

Likewise, if you are short at tight end, in search of a solution, and Gates is available in your league, he represents a low-risk, high-reward pick-up. After finding the end zone 12 times last season, he has to be owned in all fantasy formats.