Is Gates droppable?

[SirGrotius]

I'm thinking about dropping Gates. I have Gonzo on my team who's been filling in nicely. I need to make some minor defensive moves, but I'm thinking about dropping Gates instead of guys like Torrey Smith. Am I being too pessimistic about the Gates master?

Thanks!

[u_fig_eater]

Dropped him in a 10-team redraft. Don't have the luxury to have an injured TE on the bench. I got Chandler and Olsen to replace him. TE is deep so you can play the matchups IMO.

[moochman]

The answer to your question can be found by reversing it. Ask yourself is Gates startable?
Having some real doubts about him for this season and beyond. Plantar Fascitis should have healed by now, so if he is having to miss games because of it after a full off season of rest, I have a hard time imagining it getting better for more that some random week. Which week? who knows.
Dang.

[FatFoot]

I think the answer is YES, but that you're going to miss him in at least 1 week, later in the year. If he's back after the bye, I think he'll have one of those 90 yard, 2 TD games etc. But how long can you eat a roster spot? Differs team to team, I suppose.

[petedog9]

Will the guy you pick up in his stead ever see your starting lineup? More times than not, they dont.. It does depend on the size of your bench. I am holding on to him. I picked up Colston the same way 2 weeks ago and he is already back and playing...

[Sex Panther]

I know if he was dropped in any league I play in I would try and pick him up immediately.

Arian Foster played very sparingly in 1 game prior to week 4, was he sroppable? My answer to that is no.

Andre Johnson is probably going to miss at least 2 weeks, maybe he misses 6... is he droppable? My answer to that is no.

Miles Austin just missed 2 weeks & has a bye week 5... is he droppable? My answer to that is no.

Same situation - Gates is flat out elite at his position - possibly moreso than any other player in fantasy football - he is capable of posting WR1 numbers from the TE slot, chances are you aren't replacing his production with a guy you pluck off the scrap heap going into week 5.

All that said, if you are in a league with an insanely short bench, I could possibly see why this is an issue - even then, I would try and move somebody else.

There's no way I would ditch Gates when I have a 4th or 5th RB or WR sitting on my roster or if I was carrying a back up QB I plan on playing once.

[bostonsoxandy]

When he plays he will play top-5 quality. He should be owned in every league.

[FatFoot]

That's all only true if he's not DONE.
He was the #16 TE in week 1.
He played in week 2 and got a goose egg.
He's been out for 2 weeks.
He is NOT a top 5 TE currently, nor is there much chance of him supplanting Gronkowski, Graham, Gonzalez, Witten, Keller, and several of the new upstarts, to END UP in that position.
Particularly not if he is out until week 7.
That's a LOT of ground to cover, in a season where TE is making a big splash.

You spent a lot of draft money on him, or you spent a high (for a TE) pick on him.
That's over.

Gates is awesome, and I am a fan.
It's not absurd to stash him away.
But if you need depth at a position, I would CERTAINLY consider dropping him.

If we were talking about a younger player, or one who doesn't have a history of this same foot problem, it might be a different thought process.
But it is what it is.