Chargers tight end Antonio Gates did not tally much on the stat sheet during a 19-9 victory over the Colts, but he did not need to.
Antonio Gates posts just 28 yards for fantasy owners, as conservative game plan caps his upside
The future Hall-of-Famer didn’t light up the stat sheet this week, but it was enough for the Chargers to grind-out a 19-9 win over the Colts on Monday night. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Gates caught just four passes for 28 yards as the Chargers dinked and dunked the Colts all night, keeping Andrew Luck and his dangerous receivers off of the field for most of the game. In fact, the Chargers possessed the ball for over 38 minutes with short, chain moving screens and slants as well as a productive ground game anchored by Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead. The Colts front seven had no answer for the Chargers' efficient offense, and it cost them a win.
Fantasy Spin: There wasn't much fantasy wealth to spread around in a low-scoring game, and Gates was the one who got the raw end of the deal. In a conservative game plan orchestrated by Head Coach Mike McCoy, Gates totaled his yardage on short checkdowns and could not connect on big plays that owners began to grow accustomed to during the season's early stages. There could be more of those next week when the Chargers travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars, and Gates' owners can confidently pen him into their lineups.
