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A couple of weeks ago, the Trade Values were published with one ominous name missing: Antonio Gates. It didn't take long for some keen Fantasy Football owners to notice him missing.
Why wasn't he there? Well, he hadn't played a game yet. It was assumed there wasn't much demand for him.
Two weeks later, the omission looked ridiculous -- and boy, is there demand for Gates now.
The 35-year-old has 9 receptions and at least 90 yards in each of his two games with a stunning 27 targets. He's helped immensely by the Chargers' lack of offensive line talent, forcing quarterback Philip Rivers to look short on his pass attempts. It also helps that Gates had insta-chemistry with Rivers upon his return from a four-game suspension. His big body and soft hands help make him an easy target.
Gates started fast last season with at least eight Fantasy points in each of his first two games (one actually went for 27 points). He had eight or more Fantasy points in six of his first seven games, then fell off a cliff and scored eight-plus just three times in his last eight. Could it happen again? Or, could Father Time catch up with Gates like it has with other older players around the league?
It's fun to have Gates, and of course he gives any Fantasy lineup an edge as a safe tight end. But a lot of people stashed him and want to move him before anything bad happens to him. The time is right to do so. Here are some trades people are mulling involving Gates.
Antonio Gates for Randall Cobb: No doubt Cobb's value is sinking, especially with his offensive coordinator admitting he's not at 100 percent. But if you're giving him up for Gates, you're not getting enough.
Antonio Gates and Brandin Cooks for Calvin Johnson: This one's good if you're getting Calvin, not if you're getting Gates. If Cooks had a little more productivity then he'd be worth his spot in this deal.
Antonio Gates for Carson Palmer and Crockett Gillmore: Gates is being overvalued in this deal and is the absolute perfect move to make if you've got Gates and Peyton Manning and need to sell high on the tight end to replace the quarterback.
Antonio Gates and Emmanuel Sanders for Jimmy Graham and Frank Gore: Team needs dictate trades like these, but the Gates/Sanders side is coming up a little light. Gore is a pretty good Fantasy starter and Graham could be on the cusp of finally getting the targets he deserves in Seattle.
Antonio Gates for Martavis Bryant: It's kind of a funny trade since they've combined for four touchdowns in three games, but it works. Both were stashed, both came out of a suspension red hot and both can fill needs for Fantasy rosters.
What are the Trade Values? The chart is designed to help guide you in making fair trades in your standard-scoring or PPR leagues. The values assigned to the players below are a long-term measurement of their Fantasy value. By adding two players' values you could determine what one player you should be able to get in return. This list should also work as a "Rest of Season" rankings. Also, any player not on the chart should be considered valued at no more than three points.
Player | Stnd | PPR | Player | Stnd | PPR | Player | Stnd | PPR |
Le'Veon Bell, RB, PIT | 37 | 41 | Steve Smith, WR, BAL | 15 | 19 | LeGarrette Blount, RB, NE | 8 | 8 |
Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN | 37 | 40 | Justin Forsett, RB, BAL | 15 | 18 | Melvin Gordon, RB, SD | 7 | 9 |
Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE | 36 | 41 | Doug Martin, RB, TB | 15 | 17 | Kendall Wright, WR, TEN | 7 | 9 |
Julio Jones, WR, ATL | 36 | 41 | Antonio Gates, TE, SD | 14 | 18 | Ryan Mathews, RB, PHI | 7 | 8 |
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU | 36 | 41 | Travis Kelce, TE, KC | 14 | 17 | Isaiah Crowell, RB, CLE | 7 | 8 |
Matt Forte, RB, CHI | 35 | 40 | Mike Evans, WR, TB | 14 | 17 | Matt Jones, RB, WAS | 7 | 7 |
Antonio Brown, WR, PIT | 34 | 39 | Dez Bryant, WR, DAL | 14 | 17 | Duke Johnson, RB, CLE | 6 | 10 |
Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL | 33 | 37 | Latavius Murray, RB, OAK | 14 | 16 | Jarvis Landry, WR, MIA | 6 | 9 |
Arian Foster, RB, HOU | 31 | 36 | Eddie Lacy, RB, GB | 14 | 16 | Golden Tate, WR, DET | 6 | 9 |
Odell Beckham, WR, NYG | 31 | 36 | Martavis Bryant, WR, PIT | 14 | 16 | Rishard Matthews, WR, MIA | 6 | 9 |
Tom Brady, QB, NE | 31 | 31 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB, PIT | 14 | 14 | Darren McFadden, RB, DAL | 6 | 8 |
Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA | 30 | 32 | Jimmy Graham, TE, SEA | 13 | 16 | C.J. Anderson, RB, DEN | 6 | 8 |
Brandon Marshall, WR, NYJ | 29 | 34 | Carlos Hyde, RB, SF | 13 | 14 | Antonio Andrews, RB, TEN | 6 | 8 |
Julian Edelman, WR, NE | 28 | 33 | T.J. Yeldon, RB, JAC | 13 | 14 | Jordan Reed, TE, WAS | 6 | 8 |
Todd Gurley, RB, STL | 28 | 30 | Jeremy Hill, RB, CIN | 13 | 14 | Terrance Williams, WR, DAL | 6 | 8 |
Calvin Johnson, WR, DET | 27 | 32 | Lamar Miller, RB, MIA | 13 | 14 | DeSean Jackson, WR, WAS | 6 | 8 |
Aaron Rodgers, QB, GB | 27 | 27 | Julius Thomas, TE, JAC | 12 | 16 | Tavon Austin, WR, STL | 6 | 8 |
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI | 25 | 29 | John Brown, WR, ARI | 12 | 16 | Anquan Boldin, WR, SF | 6 | 8 |
Mark Ingram, RB, NO | 23 | 26 | Giovani Bernard, RB, CIN | 12 | 15 | David Johnson, RB, ARI | 6 | 7 |
A.J. Green, WR, CIN | 23 | 26 | Donte Moncrief, WR, IND | 12 | 15 | Charcandrick West, RB, KC | 6 | 7 |
Keenan Allen, WR, SD | 21 | 26 | Eric Decker, WR, NYJ | 12 | 15 | Tyrod Taylor, QB, BUF | 6 | 6 |
Chris Ivory, RB, NYJ | 21 | 23 | Allen Hurns, WR, JAC | 12 | 15 | Alfred Morris, RB, WAS | 6 | 6 |
Alshon Jeffery, WR, CHI | 20 | 24 | James Starks, RB, GB | 12 | 14 | Rashad Jennings, RB, NYG | 6 | 6 |
T.Y. Hilton, WR, IND | 20 | 23 | Chris Johnson, RB, ARI | 12 | 13 | Charles Sims, RB, TB | 5 | 8 |
Frank Gore, RB, IND | 19 | 21 | Russell Wilson, QB, SEA | 12 | 12 | Delanie Walker, TE, NYG | 5 | 8 |
Andrew Luck, QB, IND | 19 | 19 | Jeremy Maclin, WR, KC | 11 | 16 | Jason Witten, TE, DAL | 5 | 8 |
Randall Cobb, WR, GB | 18 | 22 | Ronnie Hillman, RB, DEN | 11 | 12 | Sammy Watkins, WR, BUF | 5 | 8 |
Allen Robinson, WR, JAC | 18 | 22 | Martellus Bennett, TE, CHI | 10 | 13 | Karlos Williams, RB, BUF | 5 | 7 |
DeMarco Murray, RB, PHI | 18 | 21 | Jordan Matthews, WR, PHI | 10 | 13 | Joseph Randle, RB, DAL | 5 | 7 |
Dion Lewis, RB, NE | 18 | 21 | Brandin Cooks, WR, NO | 10 | 13 | Christine Michael, RB, DAL | 5 | 7 |
Tyler Eifert, TE, CIN | 18 | 21 | Andre Ellington, RB, ARI | 10 | 12 | Crockett Gillmore, TE, BAL | 5 | 7 |
Andy Dalton, QB, CIN | 18 | 18 | Gary Barnidge, TE, CLE | 9 | 12 | Leonard Hankerson, WR, ATL | 5 | 7 |
Cam Newton, QB, CAR | 18 | 18 | Willie Snead, WR, NO | 9 | 12 | Tevin Coleman, RB, ATL | 5 | 6 |
Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN | 17 | 21 | Marvin Jones, WR, CIN | 9 | 12 | Peyton Manning, QB, DEN | 5 | 5 |
Greg Olsen, TE, CAR | 17 | 20 | Vincent Jackson, WR, TB | 9 | 12 | Thomas Rawls, RB, SEA | 5 | 5 |
James Jones, WR, GB | 17 | 20 | Ameer Abdullah, RB, DET | 9 | 10 | Shane Vereen, RB, NYG | 4 | 8 |
Carson Palmer, QB, ARI | 17 | 17 | Blake Bortles, QB, JAC | 9 | 9 | C.J. Spiller, RB, NO | 4 | 7 |
Philip Rivers, QB, SD | 17 | 17 | Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR | 9 | 9 | Chris Thompson, RB, WAS | 4 | 7 |
Emmanuel Sanders, WR, DEN | 16 | 20 | Danny Woodhead, RB, SD | 8 | 11 | Kamar Aiken, WR, BAL | 4 | 7 |
Amari Cooper, WR, OAK | 16 | 19 | Charles Clay, TE, BUF | 8 | 11 | Jamison Crowder, WR, WAS | 4 | 7 |
LeSean McCoy, RB, BUF | 16 | 18 | Pierre Garcon, WR, WAS | 8 | 11 | Stefon Diggs, WR, MIN | 4 | 7 |
Eli Manning, QB, NYG | 16 | 16 | Travis Benjamin, WR, CLE | 8 | 11 | Darren Sproles, RB, PHI | 4 | 6 |
Drew Brees, QB, NO | 16 | 16 | Sam Bradford, QB, PHI | 8 | 8 | Torrey Smith, WR, SF | 4 | 6 |
Matt Ryan, QB, ATL | 16 | 16 | Matthew Stafford, QB, DET | 8 | 8 | Mike Wallace, WR, MIN | 4 | 6 |