If you can get Gates in the 4th round, should you? I did that in a mock draft today, but now I'm thinking perhaps that it's better to just pass on him all together. There seem to be so many worthy TEs this year that maybe you're better off getting that 3rd RB or another WR in the 4th round before you even go TE, no?

Chris Cooley, Tony Gonzalez, Vernon Davis, Todd Heap, Jason Witten, Jeremy Shockey, Alge Crumpler, Kellen Winslow.

You could hold off til Round 8 and get one of these guys, right?

I guess my question is, would you rather have Gates and some 8th round WR/RB or a 4th round RB/WR and one of these guys?

Thats a good question. I usually ask this in regards to Manning, but I guess it is relevant to Gates too. He is on his own levelk when it comes to TE's as Manning is on his own level in regards to QB's. I still think I would rather have the 4th round WR/RB and an 8th round TE, than Gates and an 8th round WR/RB. I also hold this true to Manning as a 1st round pick!

TE is really deep this year. You can get value at the late part of a draft with guys like Owen Daniels and McMichael who seems to be falling alot in mocks I've been in

Gates is a monster,but I'd rather build depth and a strong core and take one of the 2nd or 3rd level TE's

TE may be deep, but Gates in the 4th is a no brainer. Unless you don't like WR1 numbers from your TE. Rivers will be throwing more under Turner and Gates is such a talent. I'll take him in the 3rd if he's on the table for me.

The earliest Gates will go is 3rd round and the latest is 4th round. If he is there at the end of the 4th, I'm taking him. But it just depends on your previous 3 picks and it will affect your later picks.

He basically puts up WR2 numbers. So you have to think about which WR2 or WR3's or QB you are going to get to make up for drafting Gates so early. In my recent draft there was a QB run in the 4th round.

I got Gates in the 4th round, after I landed Maroney, McGahee, and Andre Johnson. I am more than happy. Also got to land Romo as my QB in the 7th and filled in my WR and Flex spots with guys like LenDale, Kevin Curtis, and Vincent Jackson.

Depends who is left on the board.
I would not take him over anyone in the Harrison, Holt, TO tier, but I would take Gates over anyone in the Evans, Boldin tier.
Using this strategy I never end up with Gates.

I was able to get Vernon in the 8th and Edge in the 4th and I'd rather have that then the combo of Gates and a RB from the same round.

You cant really think about it that way. Drafting Gates in the 4th obviously changes the way you would draft in the 5th as opposed to taking a WR or RB in the 4th. It's not like you would wait until the 8th to fill your WR2 or RB2 spot. That being said, in a redraft league there is very little chance i'd take Gates in the 3rd round. It all depends on where you draft and who you already have. If you go RB/RB in rounds 1 and 2 Gates might be ok late 3rd, but your surely gonna lose depth somewhere.

Gates went 2nd round in both my drafts. I had planned to draft him in the 2nd round in one of my drafts but he got taken a few picks before. I think if he's there 3rd round or later you take him. I put him in the same category as the 2nd tier WR's and has the possibility to put up tier 1 WR stats. You have a huge advantage with having Gates over everyone else in the league. With so many possibility's at WR this year I think grabbing Gates is a wise move.

Based on other's posts though- you should also make sure RB's are being taken. I would sacrafice your QB and WR sitituation to get Gates- but if a solid RB is there I think you have to take a RB.

The Manning arguement as state above, I believe is different then the Gates arguement. The Manning arguement has always been that the drop off from Manning to another QB is less then the drop off from a top RB to the 2nd tier RB. With Gates it's not even close with the next TE's- although I'm hoping right along with a few others Vernon Davis steps it up.

Yeah but if Vernon Davis has a sophomore slump, then you're f'd...The other options are nice, but I think Gates has a step up from last year, and regains monster status 1200 yards and 10 td's...That's enormous considering that he next closest guy might have 900 yards and 6 td's

agreed. I picked up Gates this year in the 3rd round. He's considered the Chase Utley of fantasy football. He's the clear #1 and the #2 TE isn't even close. A lot of depth at WR this year, you get an immediate advantage over other teams when you have Gates.

Rd 3 is too early IMO. You sacrifice too many other consistent positions (QB, RB2, etc).

I've always had success finding sleepers in Rd 11 and later that produce value. One to watch this year is Shiancoe from Minn...young QB needs security blanket, they paid good $$ to get him and quick name the starting WR.

gates went in round 4 in my 14 team league...i think he is def worth it, heads and shoulders above all other TE's



check it out:
http://forums.rotoworld.com/index.php?showtopic=22782&hl=

No doubt you take him in the 4th....even if there is alot of TE's this year....he is huge trade value........

Gates was gone in he 4th round in my 10 team league.....wish I had him...

Interesting arguments. It makes me want to reevaluate on taking him. I have broken some numbers down though, and I just can't see myself spending a 3rd or 4th round pick on him. Maybe this year will be different because WR is pretty deep this year. I just know, in all my fantasy football years, playing in multiple leagues, I don't ever recall a team that drafted Gates winning it all. It ususally causes a glaring weakness elsewhere. Yeah, his numbers are sick, but I think drafting a fb team is all about depth, especially if you don't get the Stud RB that can carry your team. With all the injuries, and bye weeks, I like to have a solid RB3, and WR3. I can deal with a decent TE. Just my opinion though.

There's nothing wrong with drafting Gates, but you have to build your team properly. You have to find value in the later rounds to build depth at the other positions. I think that's the tough part and some fail to do that. Avoiding Gates has been part of my strategy, but if he's in a spot where I'm getting good value for him, I have to seriously consider him.

I'd rather draft a RB and have plenty of those for when the injuries hit and not be as affected by that then having the best TE in the league. In my leagues we typically start 3 RBs (one as a flex) so having the max amount is crucial and I also can't recall anyone winning a league taking Gates early.

If Gates were still there in the 4th, he'd be a very tempting option. I wouldn't take him any earlier than that though, personally.
TE is definitely deeper than usual this year and I'd probably try to grab one of the solid value picks later and hope he'd pan out as trade bait.

Even if that plays out, its still only a difference of 54 points in most scoring formats. I need much, much, more than that to take him in the third, and probably not even in the fourth. I'd rather have a top tier WR or even a QB in the third, depending on the scoring format of course.