Fantasy Football: 7 Sleeper Tight Ends to Target in 2017

Antonio Gates, Los Angeles Chargers

There are a lot of reasons to bet against Antonio Gates in what could be his last season. He’s 37. Hunter Henry has taken flight. Keenan Allen is (for now) healthy. Gates' catch rate of 56.99% in 2016 was the lowest of any tight end with at least 30 receptions -- and the lowest of his 14-year career.

Then again, it’s Antonio Gates. The future Hall of Famer has not finished lower than the TE12 in standard leagues since 2004, his second season in the league. His only time outside of the top-12 in PPR leagues in that span was in 2012 -- he finished 13th.

Finishing as the TE10 in standard leagues last season, he saw over 2.5 more targets per game than Henry. While his catch rate was abysmal, he was extremely efficient with the balls he hauled in. His Reception Success Rate -- the percentage of receptions that resulted in positive Net Expected Points (read more about these terms in our glossary) -- of 92.45% was second only to Greg Olsen.

He was targeted 18 times in the red zone, more than any other Charger. While Gates no longer has Henry’s youth, he carries with him a decade-plus of rapport with Philip Rivers. I’ll bet on that any day. —Ian Goldsmith