Gates could be used as more of a third down and red zone specialist, ESPN's Eric Williams reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gates ended the 2016 season with more snaps than rookie TE Hunter Henry, but it finally seemed as if Father Time had caught up with the 36-year-old, as Gates struggled to explode off the line of scrimmage. That certainly came through in Gates final stat line, as the veteran TE managed to record just 538 receiving yards, his lowest figure since 2012. As a result, it's likely Henry will take over more of the starting TE role, with Gates fading into the background as more of a third down and red zone specialist. That can still make for a useful fantasy fallback, especially in the Chargers high-octane passing attack, but it appears as if the days of Gates as an elite fantasy TE are officially over.