Carnell Tate’s Preseason Has Been Messy — I’m Still Buying the Talent

Carnell Tate’s preseason box score isn’t going to sell anyone on him.

That might actually be a good thing for fantasy drafts.

Tate didn’t record a catch in Tennessee’s preseason opener.

He then had a catchable pass go through his hands against Seattle.

If you only watched the games, it would be easy to wonder why anyone is excited.

Training camp has told a very different story.

Tennessee Didn’t Draft Him Fourth Overall to Hide Him

Let’s start with the obvious.

The Titans selected Tate with the fourth overall pick.

That creates expectations immediately.

More importantly, Tennessee has repeatedly given us reasons to believe Tate will have a significant offensive role.

During offseason practices, he consistently made plays.

Then, after a quieter beginning to training camp, Tate exploded.

In one August practice, he caught three touchdown passes.

He made plays in the red zone.

He won contested catches.

He created momentum heading into the preseason.

The production hasn’t shown up in games yet.

The ability clearly has.

The Cam Ward Connection Matters

This is another reason I’m willing to be patient.

Tate is developing alongside Cam Ward.

Ward is entering Year 2, and Tennessee is building the offense around him under Brian Daboll.

That creates volatility.

Young quarterback.

Rookie receiver.

New offensive system.

There are going to be ugly drives.

We’ve already seen some of them this preseason.

But if Ward takes the step Tennessee is hoping for, Tate has a direct path to growing with him.

Those are the combinations I like betting on before everything looks perfect.

Calvin Ridley Keeps the Expectations Reasonable

Tate also doesn’t need to immediately become Tennessee’s No. 1 receiver.

Calvin Ridley is still here.

That can actually help.

Tate can begin his career without defenses treating him as the only legitimate receiving threat.

The concern is volume.

If Tennessee becomes a low-volume passing offense and Ridley remains the clear first read, Tate may be inconsistent early.

That is why I’m not forcing him up the board solely because he was a top-five NFL Draft pick.

The Preseason Doesn't Change the Prospect

I think fantasy managers sometimes put too much weight on August production.

If Tate had caught two touchdowns in preseason games, his price would probably be climbing.

Would we actually know much more about him?

Not really.

We already know Tennessee values him.

We already know he has been capable of taking over practices.

We already know the physical talent that made him the fourth overall selection.

The biggest unknown is how quickly everything translates.

A couple of empty preseason box scores don’t answer that.

Brian Daboll Is Another Reason I’m Interested

Daboll’s job is to build an offense that makes life easier for Ward.

A big, talented receiver who can win at multiple levels gives him another tool to do that.

Tate doesn’t need 140 targets as a rookie.

He needs enough designed opportunity and red-zone work to turn his talent into usable fantasy weeks.

The touchdown production we’ve seen in camp is at least encouraging in that regard.

My Fantasy Read

I’m still buying Carnell Tate.

But I’m buying him as an upside receiver rather than someone I need to start immediately.

His first few weeks could be uneven.

That is normal for a rookie receiver playing with a young quarterback in a new offense.

The reason I’m willing to live with it is the ceiling.

Fourth overall draft capital.

Strong camp reports.

Red-zone production.

A developing relationship with Cam Ward.

And a coaching staff with every incentive to get its young stars involved.

If the messy preseason pushes Tate down draft boards, I’m more interested.

Not less.