WR Russell Gage, Free Agent (1 Viewer)

[Faust]

Falcons 29, Panthers 21: Top 5 Observations

Excerpt:

3. Russell Gage is no fluke anymore. Gage was the leading receiver today with 64 yards, marking four consecutive weeks where he leads the team in receiving. Gage struggled to start the season, but is beginning to look like his 2020 self. While he might not have the breakout games every week like Patterson or Kyle Pitts can have, he's become a Calvin Ridley-like security blanket for Matt Ryan.

 

[Faust]

Buccaneers signed Russell Gage, formerly of the Falcons. 

It is a transaction that both adds talent to the top-heavy Bucs receiving corps and steals away a top option from a division rival. A sixth-round pick back in 2018, Gage emerged his final two years with the Falcons, pulling in 138 catches for 1,556 yards and eight touchdowns over the last two seasons. He profiles as the No. 3 receiver in Tampa when everyone is healthy, but health is not a given for Chris Godwin, who is recovering from a December ACL tear. It is possible Gage opens the year as the No. 2 receiver in a Tom Brady offense, a role that would make him a valuable fantasy asset, but his long-term outlook is a little less exciting with Mike Evans and Godwin ahead of him on the depth chart. 

RELATED: 

Atlanta Falcons

SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

Mar 15, 2022, 2:07 PM ET

 

[-OZ-]

Haven’t seen contract terms but great signing if reasonable. He’s the WR I wanted Tennessee to go after. Best wr3 in the game, possibly. and not a bad 2 if needed.  

 

[Grahamburn]

Haven’t seen contract terms but great signing if reasonable. He’s the WR I wanted Tennessee to go after. Best wr3 in the game, possibly. and not a bad 2 if needed.  

3 years and $30M. 

 

[-OZ-]

3 years and $30M. 

Seems very reasonable given some of the other contracts. Guessing they’re getting the “I’d like to play with Tom “ discount. 

 

[Pigskin Fanatic]

3 years and $30M. 

i thought he'd get so much more than this. great signing for the buccs and real football, terrible for fantasy value. well not terrible for Tom at all.

 Best wr3 in the game, possibly. and not a bad 2 if needed.  

very much what i would have said about him.

 

[TampaMike19]

Gage with the added FU by going to a division rival. Nice acquisition. He was awesome down the stretch. Regret dropping him in redraft after his goose eggs. 

 

[Faust]

The Athletic's Greg Auman writes "while [Russell] Gage has never had more than four touchdowns in a season, it would be easy for him to surpass that" in 2022.

With Rob Gronkowski's retirement today, Gage's situation has only gotten better. He has a clear hold of the No. 2 target role in a record-breaking offense with Gronkowski gone and Chris Godwin (ACL) perhaps not back at full strength for a bit. The fantasy stock on Gage just keeps on rising as we head into the off-period before training camp. 

SOURCE: The Athletic

Jun 21, 2022, 4:41 PM ET

 

[Faust]

Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles said the defense has been unable to cover Russell Gage in training camp.

Gage is facing added competition for targets after the Buccaneers signed Julio Jones last week. Earlier this offseason, Gage signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Buccaneers, literally answering the call of Tom Brady to join the team. Bowles said of Gage's early success in camp, "again, we're out of pads, but he's the guy that flashes and shows quickness and fluidity and everything else that I've seen the past two days." The arrival of Jones and the impending return of Chris Godwin make Gage's upside a difficult one to predict. He's a pretty safe WR3 in PPR leagues, but had some top-24 upside prior to Jones' signing.

SOURCE: Tampa Bay Times

Jul 30, 2022, 6:53 PM ET

 

[nittanylion]

Did Gage get hurt in the joint practice with the Dolphins today?

 

[OldMilwaukee]

Russell Gage exits practice with apparent leg injury.

 

[Faust]

ESPN's Jenna Laine reports Russell Gage is still not practicing with the team.​

For an injury that was reported as "minor" by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport nearly three weeks ago, the fact that Gage remains sidelined is noteworthy. The veteran receiver has been spotted on the sidelines throughout camp, but the Bucs have not provided much of an update on him in recent weeks. With a little more than two weeks until the Bucs' Week 1 game against the Cowboys, we won't press the panic button on Gage just yet, but some positive news in the coming days would put our minds at ease. If healthy, Gage can be viewed as a WR3 in PPR leagues.
SOURCE: Jenna Laine on Twitter
Aug 27, 2022, 2:54 PM ET

 

[Faust]

Bucs coach Todd Bowles said WR Russell Gage (hamstring) is "on track to play" in Week 1 against Dallas.​

Gage practiced on back-to-back days for the first time after he was injured in a joint practice with Miami. The veteran receiver missed the entire preseason and took a hit on the depth chart with the Julio Jones signing. Chris Godwin (knee) isn't a lock to be ready for Week 1, giving Gage a chance to open the year in the Bucs' No. 3 role. Gage's early season targets figure to be limited coming off an extended absence.
SOURCE: Tampa Bay Times
Sep 3, 2022, 11:35 AM ET

 

[Runnyb]

Anyone stashing him in redraft ppr still? Godwin is always hurt, Evans seems absent for a stretch or 2 every year and Julio wasn't really spectacular last week. Thought I heard rumors Brady really wanted Gage or was very high on him, but kind of drawing a blank researching this.

 

[Grahamburn]

Sneaky last minute play today with Godwin and Jones out.

 

[Deamon]

Julio wasn't really spectacular last week

He was pretty damn good

 

[lakerstan]

Firing up Russell over Gabe Davis this week. Lawd help me.

 

[Snoopy]

Fill in for Keenan Allen

 

[candian fantasy guy]

Firing up Russell over Gabe Davis this week. Lawd help me.

I did the same in a league where I had no back up for Davis tomorrow night.

 

[Grahamburn]

Sneaky last minute play today with Godwin and Jones out.

Sneaky bad.

 

[Faust]

Russell Gage (hamstring) is questionable for Week 3 against the Packers.​

It wasn't noted by any of Tampa's reporters earlier in the day, so it's a surprise to see a DNP for Gage on the Friday report. We wouldn't have been surprised to see Gage as questionable either way -- he hasn't exactly looked right on the field so far and has been piling up limited practices -- but the DNP raises flags. Keep an eye out for his Sunday status. If he can't go, it might be Breshad Perriman WR1 SZN against the Packers.
Sep 23, 2022, 4:31 PM ET

 

[Faust]

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Russell Gage (hamstring) is expected to play in Week 4 against the Chiefs.​

Gage is currently listed as questionable with the hamstring issue. Chris Godwin, Julio Jones, and Mike Evans are all expected to be back for this game. With everyone active, Gage will be resigned to a rotational role versus Kansas City. The influx in target completion pushes him into WR4/5 territory.
SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Oct 2, 2022, 8:55 AM ET

 

[The Frankman]

Russell Gage caught 2-of-4 targets for 20 yards in the Bucs' Week 6 loss to the Steelers.​

Each of Gage's missed connections were end zone misfires, the second of which came on a critical third quarter third down. Predictably displaying zero upside, Gage also hasn't shown enough floor to be taken seriously as a WR4. The Bucs get the Panthers for Week 7.
- NBCSportsEDGE

 

[The Frankman]

Russell Gage caught 4-of-5 targets for 39 yards in Tampa Bay's Week 7 loss to the Panthers.​

Gage left with a hamstring injury -- perhaps an aggravation to what he was already playing through -- and was questionable to return. He was mostly an extension of the running game and this has overall been a disappointing run out for best ball teams that were relying on a big role for Gage. Gage has just 15 targets in the last three weeks with Julio Jones being heavily managed and held out. Gage has only turned them into 79 yards. He'll be only a desperation FLEX against the Ravens on TNF barring some injury news that pushes him up the pecking order.
- NBCSportsEDGE

 

[Faust]

Russell Gage caught 8-of-12 targets for 59 yards and two touchdowns in the Bucs' Week 15 loss to the Bengals.​

Gage, subbing in for Julio Jones as the team's No. 3 wideout, naturally led the Bucs in targets and caught two scores -- one in garbage time. It was quite the pleasant surprise for fantasy managers pressed into deploying Gage against the Bucs. He ran a route on 33 of the team's 42 drop backs and was targeted on a strong 36.5 percent of his routes. Sunday's game was Gage's most productive outing since Week 3 against the Packers (12 catches, 87 yards, and a touchdown). Gage would be a decent WR3 in PPR formats next week against the Cardinals if Julio remains sidelined with his knee injury.
RELATED:

• Julio Jones

Dec 18, 2022, 9:27 PM ET

 

[Faust]

Buccaneers WR Russell Gage immobilized, carted off late in Monday night's game

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Good news:

Bucs WR Russell Gage (neck) has movement in his extremities.​

Gage was carted off the field near the end of the Bucs' Wild Card loss to the Cowboys on Monday night after suffering what appeared to be a neck injury. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said Gage was taken to a nearby hospital, where he underwent testing. That he can move his arms and legs is excellent news -- hopefully a sign that Gage can continue his playing career. He finished the 2022 season with 51 receptions for 426 yards and five touchdowns, usually operating as Tom Brady's third option in the Tampa passing offense. Gage, who just turned 26, is signed

 

[eighsse2]

I can't believe Roger Goodell forced them to keep playing the game. Disgusting. We could have just cancelled the playoffs. Some things are bigger than a mere game.

Seriously though, good to hear and I hope he makes it back onto the field someday.

 

[Faust]

NFL Media reports Russell Gage (knee) is out for the 2023 season.

Gage went down with a non-contact injury during Wednesday’s scrimmage against the Jets. The 27-year-old slot man will miss the entire 2023 season after taking a pay cut this offseason to remain with the Bucs. Trey Palmer or Deven Thompkins are candidates to emerge as Tampa’s No. 3 receiver behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

 

[Insein]

Guy can't catch a break.

 

[Faust]

FOX Sports’s Greg Auman reports Russell Gage is a free agent after the Buccaneers declined his 2024 team option.

Per Auman, the final year of Gage’s contract was converted to a team option when the Bucs reworked his deal last offseason. Not picking up the option saves the team $10 million in cap space but saddles them with a $6.9 million dead cap hit. Gage missed all of the 2023 season with a knee injury sustained in training camp. Before that, he totaled 51 catches for 426 yards and five scores in 2022. Gage could find a home as a depth option in free agency, but his days as a relevant fantasy player are long gone.