Who Should I Start? Giovanni Ricci or John FitzPatrick

Monday, February 3, 7:02 PM

The New England Patriots signed free-agent tight end Giovanni Ricci (knee) to a Reserve/Futures deal on Monday. Ricci was on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad in 2024 but never was active for a regular-season game and was cut in August due to a knee injury. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan made his NFL debut in 2021 with the Carolina Panthers, with all 36 of his career games coming with Carolina. In three NFL seasons, Ricci has caught only nine of 12 targets for 102 yards and no touchdowns with the Panthers. Ricci is more of a blocker than a pass-catcher and will now represent tight end depth for the Patriots throughout the offseason and into training camp this summer. The most likely scenario is that he'll effective serve as a fullback for new Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Wednesday, November 26, 5:30 PM

Green Bay Packers tight end John FitzPatrick has seen his opportunity with the Packers grow as of late, but is still a player to leave out of fantasy lineups when the Packers head to Detroit to take on the Lions on Thanksgiving. FitzPatrick has supplanted Luke Musgrave in terms of snap share and routes over the last two weeks for the Packers. Despite the increased snaps in the 60 percent range in each of the last two weeks for Green Bay, it's only turned into a combined two receptions and 16 yards on two targets. FitzPatrick's role is not as a receiver, so expecting fantasy production out of the Packers' tight end may not be realistic. Leave FitzPatrick off of your fantasy rosters when the Packers play the Lions on Thanksgiving in Week 13.