Who Should I Start? Giovanni Ricci or Tommy Tremble

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.

Saturday, December 28, 3:50 PM

Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble should not be started in an formats in Week 17 when he faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tremble logged two limited practice sessions during the week due to shoulder and back injuries but is no longer listed on the injury report. Over his past three games, Tremble has seen just 2.3 targets per game while splitting opportunities with rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders. Over this three-game stretch he has tallied just 16.7 yards per game. Over his past five games, Tremble has surpassed 40+ receiving yards just once. Given his lack of consistent production, fantasy managers should keep him out of all lineups despite facing a weak Tampa Bay secondary that has allowed the sixth-most PPR points to opposing tight ends this season.