Who Should I Start? Russell Gage Jr. or Tez Johnson

Saturday, September 6, 4:32 PM

The San Francisco 49ers have elevated veteran wide receiver Russell Gage Jr. from the practice squad, meaning he will see his first game action since 2022. Gage missed the past two seasons after suffering a torn patellar tendon, but was previously a reliable WR3 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Tom Brady. The 49ers' receiver room is in shambles, with Brandon Aiyuk, Jacob Cowing, and Demarcus Robinson all sidelined. Gage has a chance to see the field in Week 1 as he's expected to serve as the team's WR5 and play limited snaps if needed. While fantasy production isn't likely, simply seeing Gage back on the field after such a long recovery is a great story and an encouraging sign for San Francisco's depth moving forward.

Friday, November 7, 5:13 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson has become a viable option in this offense over the last few weeks. It took a few injuries for Johnson to get a chance, but the 23-year-old is showing he deserves to stay in this spot on the depth chart. In Week 8, Johnson hauled in five of his six targets for 43 yards in the win over the New Orleans Saints. The Bucs are still without Chris Godwin (leg) and Mike Evans (shoulder) for this weekend, so Johnson should continue seeing a high volume of passes coming his way. The rookie wideout should be able to offer flex value for the upcoming Week 10 matchup against the New England Patriots.