Who Should I Start? Russell Gage or Brandin Cooks

Monday, March 11, 6:31 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Russell Gage (knee) is now a free agent. When the team reworked his deal last year, it included an option for the 2024 season, and the team has declined to pick it up. The move clears what would have been $10 million in salary, but the Bucs will take on roughly $6.9 million in dead money from old restructures. Gage signed a three-year, $30 million in free agency before the 2022 season to give quarterback Tom Brady another weapon in the passing game. He did have a career-high five touchdowns in 2022, but he also had a disappointing 51 catches for 426 yards and didn't play at all last year due to a torn patellar tendon that he suffered in training camp in August. The 28-year-old should resurface with another team, but coming off a major knee injury, it's unlikely that he'll be able to make much of a fantasy impact wherever he lands.

Sunday, January 14, 11:30 PM

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks made six catches in a Wild Card Weekend loss to the Green Bay Packers. Cooks was targeted eight times, making six catches for 47 scoreless yards. Cooks had a very up-and-down season, as the Cowboys offense mostly ran through CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson. Offseason moves will play a huge role on what Cooks' fantasy value will be in 2024, although he's likely to fall into another boom-or-bust situation no matter what.