Who Should I Start? Russell Gage or Joe Mixon

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.

Thursday, March 14, 6:02 PM

New Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon signed a three-year, $27 million contract extension with the team on Thursday that includes $13 million guaranteed, according to a source. The Cincinnati Bengals were set to cut Mixon for salary cap purposes earlier this week but ended up trading him to the Texans instead. Devin Singletary, Houston's primary back last year, signed with the Giants in free agency. The 27-year-old Mixon, a Pro Bowler in 2021, goes from one potent offense to another and will be the Texans' No. 1 back, giving him clear RB1 upside in fantasy. In 17 starts for Cincy in 2023, Mixon had the fourth 1,000-yard season of his career while scoring nine rushing touchdowns on 257 carries. He added 52 receptions (64 targets) for 376 yards and another three TDs.