Who Should I Start? Russell Gage or Tarik Cohen

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, September 21, 11:10 AM

Carolina Panthers special teams coach Chris Tabor said they will rev up running back Tarik Cohen's repetitions in practice this week to see where he is. The punt returner/RB could add some explosiveness to an offense that has lacked it through two weeks of the season as well. Cohen is attempting to make an NFL comeback after some serious knee injuries, and he hasn't played in an NFL game since 2020. It wouldn't hurt the Panthers to see what he can give him on offense behind Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard, but it's unrealistic to expect the 28-year-old to contribute meaningfully outside of special teams anytime soon.