If Russell Gage Is On The Field, Look For Him To Blow Up Early

June 29th, 2022

This Joe typing this here article doesn’t do fantasy football. Nothing against it at all, but fantasy football is not real football, no more complex than that. This same Joe he may know the secret to fantasy football, however.

Fantasy football is like the stock market. You always are on the lookout for a sleeper stock (with a cheap price) to blow up. Guys who play fantasy football are looking for a sleeper they can draft late to blow up.

That player this fall could be Bucs receiver Russell Gage. Why does Joe type that? Well, because Adam Rank of NFL.com notes that Tom Brady has always had success with slot receivers, whether it is Julian Edelman or Chris Godwin.

Brady was talking Gage — a free-agent signee from the Falcons — up recently, saying he’s going to need to have a huge season. And it’s easy to see how well Tom has done over the years with receivers who can do damage in the slot. There’s Wes Welker and Julian Edelman, to name a couple. One wouldn’t have to connect random dots to suggest Gage has the potential for a big year. I know a lot of the fantasy heads loved Gage in Atlanta last year, and you should get on board with him. He has notched 90-plus targets in consecutive seasons. He caught four touchdown passes in each of those years. Dude is ready for a big role.

There is a major factor here Rank is missing, one that would boost his belief that Gage will blow up playing slot and it really doesn’t involve Brady.

Bryon Leftwich’s offense emphasizes the slot receiver. So naturally, a specific position highlighted by an offense is going to get yards and stats. Throw in that Brady likes to throw to that position and Gage may well have one of his best seasons of his career, and perhaps make a lot of fantasy football players a bunch of Big Storm beer money.

18 Responses to “If Russell Gage Is On The Field, Look For Him To Blow Up Early”

  1. Drebucsfan Says:

    I’m confused, is this guy hurt or not? And if so then when?

  2. Buc92’ Says:

    Something doesn’t feel right about this situation

    GoBucs!

  3. BucsfanFred Says:

    What was Sweeny’s first name?

  4. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Edelman is available & we have the money…..but I think Gage will be more than fine….
    And, don’t worry about the mystery injury……he’ll be at TC in full stride.

    How do I know this?…..well, the way Tom Brady talked about him being a big factor…..

  5. SufferingSince76 Says:

    I think Edelman said he would prefer to return to the Patriots. Could he be convinced to come to Tampa instead?

  6. Captain Oblivious Says:

    What, COJ comments turned off already? Joe, if you’re going to post political articles then please let us discuss. As well as following the Bucs I’m sure your audience is also interested in politics and we’d like to have a friendly but lively conversation.

    Also, the firefighters saving suicidal people was heartwarming.

  7. DBS Says:

    How about just don’t post the political crap to begin with to trigger the fools on this site and you won’t have the problem to begin with!!

  8. DBS Says:

    I guess we will see when camp stars if Gage is injured or not. The start of season can’t get here fast enough.

  9. geno711 Says:

    Joe does not post political stuff.
    Read his own tag line for COJ:

    “Welcome to your Morning Cup of Joe, an eye-opener to help Joe’s readers ease into their busy workday with a few football links, wacky news and a pleasant distraction”

    Joe would never do a link to an Outkicks the Coverage political article.

  10. mark2001 Says:

    In my mind, politics is fine on cup of Joe. As was said, an article or conversation often leads to that. Other than that, bring on the football talk; and try to keep the politics to where it is best kept.

  11. mark2001 Says:

    The early games will be extremely difficult and will tell us a great deal. Not only are they some of the toughest games of the regular season, but we are starting off the season with WR and TE question marks. If we win three out of the first five, I think when we start firing on all cylinders, we will be among two or three top teams to be reckoned with.

  12. sasquatch Says:

    People talking about Edelman are feeding on crumbs. Edelman is retired, has a bum knee, hasn’t said he was coming back, and indicated if it happened, it would be to the Patriots. There’s a better chance that Deven Thompkins (UDFA) becomes an important contributor than Edelman un-retires and decides to play for the Bucs. Let’s pull for Grayson, Darden, Perriman, and Thompkins to pick up the slack instead of fantasizing about crippled former players.

  13. TampabayDJ82 Says:

    Mark2001- Agree !! Though I really don’t think we have to worry about WR at all. Reason being I think a lot of people forget how good Breshard Perrimam is !! And I don’t want to hear people say anything about late last year when he was INJURED. Add in Russ Gage and at least 1 of the guys from last year is going to be better . They are talking about that undrafted WR we have, he’s a little guy but I guess he’s been doing great and he had the second most yard’s in College football last year and 10 TDs. At worst he takes over the return game from J. Darden , who is good at standing on the sidelines if not in the stand’s with the rest of us .. And T.E. , we all know GRONK is going to be back ! He’s just staying out of training camp and getting healthy as he can before he comes back. And I think a lot of people forget that Brate was a 8-10 TD player for years before Gronk came here. As long as they can PROTECT Brady and our Defense is as good or better than last year, our Bucs will be playing deep into the playoffs.

  14. Buc4evr Says:

    The title says it all : “If Russell Gage is on the field…..”. So what is his injury status? Nobody knows so it doesn’t sound good? Just sign Julio and be done with all this Russell Gage pablum. Until he is on the field it’s all hype.

  15. TampabayDJ82 Says:

    Sasquatch – Took the words out of my mouth ! Absolutely correct 💯!! And that’s that kids name , Thompkins. He’s supposed to be turning head’s.
    Also , I don’t believe that a lot of these teams we have to play are going to be as good as they were last year. Everyone is so scared of K.C. and Green Bay !! They are good but not great anymore !! The Cowgirls are the Cowgirls , they might put up some points , but they find a way to lose the game themselves.
    The AINTS are going to be without their BOUNTY GATE 2.0 , cheating, quiting on his team , head coach Sean ” Punchable Lips ” Payton .. They can say whatever they want about Winston being better , without their offensive guru head coach, Winston is going to be Winston and throw for 400 yards – 2 TDs – 4INTs and get sacked 5 times .. I don’t think the Rams are going to be as good as last year and that’s Obvious .. They BOUGHT a Super Bowl last year, traded away every possible penny and pick to get rental players to fill in the weak spots , and those players are gone or injured.. OBJ ? They keep talking about hom like he’s going to be able to play this year ! He blew his knee out in the Super Bowl .. Godwin was in week 13 ? 14 ? and he’s not going to play until at least week 8 ? Anyway I just believe our Bucs are just as good if not better than last year and not many teams we play can say the same. Go Bucs and go @joe

  16. TampabayDJ82 Says:

    Julio Jones is about as reliable as Godwin starting week 1 ! There’s a reason he’s not on another team after he was one of the best WRs just 2 years ago. He’s old and beat up . His knees are shot , we could play him in situations and give him a play count. But he’s not going to play full time or anything close

  17. Melvin Junior Says:

    DFS (“Daily Fantasy Sports”) on DRAFTKINGS is where it’s at, Joe… NOT all those old school leagues with their big preseason drafts, Etc. (me neither). BUT, DFS tho… 💯. Now, That’s Where It’s At. You’re REALLY Missing-Out There!!!!

  18. AtticusFlinch Says:

    You could be right but that would mean Tom Brady arranging with Gage for at least two weeks together, likely more, of some intensive one-on-one with Jensen and whoever else Brady needs to establish his telepathic connection with. Likely Chris Godwin to shake the rust off and for Brady to gauge just how well Godwin’s rehab has gone. But no game speed, high stress cuts yet.