Wide Receiver Russell Gage, coming off two productive seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, has signed with the Buccaneers on a three-year, $30 million contract including $20 million guaranteed.
After catching 72-of-109 targets for 786 yards for four touchdowns in 2020, Gage stepped up again this past season, securing 66-of-94 targets for 770 yards and another four scores.
Atlanta was pressed to lean on Gage after Calvin Ridley left the team, which let Gage blossom.
After running 65.3% of his routes from the slot over his first three years in the league, Gage played outside on 50.4% of his routes in 2021.
He answered the call.
Gage led the Falcons with 2.84 yards per route run against man coverage in 2021 per Pro Football Focus, a mark that was 11th in the league this past season.
The Buccaneers are more than familiar with Gage, who has caught 45-of-63 targets for 461 yards and two touchdowns against the Bucs in six games against Tampa Bay the past three years. Five of those six weeks, he was a top-30 fantasy scorer.
While Gage has been at his best needing to accrue a large dose of targets to absences on the roster, there are paths here for him to still make in impact for fantasy as the WR3 in Tampa.
Gage just turned 26 years old this past January.
He joins a Tampa Bay offense led by Tom Brady, that has run the most passing plays (1,402) in the NFL over the past two seasons.
This past season, Tampa Bay had 595 drop backs with three or more wide receivers on the field, which was third in the league.
Gage also can get an early season bump with the timing of Chris Godwin’s injury. Godwin tore his ACL back on December 19th, placing his early-season availability in jeopardy.
With the Bucs playing for a Super Bowl or bust, expect them to ensure Godwin is fully ready before forcing him onto the field.
Gage has solid WR2/WR3 value for early season production while full season WR3/FLEX appeal joining the Bucs.
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