NFL

Russell Gage’s dynasty fantasy impact signing with the Buccaneers

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2 years ago

March 15, 2022

darragh

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In December 2020, Russell Gage was firmly entrenched as the Falcons’ No. 3 receiver. 10 months later, he was the new No. 1. Now that the Buccaneers have added him, what is Gage’s dynasty fantasy football outlook ahead of 2022, and what impact will this move have on his former and new teams?

Russell Gage’s dynasty fantasy outlook

Every franchise endures bridge seasons — years when post-prime veterans play alongside young future stars. The 2021 Falcons began that way, with Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts teaming with an aging quarterback and two-headed backfield. And for a while, the team looked fairly promising, particularly thanks to Cordarrelle Patterson’s breakout campaign.

But when Ridley stepped away from football after Week 6, the team needed help. Gage, a 2018 sixth-round draft pick, showed very well the year before while compiling a 72-786-4 receiving line. Then, last season, while an ankle injury sidelined him in Weeks 3-5, he quickly asserted himself as the team’s No. 1 wideout in Ridley’s absence. He often outperformed Pitts in the box score and caught an impressive 70.2% of passes.

How good is Gage?

We might conclude that Gage has the skill set to be a steady fantasy contributor as a team’s No. 2 or even No. 3 receiver. It would need to be a pass-friendly team, and the Falcons certainly fit that mold in 2020. They were No. 4 in the league in pass attempts — enough volume to feed Julio Jones, Ridley, and Gage.

We might also express caution about his ceiling, and in most fantasy leagues, high ceilings make champions. Gage is more Jakobi Meyers than Chris Godwin — safe points but not always great points. After Week 5 last season, aside from Pitts and the backfield, Gage’s primary receiving competition consisted of Olamide Zaccheaus, Tajae Sharpe, and Hayden Hurst.

In all likelihood, Gage’s fantasy value peaked in 2021. Gage dropped a whopping 12 passes in the past two seasons. He’ll play alongside stiffer competition and probably will need to adapt to a less consistent offensive role. This makes him a WR4/5 in the near term, with a WR3 ceiling if things break perfectly — though WR5 seems more likely.

Fantasy impact on the Buccaneers

Give it up for Tom Brady. Life can’t keep him down for long. Coming off a shockingly disappointing end to a statistically phenomenal 2021 campaign, he’s back and (we have to believe because this is how God or science made him) better than ever.

Exit Antonio Brown. Enter Gage. Not the same talent level. Not the same ceiling. But certainly, a savvy free agent signing for a team eyeing not one but many more Super Bowl runs. With Godwin recovering from a torn ACL, Gage could be a sneaky fantasy starter in September.

That said, once Godwin returns to form, Gage’s presence should not downgrade Godwin or Mike Evans as significantly as Brown did. And if Rob Gronkowski returns, from a positional fantasy perspective, Gronk should be more valuable than Gage over the course of the season.

Essentially, this is a near-best-case scenario for the fantasy values of Brady and his core receivers. Gage can make decent waves early on and then smaller waves later. But Godwin and Evans should monopolize targets more than they did last year when AB was healthy.

Fantasy impact on the Falcons

The Falcons are in the midst of a multi-phase rebuild. There are still many moving parts. The one long-term constant, Pitts, remains my favorite dynasty TE. Losing Gage creates no net negative or net positive. The all-world TE simply will get new teammates, as expected.

Matt Ryan loses his top receiver, though the NFL Draft should net him at least one wideout of equal or greater abilities. And it could be argued that Ryan will be much better next season. The chaos surrounding 2021 and the unexpected overreliance on Gage and Pitts capped Ryan’s upside. With Gage gone, the team can focus more on rebuilding, which should translate into an instant-impact playmaker to serve as a true No. 1 WR.

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Taylor Swift Is Shown Chugging a Beer on the Jumbotron at Super Bowl 58

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

darragh

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Global superstar Taylor Swift made it to the big game to support her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. In the second quarter, it was evident that she was having a good time at the Super Bowl after taking a 12-hour flight from Tokyo the night prior.

Taylor Swift Seen Chugging Beer at Super Bowl

Swift’s attendance has been highly anticipated, as many fans questioned whether she would be able to make it to the big game since she had been in Japan until Saturday for her Eras Tour.

Sure enough, she made it to the Super Bowl and was seen making a grand entrance alongside Blake Lively and Ice Spice.

Swift made it back to the States with plenty of time to make it to Allegiant Stadium to support Kelce. After a leg of her Eras Tour, where she performed several nights in Japan, the singer appeared to let loose.

In a box full of friends, Swift was shown chugging a beer with Ashley Avignone. She was shown on the jumbotron and slammed her cup down after she finished her beer.

Legend 😂 pic.twitter.com/hk27JTAXZ9

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 12, 2024

There was a mix of cheers and boos as Swift was shown on the big screen, and a long pass to Mecole Hardman was the only highlight of the first half for Swift and her friends. The 49ers led the Chiefs, 10-0, late in the second quarter.

On social media, Swift garnered plenty of support from NFL fans.

“If you’re hating on her you can kick rocks man she’s the best,” one user posted on X.

“The one thing I learned this season is that she is actually fun,” another said.

“Booing Taylor Swift chugging a beer is so soft. She’s just one of us now and I respect it ,” another posted.

At the time of the beer chugging, Kelce, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, has had one catch for a single yard. It came on the first possession, which ended up being a three-and-out. The Kansas City Chiefs hadn’t done much otherwise.

They did have a deep pass play to Hardman, which put them in the red zone, but Isiah Pacheco fumbled on the very next play — one that Kelce was surprisingly on the sideline for.

Swift and Kelce have garnered much media attention as their romance has taken off throughout this NFL season.

Swift was able to support her boyfriend at many of his games throughout the final stretch of the season, as her Eras Tour was on a break. But starting on Feb. 7, she went back on the road.

MORE: NFL World Reacts to Unbelievable Super Bowl Trick Play

Despite performing in Tokyo the night before the Super Bowl, she was able to make it in time to support her boyfriend due to the time difference and is having a good time doing so.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

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Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.

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What Happened to the 49ers Linebacker?

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

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The San Francisco 49ers sustained a massive blow during the second quarter of Super Bowl 58, as linebacker Dre Greenlaw left the game on a medical cart.

CBS Sports confirmed that the veteran Greenlaw suffered an Achilles tear, ruling him out for the rest of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

What Happened to Dre Greenlaw?

The outside linebacker, who had already been battling past injuries to his hamstrings and calves, left with what appeared to be a leg injury.

And somehow, his left leg looked like it buckled as he tried to trot onto the field with the Niners’ defense.

#49ers LB Dre Greenlaw appeared to suffer an injury while running on the field.

pic.twitter.com/zx0l1NjTew

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 12, 2024

Greenlaw clutched his left leg in agony before being helped off the field.

CBS Sports sideline reporter Evan Washburn reported that the outside linebacker left with what was ruled as a lower leg injury. He was later determined to sustain an Achilles injury.

Greenlaw was declared out for the rest of the game.

#49ers LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) is now officially out for the game.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 12, 2024

Greenlaw Carted Off in Passenger Seat

Even more noticeable was where Greenlaw sat on the cart.

He ended up leaving not in the back of the medical vehicle but ended up riding shotgun with his leg injury.

He can’t sit in the back? pic.twitter.com/9jpz0rdoF1

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) February 12, 2024

One would think that with an injury like an Achilles ailment, medical officials would try to make the player as comfortable as possible before they leave. It wasn’t the case here.

MORE: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart

Regardless, Greenlaw was replaced by Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles for the rest of the first half. Greenlaw became the most significant injury of the game.

As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast

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NFL World Reacts to Epic Super Bowl Intro From CBS

Published

2 months ago

February 12, 2024

darragh

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Super Bowl 58 is here and it’s going to be exciting. The San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are facing off in the final game of 2023.

CBS is broadcasting the game and the opening was nothing short of amazing. How is the NFL world reacting to the electric Super Bowl-opening video?

Epic CBS Super Bowl Intro Garners Reaction From NFL World

The video, which spanned four minutes and 19 seconds, featured players from both teams talking about the big game and what it means to them. It also featured their families talking about their journeys to this point.

“Amazing intro! Reminds me of my dad! Bravo on the intro!,” one NFL fan said on X (formerly known as Twitter)

And now, the end is near.

And so, the @49ers and @Chiefs face that final curtain. pic.twitter.com/YgIEGOAMb1

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 11, 2024

Additionally, Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” played in the background, giving it a near-movie feel. “This was incredible.,” another person said on X. “And so, the @49ers and @Chiefs face that final curtain,” CBS Sports said.

The 49ers finished the regular season as the top seed in the NFC with a 12-5 record. After their first-round bye, they defeated both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions to earn their trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. Both of their victories came in comeback fashion, including an NFC Championship-record 17-point comeback.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, had a more uphill battle. Entering the playoffs as the AFC’s third seed, they finished the regular season with an 11-6 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens to punch their ticket.

Super Bowl 58 is a re-match of Super Bowl 54 when the Chiefs defeated the 49ers 31-24. The win was the first in Patrick Mahomes career, as he also won Super Bowl MVP. Four years later, the Chiefs have made three more and won another. For the 49ers, this is their first trip back to the big game since.

The game kicked off at 6:30 p.m. ET with the 49ers receiving the opening kick. In addition to being broadcast on CBS, the game is also being streamed on Paramount+.