Giovanni

Ricci

Ricci first joined the Panthers in 2020 as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan. Over the last four years, he has been on both the Panthers’ practice squad and active roster, appearing in 36 regular season games. His biggest season came in 2022, when he caught eight passes for 100 yards. Ricci will be deep tight end/fullback depth for the Browns.

Meanwhile, Tommy Tremble (hip) is doubtful to suit up against Tampa. That leaves Giovanni Ricci, who has one reception in 2023, as the Panthers’ only healthy tight end. Ricci is a fantasy option in 32-team leagues.

Tremble hasn’t practiced this week and will join starting TE Hayden Hurst on the sideline for Week 13. Recently activated from injured reserve, Ian Thomas will serve as the top tight end for Carolina this week. Thomas is primarily a blocker and doesn’t hold any fantasy value versus the Bucs.

Ricci (6'3/240) dominated MAC secondaries to the tune of 51 receptions, 642 yards and eight touchdowns as he earned first-team All-Mac honors for his play. He was a key target for WMU QB Jon Wassink, leading the team in touchdown receptions and finished second in receiving yardage. Ricci was given a seventh round grade by Pro Football Network and will try to advance his draft status at the Shrine Bowl.

Ricci (6'3/240) was one of Western Michigan’s most productive pass catchers in 2019, as he finishes the season with 51 receptions, 642 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He’ll be difficult for the Broncos to replace, as Ricci has been one of the MAC’s best tight ends since making the move from wide receiver ahead of the 2018 season. The first team all-conference performer was given a seventh-round projection by Pro Football Network.

Teammates Keith Mixon and Skyy Moore did all the work to get into the red zone, but it was usually Ricci (6'3/240) who finished off drives for the Broncos. Ricci was nonexistent outside the red zone, for the most part, but was a near-uncontainable force inside the opposing 20-yard line. Ricci is now up to eight touchdowns on the season.

Ricci was the top option in the passing game on Saturday against the Eagles; something he’s been often for the Broncos in 2019. He’s already matched his catch total from last year with 35, and he’s up to 495 yards receiving to go with six touchdowns. Expect Ricci to up that total next Saturday against Bowling Green.

It’s still pretty early, but Ricci looks like one of the best tight ends in college football right now; regardless of conference. He scored his fourth touchdown of the season in this offense-friendly contest; a two-yard connection from Jon Wissink that made it 21-13 Orange in the middle of the second quarter. There are some other weapons in the Broncos’ passing game -- and there’s also LeVante Bellamy -- but Ricci (6'3/240) is obviously going to be a big part of the WMU gameplan. A contest with the Chippewas of Central Michigan comes next Saturday.

Ricci (6'3/220) had a total of three touchdowns during the 2018 campaign, with two of them coming in a blowout of FCS Delaware State last season on Sept. 15. He’ll look to keep it rolling in next weekend’s trip to East Lansing to battle the Michigan State Spartans. He had two grabs for five yards back on Sept. 9, 2017 in his only previous meetings with Sparty.

Ricci (6'3/220) was a wide receiver until this offseason, and the transition to tight end has paid off. In Saturday’s blowout, quarter Joe Wassink found Ricci in the red zone for a score and also added a 23-yard score. The receiving TE will look to score next weekend on the road against Georgia State.