Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Brock Purdy (vs. NYG) – Purdy has yet to break the 20+ fantasy point mark but I see that changing on Thursday night. The visiting New York Giants are struggling defensively and just gave 28 points to a tanking Cardinals team. Even if Brandon Aiyuk doesn’t play Purdy should still be able to move the ball with ease. This one has all the makings of a blowout.

Sit ‘Em

Jordan Love (vs. NO) – Love has been impressive in his first two starts for Green Bay but he is in for a tough afternoon against the Saints defense. Even at home, the Packers will find it hard to move the ball against New Orleans who have yet to give up 20 points in a game. Green Bay may also be missing Aaron Jones and Christian Watson who has yet to make his 2023 debut.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. Buf) – There are no longer questions about who the lead-back in Washington is. Robinson Jr. has solidified his role as the main man for the Commanders thus far. He has also looked impressive in the passing game which is driving up his value. Robinson Jr. has averaged 20 touches per game through the first 2 weeks and I expect him to get around that this week against Buffalo. Washington will look to be more balanced on offense to limit the pressures on Sam Howell.

Sit ‘Em

Najee Harris (@ LV) – Unfortunately It’s now time to sit Harris. Harris has been a huge disappointment, to say the least through the first 2 weeks of the season. He has yet to eclipse the 5-point mark in half-ppr and only has 19 total touches thus far. Jaylen Warren has been the more explosive back and I like his upside better against the weak Raiders run defense.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Deebo Samuel (vs. NYG) – Samuel looks to be in line for more targets as Brandon Aiyuk’s status is in doubt for Thursday night. Samuel has had 16 targets through the first 2 games but has yet to have a breakout performance. I could see that happening tonight against the Giants. Lock in Samuel as a must-start if Aiyuk is out.

Sit ‘Em

Chris Godwin (vs. Phi) – Godwin has a tough matchup this week at home versus the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. The Eagles secondary will be missing Avonte Maddox but don’t expect Godwin to benefit. It could be a tough day for Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense as they deal with the Eagles stout front seven. I am fading Godwin this week until I see better production.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Jake Ferguson (@ Ari) – Ferguson has a great matchup this week against the Arizona Cardinals as he will look to find the end zone in back-to-back weeks. Ferguson leads the league with 7 red zone targets which is encouraging going forward. Don’t expect gaudy numbers for Ferguson but I see him grabbing another touchdown on Sunday.

Sit ‘Em

Pat Freiermuth (@ LV) – Freiermuth has been one of the big disappointments in 2023 thus far. It’s hard to put the blame on him though as Kenny Pickett has struggled mightily. Even with a decent matchup ahead, it’s hard to trust Freiermuth to produce. Sit him until the Steelers passing game starts to show some life.

Start of the Week

Raheem Mostert (vs. Den) – There were questions before the season on how big of a role Mostert would get in the Miami Dolphins offense. It’s still early but Mostert has been lead-back for Miami and is showing no signs of slowing down. Mostert is averaging 15.5% touches per game and is currently the RB9 on the season. Coming to town are the Denver Broncos who were gashed by Brian Robinson last week. Robinson had big-time success in the screen-game and I expect Miami to do the same.

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Quarterbacks

Justin Herbert – $7000

My number one quarterback on the main slate is going to be Justin Herbert. The Titans possess one of the best defenses in the league against the run, and Austin Ekeler is out this week, therefore we are going to watch Herbert cook. The Titans do not have a great secondary as we just watched Derek Car go for over 300 yards last week. I fully expect Herbert to get over 300 yards with at least 2 TDs.

Patrick Mahomes – $8300

In what could end up as the biggest shootout of the week, projected total 51 points, Mahomes is looking to rebound from a week 1 loss that saw him somewhat underperform. There won’t be many games that Mahomes throws the ball 40 times and him not get you 30 fantasy points. Last week Anthony Richardson had over 250 total yards and 2 TDs against this defense. Great stack opportunities with a lot of cheap chiefs pass catchers.

Baker Mayfield – $5100

Yes, that Baker Mayfield. I mentioned him last week that he had a great chance at throwing 2 TDs, and we are going right back to it. Great weapons on the outside, and a running game that isn’t getting off the ground, Baker is in another great position against the Bears. We just saw Jordan Love throw for 245 and 3 TDs, so it’s not unreal to see Baker eclipse 20 points this week. If you want to play the studs at RB and WR, this is your QB.

Running Backs

Derrick Henry – $7400

Every year we find a game that Derrick Henry is incredibly underpriced. This is that game. The King goes against a defense in the Chargers that historically struggles to stop the run, 31st in yards allowed last year. Ryan Tannehill does not look great, so you have to imagine the game script is going to involve a lot of Derrick Henry. I expect the King to return top 3 RB numbers today.

Saquon Barkley – $8000

Essentially removed from the game script last week before halftime, there are huge bounce back opportunity in a game where the Giants should control the game. The Arizona Cardinals showed last week that they can rush the QB, and Daniel Jones did not look very good against a pass rush. I expect Barkley to touch the ball 25+ times in this game, and we chase opportunity in fantasy more than anything. Barkley will have the best opportunity than any RB on the slate today top the leaderboard today.

AJ Dillon – $5900

Aaron Jones is not expected to play giving Dillon an excellent chance today to really showcase himself as a bell cow back. Jones had 127 total yards last week as the RB is a vital tool in the success of this offense. Dillon should see most of the work in the passing game as well as 20+ rushing attempts, putting him in a great position for 18+ fantasy points today.

Zack Moss – $4700

Moss is coming back from a fractured forearm in the preseason and will get the start for the Colts today against the Texans. Last week Deon Jackson looked incapable averaging 1.1 yards per carry. Zach Moss will have all the chances to own this backfield in the interim of Jonathan Taylor’s hiatus, and it starts today against a Texans defense that allowed over 100 and 3 TDs against the Ravens last week. If Moss gets in the end zone, he will return a great score on his $4700 price.

Wide Receivers

Keenan Allen – $7100

If you are playing Justin Herbert, you are stacking him with Keenan Allen today. With Austin Ekeler out, Allen could see 15 targets against a Swiss cheese Titans secondary. Last week he had 6 catches for 76 yards on 9 targets, and we realistically could double all those numbers with a score today. Throw in a touchdown and Allen could return 25 points today. Mike Williams ($5700) is another great stack play as the three of them could put you in a great spot in tournaments.

Calvin Ridley – $7200

Last week Ridley brought in 8 of 11 targets for 101 yards as it looked like Trevor Lawrence was enjoying having Ridley on the field. The clear number one option in a game where the Jaguars will be looking to keep up with Mahomes and company, Ridley could be in line for another huge game.

Chris Godwin – $6200

Chris Godwin operates out of the slot for the Buccaneers and the Bears starting slot corner will be out for this game. That sounds like a recipe for disaster for the Bears. 5 catches 51 yards on 6 targets last week and we could be looking at double those numbers with a TD. I love a Mayfield Evans Godwin stack today.

Gabriel Davis – $5800

Last week Stefon Diggs went off against a much better Jets defense, so why would you play Gabe Davis? Many are expecting a bounce back performance from Josh Allen, and the Raiders defense can be had. They will be game planning to stop Diggs and Davis should have a lot of territory to work on Sunday. Some of the best Josh Allen performances are when Gabe Davis booms, we could be looking at one of those coming here.

Tight Ends

Darren Waller – $5500

Waller is third highest priced TE on the slate today, but still priced well below Kelce $7600. I mentioned earlier that Jones did not look great against the pass rush last week, therefore the Giants should be looking to get the ball out of his hands quickly. The Giants should be able to get into the red zone, unlike last week giving Waller great opportunity to score. The Giants love throwing to the TE in the red zone, and they haven’t had a weapon like Waller at TE in a long time.

Sam LaPorta – $3900

Last week LaPorta saw 5 targets against the Chiefs and looked like a very capable playmaker hauling in all 5. The Seahawks did not look like a solid defense last week and I believe the Lions will put up some points. Jared Goff loves to go to the TE historically in the red zone and I could see LaPorta scoring today which would give a great return at a low price.

Logan Thomas – $3100

This one is pretty simple, young QBs love them some TEs. Thomas saw 8 targets last week, and if that continues, you can’t ignore that target share at that price.

Defense/Special Teams

Dallas Cowboys – $4000

Do we expect a repeat performance of last weeks Earth shattering 37 point game? Of course not, but could we actually see it? We all know what Zach Wilson is and we could see another game with a lot of sacks and turnover potential. I don’t expect this defense to disappoint at this price.

New York Jets – $2700

While the Dallas defense made the Giants defense unplayable last week, I can’t imagine a repeat performance happening. The Jets defense just made Josh Allen look like Dak Prescott, what do you think they are going to make Dak look like? The potential is Nathan Peterman. We honestly could see the Jets do to the Cowboys, what the Cowboys did to the Giants last week.

Atlanta Falcons – $2900

Call it a hunch, I think Jordan Love comes back to Earth a bit and turns the ball over against the Falcons. Atlanta can run the ball and control the clock putting Love in position to have to make plays and potentially make mistakes. I think Atlanta is a sneaky play to be a top defense this week.

The post DFS Plays for Week 2 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Now comes the hard part, finding the next quarterback to lead the team. Can Tampa Bay be successful in the post-Brady era? Let’s break that down further and offer a record prediction for the 2023-2024 season.

The Good

The strength of this Buccaneers team going forward will be at the wide receiver position. Veterans Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have been an excellent 1-2 punch when they are both healthy. Health is always a key but especially for these two as the depth behind them is not great. Evans is coming off another 1,000+ receiving yards season where had hauled in 6 touchdowns. Regardless of who the quarterback is they know they can rely on Evans when needed. The 6-5 Evans is still one of the best in the NFL at contested catches and had a 95.1 PFF grade on go-routes. He can still get down the field despite his age.

The Bad

As of now, it looks as though Baker Mayfield will get the starting quarterback duties for the Buccaneers. At this point in his career, we know what Mayfield is. He’s a serviceable QB who struggles with turnovers and is no longer as mobile as he used to be.

In 2022, Mayfield had a QBR of 24.5 the lowest of his career along with a sack rate of 9.7% the highest of his career. If I were the Bucs I would’ve started Kyle Trask to at least see what they have in him. Regardless of who they roll out there, it’s tough to see Tampa Bay being successful until they upgrade the quarterback position.

The Prediction

This will be a tough season for the Buccaneers despite the NFC South being one of the weakest divisions in the NFL. Tampa Bay still has talent on both sides of the ball that will keep them in games. Ultimately it won’t be good enough and I wouldn’t be surprised if they trade some of their stars.

2023 Record: (5-12 4th in the Division)

The post Tampa Bay Buccaneers Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have endured a torrid start to the 2022 NFL season.

Not one person, whether they are members of the media or just your regular fan down the street, would have predicted the Buccaneers to start the season 3-5.

Shock losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers, who both had one win prior to beating the Buccaneers, were then followed by a loss at home to the Baltimore Ravens.

This is the first time in Tom Brady’s career that he has lost three games in a row. With a division that appears wide open, there is every chance that the Buccaneers end up making the playoffs and all is well again. However, there is also the possibility that a team that has won a Super Bowl and narrowly lost in the Divisional Round during the last season, could miss the playoffs entirely this season. Here are three reasons why this could happen.

A Tough Schedule

It does not get any easier for Brady and the Bucs when looking at their schedule. Their next game is against current Super Bowl champions, the Los Angeles Rams. Whilst they are also coming off the back of a loss and have a 3-4 record, this is not exactly a game that head coach Todd Bowles will want even with an extra few days’ rest. 

After the Rams game, they face the 5-3 Seattle Seahawks in the first ever regular season game to be played in Germany. They will not want to play a team in form, let alone in a neutral venue with jetlag. 

After their Week Eleven bye, the rest of their schedule features games against the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, and Atlanta Falcons. 

This is not an easy ride, so expect the Bucs to be challenged right the way until the end. 

With four teams ahead of them in the race for the Wildcard spots, and two of those with three more wins, the Bucs better turn things around quickly, otherwise they will be watching the playoffs from their living rooms. 

Tom Brady’s Personal Life

Brady’s personal life has been the subject of much media coverage of late, with Brady addressing the rumours on Instagram, confirming their divorce. 

This is bound to have played some part in Brady’s slump in form. 

Lack Of Protection And Receiving Help

Brady lost his good friend Rob Gronkowski and the drama of Antonio Brown meant that Tampa Bay went from four elite pass catchers to just two. 

Mike Evans has still been excellent as ever, if you exclude the dropped catch against the Panthers, ranked as having the eighth-most receiving yards (577) and Godwin (368) has done well considering the comeback from injury. Running back Leonard Fournette (273) is their next best receiver, which shows the issues at hand. 

Russell Gage and Julio Jones both came in during the offseason in attempts to give Brady as much help as possible, but Gage has just 231 receiving yards and Jones has been non-existent with just 97 yards from 11 targets and six receptions. Cole Beasley came and went in the space of a couple of weeks.

Whilst Brady is second in the league for passing yards, he is tied for 17^th in passing touchdowns. This shows the struggles Brady and the team have had in getting it down the end zone. According to FantasyPros.com, Brady is eighth in the league for passing yards in the red zone and eleventh for passing touchdowns. This also shows the issues Brady has had, a lot like Aaron Rodgers this season, with receiver help.

Brady has already been sacked thirteen times this year, which means he is projected to finish the season with just under 30 sacks. This would be the eighth-highest total of his career. To put it in perspective, he was sacked ten times at this stage in 2020, and twelve times at this point last season. The loss of Ali Marpet to retirement has been huge, even with the addition of former teammate Shaq Mason. Ryan Jenson’s injury has had a big impact also, with Robert Hainsey and Luke Goeseke seemingly failing to deliver in their absence.

There is still plenty of time to go, but the Buccaneers certainly have cause for concern at this present time.

The post Three reasons why the Buccaneers could miss the playoffs appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Christian Esparza

1. Tee Higgins ”“ Cincinnati Bengals (WR 11, ADP 32)

Higgins finished 2021 as WR24 overall, bolstered by a 43.4 performance in week 16 against a decimated Ravens secondary. Higgins is a good wide receiver, don’t get me wrong. But for him to be drafted as WR11 feels incredibly rich. There is no sense in drafting someone this high who is not even the WR1 on his own team. 

2. Jaylen Waddle ”“ Miami Dolphins (WR 16, ADP 44)

Waddle put together a sneaky-good rookie season last year in which he averaged over 15 ppr points per game. Especially through his mid-season tear, Waddle was a true weapon for Miami. Things look a lot different for Waddle with the Dolphins having traded for Tyreek Hill, a player who does a lot of the same things Waddle does. To make matters worse, Miami’s new head coach Mike McDaniel will be implementing his offense from last year’s 49ers team. That scheme saw San Francisco pass the ball on just 51% of their plays ”“ 29th in the league. It’s hard to imagine the Dolphins supporting two top-20 receivers with this type of offense, especially with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. 

3. DK Metcalf ”“ Seattle Seahawks (WR 19, ADP 51.5)

Does this one really depend on who takes the starting snaps in Week 1, Geno Smith or Drew Lock? The funny thing is, Metcalf actually had his best stretch of games when Smith was under center last year replacing an injured Russell Wilson. Over those four games, Metcalf averaged over 19 points per game. Lock of course comes in from the Denver Broncos, where he has notoriously struggled the past two seasons. But again, we don’t know who is going to be Seattle’s starting quarterback. If things were that easy, Head Coach Pete Carroll would have committed to someone by now with Week 1 less than two weeks away. Instead, Carroll commented that he does not feel the need to name a starter, even by the team’s final preseason game on Friday, Aug. 26. The bottom line is: be careful with DK Metcalf. 

4. Chris Godwin ”“ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (WR 25, ADP 71)

As noted in an earlier article, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers feel weird this year. Quarterback Tom Brady just returned from an 11-day absence that was revealed to be a pre-planned vacation to the Bahamas with his family. This means the Bucs had to go throughout a large chunk of their camp without QB1. As far as Godwin goes, he is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January. Although things are looking good for Godwin to be back on the field by the start of the regular season, Godwin will not be 100%. Simply due to the nature of the injury, it may take an additional season for Godwin to truly return to form. There is a very good chance he does not finish the season as a top-24 receiver. 

5. Kenny Golladay ”“ New York Giants (WR 53, ADP 141)

Since signing a four-year, $72 million dollar contract in 2021, Golladay has been one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL. Golladay didn’t even crack 90 total fantasy points last year as he just did not seem to fit in with the New York Giants and quarterback Daniel Jones. That seems to be the case again this year, as reports out of training camp make it sound like Golladay has been less than impressive. He is listed as a starting wide receiver on the depth chart, but that could change as the season goes on. At his ADP, you would have much better luck taking a swing on an impressive rookie like George Pickens or Romeo Doubs. 

The post Five overrated wide receivers in fantasy football appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Sam Moores

Last week saw Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Miami Dolphins for a few joint practices before they faced off in Saturday night’s preseason game. As always with the pre-season, the football wasn’t the best of quality, and the game had the vast majority of starters rested. Even so, we still learned little bits about both teams. Here’s what we learned if you were unable to catch the game.

Miami has a QB problem, a good one

Neither of the team’s top two quarterbacks on the depth chart took a snap in Saturday’s game, meaning that Skylar Thompson played the entire game. He’s had a good training camp, backing that up on the field. The 7th-round pick out of Kansas State went 20/28 for 218 yards and a touchdown. 

Thompson has an impressive arm, the best of the three quarterbacks on the roster, but is raw. That being said, he’s been so impressive that some of those reporting on the team are beginning to wonder what this means for Teddy Bridgewater. Although you’ve got the veteran experience that Bridgewater has, he has a cost. On the contrary, you do have to bear in mind that Skylar is an unknown entity, whilst Teddy is a reliable backup who can step right in.

Both teams are stacked at receiver

Even without Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Julio Jones, Russell Gage, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle, both the Bucs and Dolphins WR units look good. Strength in depth. All of these guys are fighting for a roster spot, which with the strength both teams have at the position is difficult to get. Performances in these pre-season games don’t go unnoticed. 

Tyler Johnson and Jerreth Sterns looked particularly good for Tampa Bay, whilst Lynn Bowden Jr put on a show on his return from injury. Both Bowden and teammate Preston Williams are believed to have been made available for trade. He’s playing for his future right now, and it got off to a good start, with 55 yards and a touchdown from his three receptions. 

Johnson was active too, with 6 grabs for 73 yards. After the acquisition of Julio Jones, he too had something to play for. There’s one less roster spot now, this is the time when you have to show that you’re worthy. Also competing for that spot is Sterns, another who was particularly impressed. The rookie out of Western Kentucky had a nice TD grab from Kyle Trask, the play of the game. Mo Sanu Jr, and Kaylon Geiger also had success towards the end of the game. Cedrick Wilson had a couple of grabs to start it.

Who else performed well? Any injuries?

Dolphins defensive back, Keion Crossen, had a strong game with a pass breakup. His teammate Elijah Campbell’s was even stronger, with an interception on top of a PBU. It’s a good job they impressed too, as Trill Williams went down with an ACL injury. Expect Miami to look to bring in a veteran DB, because, beyond these guys, there’s no real DB depth. Campbell was PFF’s highest-graded defensive player from the game (92.3). 

Anthony Nelson looked like a threat off of the edge for the Buccaneers, he produced three pressures, two hurries and a sack. His teammate Kyle Trask got an extensive period of play at QB, he looked impressive too, earning a 77.7 grade in his 258 yard, 1 TD, 1 INT game. The 5th highest (with min 50% snaps) from a QB this preseason.

Olakunle Fatukasi was Tampa’s highest-graded player. His six tackles, four being run stuffs, as well as a PBU earned the linebacker a 90.8 grade. His teammate Gio Bernard sadly sustained an ankle injury, hopefully, it’s not too serious.

Miami hosts Las Vegas for another pre-season matchup next Saturday, whilst Tampa travels to Nashville to play the Tennessee Titans. These games should feature more starters

The post What we learned from Dolphins-Bucs preseason contest appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers display a Prometheus-like wide receiver group. The mighty Mike Evans, elusive Chris Godwin, and underrated Russell Gage are expected to be major receiving weapons for Tom Brady. PFF ranked the Bucs WR group as the second-best WR unit in the league. It’s clear that the almost 45-year-old Brady should feel thrilled about his weaponry – as he chases Michael Jordan and seeks one more Super Ring in the near future.

Evans is the only WR in NFL history to have registered eight straight 1,000+ receiving yard seasons. He will turn 29 in August, but it seems clear that he should unveil a few more Pro Bowl-caliber seasons in Tampa. Meanwhile, his sidekick, Godwin, unveiled 1,103 yds in his last 14 games, while garnering an 81.3 grade by PFF.

Antonio Brown may be an enemy of the Florida State, but he certainly was an x-factor for the Bucs offense in their recent Super Bowl victory. Russell Gage (averaged 778 receiving yds in past two seasons combined) needs to excel with his match-ups as the WR3.

The Bucs have numerous underrated wideouts after their big-three WRs. Tyler Johnson, Breshad Perriman, and Scotty Miller will be quality depth pieces. Johnson ousted 360 yds with the Brady bunch last season. Perriman knocked out a career-high 645 receiving yds and 6 touchdowns in 2019. He could be a productive deep-threat weapon and perhaps he can help the Bucs crack a long, surprising touchdown against the stingy Saints defense. Kevin King’s worst enemy, aka Scotty Miller, may honestly spend his last season in Tampa in 2022. He hasn’t been able to keep a quality role in the Bucs offense and it will be quite difficult for him to be involved with the Bucs current talent at WR.

The post Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver outlook right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers witnessed a resurrection from Tom Brady this off-season. The Brady bunch is certainly confident that they can still be a juggernaut team, despite lots of hype surrounding the likes of Buffalo and Los Angeles. With that enunicated, I’m going to simply untwine the ups, downs, and overall record of the Buccaneers in 2022.

Week 1: at the Cowboys

The Bucs were able to witness TB12 have an amazing comeback against the Boys in 2021. Perhaps Brady and a healthy Gronk Chris Godwin have more spark than Dak for the second time in a row. I believe the Bucs will edge out the Boys in a close game by a score of 35-28.

Week 2: at Saints

The Saints have been able to make life a living hell for Brady for the past two seasons. I expect the improved 2022 Saints to continue to dominate the Bucs and win their first battle by a score of 38-24.

Week 3: vs Packers

The Bucs should feel motivated and confident against a Green Bay Packers team that has struggled against the Bucs over their past few showdowns. I don’t believe A-Rod will take a noticeable decline with Davante Adams, but I believe Brady is more geared to win a likely shootout. I forsee the Bucs winning 38-28.

Week 4: vs the Chiefs

The Tyreek Hill-less Chiefs are still a very good football team and I believe KC will win a close game by a score of 35-28.

Week 5: vs the Falcons

The Falcons could make splash plays against the Bucs, but they are certainly a few years away from reaching the playoffs. I expect the Bucs to win 35-17.

Week 6: at the Steelers

The Bucs should be able to have high-end success against the Steelers CB group not featuring Joe Haden. I forsee the Bucs winning 35-21.

Week 7: at the Panthers

Christian McCaffrey will have a hard time running against the Bucs stingy front seven and It will be near impossible for Sam Darnold to keep pace with TB12. I expect the Bucs to win 35-21.

Week 8: vs the Ravens

Brady may have almost passed the torch to Lamar Jackson, but he will surely focus on squashing the Jackson-led squad next season. It will be hard for Brady to drop 40+ points on the Ravens scary secondary, but I expect the Bucs to win 28-21.

Week 9: vs the Rams

I trust that Brady will play his heart out against the Rams, but I don’t trust the Bucs defense to slow down Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson. I believe the Rams will win 38-31.

Week 10: vs the Seahawks

Let’s be honest – the Seahawks aren’t going to have a strong fight against the Bucs. I believe the Bucs will win 35-17.

Week 12: at the Browns

I believe the Browns with Deshaun Watson are a strong Super Bowl contender. I also love the Browns pass rush with Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney against Lamar Jackson Brady. I predict the Browns will win a close contest against the Bucs at home by a score 35-28.

Week 13: vs the Saints

I am not convinced that the Saints or the football gods will allow the Bucs to win this contest. I believe the Saints with a potential hotter offense will beat the Bucs 28-14.

Week 14: at the 49ers

The Bucs should absolutely bounce back and beat the 49ers in Week 13. I expect the Bucs have a lot of success against the 49ers young QB and average secondary – as they proceed to win 35-21.

Week 15: vs the Bengals

The Bengals may be the kryptonite against the Bucs, but I believe the Bucs can exploit the Bengals pass defense and win this contest by a score of 35-28.

Week 16: at the Cardinals

The Bucs could have a serious challenge against the Cardinals with DeAndre Hopkins, but I’m still believing in Brady to throw away Kyler Murray by the end of the fourth quarter. I believe the Bucs win 35-28.

Week 17: vs the Panthers

The Bucs will still have a ton of success against the potential Matt Corral-led Panthers and I believe they win this game by a score of 35-14.

Week 18: at the Falcons

The Bucs will most likely keep the gas on the pedal in their last game for a chance at the number one seed. I believe they mop the floor against the Falcons by a score of 42-17.

Final record: 12-5

The post Projecting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers record in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin was geared up for a career season until he tore his ACL in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints. Godwin ousted 98 receptions (127 targets), 1,103 yards, and five touchdowns in 14 games last season. His presence was clearly missed in the playoffs, as the Brady bunch were defeated by the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional contest.

The Bucs are obviously confident Godwin bouncing back to a superb playmaker for their Brady-led offense, as they re-signed him to a three-year – $60 million dollar deal. Godwin is only 26 years old and he should be a prolific WR for many more seasons.

Godwin has been often been a Top 8 WR in PPR with or without Tom Brady. Although, Godwin should feel happy that TB12 is unretired and that should help him return to being a slot machine. The complete absence of Antonio Brown and Robert Gronkowski should help Godwin have a career season in receptions/targets in 2022, in my opinion.

However, I’m not a huge fan of Godwin’s ability to climb the ladder beyond a likely terrific season in 2022. I expect Brady to hang up his cleats after next season, so the WR should be awarded a much less impressive QB in the post-Brady era.

The biggest difference in Godwin’s potential degression lies in the fact that the Buccaneers offensive scheme could change. I don’t like the chances of Byron Leftwich staying in Tampa Bay in the near future. He nearly left for Jacksonville this offseason and I would be shocked if he doesn’t walk on a red carpet to a new team after Brady retires. Leftwich/Bruce Arians were a big reason why the Bucs throw it around the yard with Brady or Jameis Winston. Godwin is a special route runner and consistent play-maker, but I really expect his production to noticeably dip “without Brady and the heavy passing offensive design”. It’s time to sell the potential 2022 stat machine to many fantasy owners that are surely licking their chops for his Buccaneers magic.

The post What’s Chris Godwin’s dynasty outlook? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The former Ohio State playmaker Garrett Wilson is widely seen as a Top 5 WR in the 2022 NFL Draft. Wilson recently ran a blistering 4.38 40 yard dash time at the NFL combine and it’s clear he’s ready to be an impact player in year one for his new professional football club.

Here is a look at how magical Wilson was at Ohio State:

• 1,058 yards in 2021
• 12 touchdowns in 2021
• 18 touchdowns in past two seasons combined

Wilson was a potent WR against quality competition in college and he also performed well at the NFL combine. His floor and ceiling should excite NFL scouts and WR-needy NFL teams. The question is: which team will obtain the speed demon WR, that’s drawn comparisons to Chris Godwin. Well, here are a few logical destinations for the Big 10 stud.

• Cleveland Browns

“Chewie, We’re Home”

The Cleveland Browns pardoned the talented and somewhat dramatical Odell Beckham Jr. in 2021. It appears that Jarvis Landry will follow his LSU brother out the door this offseason. According to Bleacher Report, Landry is unlikely to restructure his contract.

The Browns will still have late bloomer David Njoku at TE, the elite RB Nick Chubb, and the motivated Baker Mayfield, who doesn’t appear to be a trade candidate. The Browns can certainly be more efficient with the skillset of Wilson, who could soon be a similar player that OBJ was early in his career. Per ESPN, Mayfield and Wilson have a strong relationship, as well. The NFL world witnessed Joe Burrow lobby for Ja’Marr Chase and then Chase was rightfully picked by Cincy. We could soon find Mayfield’s relationship with Wilson translate to Wilson being a future Brown. The Browns pick at 13 and it seems like a safe spot to pick the passionate Garrett Wilson.

• New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints might have lost Sean Payton, but the long-time Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael will have Michael Thomas and Jameis Winston returning healthy and highly motivated. The 32nd ranked passing offense could take a sizable boost with Wilson’s speed added to the offense.

If the NFL world thought Winston’s connection with Deonte Harris was scary, they will be shocked by the plays that the mega-arm QB can make with Wilson and his excellent matchups in the Saints offense.

The Saints were 5-2 with Jameis Winston and without Michael Thomas in 2021. If they insert Cantguardmike, Alvin Kamara (for most of 2021), Harris, and Wilson, they will have a fine opportunity to unleash a lethal offense that will surely pair with an elite defense led by Demario Davis, Marshon Lattimore, Marcus Davenport, and Cameron Jordan.

• New England Patriots

The New England Patriots always seek out a WR that can take the top off a defense. They sought out Brandin Cooks and then they leaned on Jakobi Meyers in 2021. Meyers, who is a 2022 free agent, could leave the Pats this offseason.

The Pats WR room doesn’t only potentially need a deep-threat WR, but they could use a WR with Pro Bowl ability. Kendrick Bourne was a pleasant signing, but the expensive Nelson Agholor has underperformed and he could also be out of town soon. Wilson can check both of those boxes for emperor Belichick. Mac Jones shocked the league in 2021, as he made the Pro Bowl and led his team to the playoffs. Jones could look to join the elite AFC QB conversation with Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Burrow if he can be a stat machine and lead his team back to being AFC East champions.

• Philadelphia Eagles

There are two things that are absolutely clear in Philly: DeVonta Smith will be a star in the league and Jalen Reagor has been disappointing so much that Justin Jefferson feels bad for him. The Eagles will look to bring in a new toy and jolt to the Jalen Hurts-led offense in 2022.

Zach Ertz might have been a TE, but his production was also missed in the Eagles passing attack after he left. The Bucs barely edged out the Eagles with Ertz in the regular season, but they really mopped the floor against the Eagles in the playoffs. The Eagles didn’t have an answer against Tom Brady in the 2022 playoffs and it’s clear they aren’t quite a heavyweight (or potent underdog) in the NFC. Smith, Hurts, and Wilson would be a scary trio for years to come.

• Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders really appear as a WR-needy team, but they could have a huge boost soon. Davante Adams, who was teammates with Derek Carr at Fresno State, was rumored to have purchased a house in Vegas.

The Raiders tried the Desean Jackson experiment in 2021, but he is 34 years old and he isn’t getting younger. Zay Jones is also a soon-to-be free agent. Josh McDaniels will seek one or two talented wideouts to join Carr, Darren Waller, and Josh Jacobs. If Tae does ink a contract with the Raiders, I believe LV could still target a WR, who is also a special talent, in the 2022 NFL Draft.

After all, the Raiders play four games against the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs and Justin Herbert-led Los Angeles Chargers every season. If McDaniels is going to flame out again, he might really go down swinging.

Honorable mention

• Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts might kiss goodbye to T.Y. Hilton, who has been torching defenses in Indy since the early days of Andrew Luck. Carson Wentz will likely follow Hilton out the door, too. The Colts should still keep their heads high, as they have an All-Pro RB in Jonathan Taylor and the young, talented Michael Pittman at WR.

The Colts are certainly not going to rebuild and they won’t be expecting their new QB to put up unearthly stats. Nonetheless, the Colts will still look to retool their passing attack this offseason and they may want to make a splash pick with Wilson. The Colts would still have a real shot at making the playoffs with a QB like Marcus Mariota, JT, Pittman, and Wilson in their offense.

• Minnesota Vikings

There are always surprise selections in each NFL draft. It would be a fascinating and powerful move if the Minnesota Vikings added the electrifying Wilson to their WR room. Kirk Cousins is refusing to step down from his utterly wealthy contract, so they might decide to load up on firepower and make sure he can make them a playoff contender next season.

The Vikings could absolutely put up a lot of points with Justin Jefferson, Cousins, Dalvin Cook, and Thielen, but Wilson could also be a future replacement for Thielen. Jefferson and Wilson can be the potent duo in the grand scheme of things. Jefferson, Thielen, and Wilson could also make Cousins the most underrated MVP candidate next season.

If the Packers really lose Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, the Vikings could add more weaponry and establish themselves by NFC North favorites by a wide margin this offseason. The Vikings new offensive-minded head coach Kevin O’Connell could fall in love with Wilson or a different WR in the draft and be in awe of the idea of playing with him in the already dangerous Vikings offense.

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