The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were eviscerated on national TV by the New Orleans Saints, 38-3. This game was the first for Antonio Brown, who was returning from a lengthy suspension and absence from football. The game was supposed to serve as a barometer for the Buccaneers fantasy receivers in this high powered offense. Instead, this performance may have raised more questions than it answered.
Using an outlook for the rest of the season, here are the Buccaneers fantasy receivers ranked in terms of most valuable to least.
Ranking Buccaneers Fantasy Receivers
Mike Evans Fantasy Outlook ROS
There are two ways to look at Mike Evans so far this fantasy season. One is to see his so-called “bad games” this season as a result of Godwin being in the lineup. The latter is to see them as tough matchups where he hasn’t been fully healthy. I’ll believe the latter. He tied the team lead in targets with six along with Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski and Leonard Fournette. He hauled in four of them for 64 yards. Ranking these receivers is tough and can easily be argued many ways. For me, his high usage in the red zone, specifically in goal-to-go situations is why he gets the nod from me as the Bucs’ number one pass catcher to own.
Fire him up as a high WR2 option for the rest of the year.
Chris Godwin Fantasy Outlook ROS
Coming back from surgery on a broken finger, Chris Godwin really didn’t miss much of a step. Behind, at best, inconsistent quarterback play, he hauled in three receptions for 41 yards on six targets. He should be expected to get more once he is fully healed. Tom Brady loves the medium depth routes and that’s exactly what Godwin excels at. He will have trouble finding consistent targets with all the talent surrounding him. Gronk and Evans are obviously heavy favorites of Brady’s in the red zone which is why his production will be somewhat limited. Still be confident in him as a solid to mid-tier WR2 depending on how deep of a league you’re in.
Antonio Brown Fantasy Outlook ROS
Coming back from suspension, Antonio Brown looked to still have some of that chemistry from last season’s short stint with the New England Patriots and Tom Brady. He hauled in three receptions for 31 yards on five targets Sunday night. He holds similar value to Godwin in that neither of them will be go-to options for red zone or goal-to-go usage unless either Evans or Gronkowski go down. As a result, like Godwin, he’s a mid-tier WR2 as he likely still needs to pick up some plays and chemistry with the team.
Rob Gronkowski Fantasy Outlook ROS
Tight end Rob Gronkowski may have had six targets, but he was only able to make one reception for two yards. Tom Brady is obviously comfortable again with him in the red zone and is looking his way more and more as the season progresses. Unfortunately, Gronk doesn’t have the speed or dynamic playmaking ability he once had. With that being said, however, he does have the ability to be a top five tight end any week, with Brady either honing in on him or Evans exclusively every trip to the red zone. For that reason, he is on the fringe of TE1/2 line with the lack of consistent tight end play around the league this season.
Scotty Miller Fantasy Outlook ROS
Scotty Miller has been a decent tertiary option for the Buccaneers so far this season with all the injuries in the receiving corps. With the addition of Brown, however, he doesn’t bring much, if any, consistent value. Sure, he’ll have his occasional solid game, but he only saw three out of Brady’s 37 targets against New Orleans. Unless you are in an incredibly deep fantasy league, Miller is nothing more than a FLEX play if you’re desperate and/or plagued by injuries. If none of these are the case, feel comfortable dropping Scotty Miller.
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