Bucs OC Dave Canales recently called RB Rachaad White a "fantastic back." He added that there are a "bunch of good backs" behind White, referring the Sean Tucker, Ke'Shawn Vaughn, and Chase Edmonds. The conclusion here is that White enters the season as Tampa's clear backfield leader. Canales added, "I think there's more to learn about just how we use Rachaad on third down." White continues to look like a strong value in fantasy drafts -- and a RB2 with upside to open the year.
Per Bucs reporter JC Allen, RB Sean Tucker will open the season as the backup to Rachaad White. This was the expectation based on recent practice reports. White remains an RB2 fantasy target, while Tucker slides in as a late-round handcuff.
The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud writes that WR Trey Palmer "earned the No. 3 spot" following WR Russell Gage's season-ending injury. The rookie had a nice training camp and caught seven of eight targets for 91 yards and two TDs this preseason. Palmer struggled to get on the field at LSU but transferred to Nebraska last year and broke out for 71 catches, 1,043 yards, and nine TDs. Then he blazed a 4.33-second 40 time at the Combine. Palmer will likely need a Chris Godwin or Mike Evans injury to gain fantasy relevance this year. But he's a name to keep on your radar.
The Broncos released WRs Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Marquez Callaway. That leaves only four WRs on the active roster: Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, and Brandon Johnson. It might be a sign that Denver expects Jeudy to be available for the season opener. We'll keep an eye on Jeudy's progress -- and if the Broncos make any other moves at WR.
Sports Illustrated's Ben Meyerson recently reported that Buccaneers rookie RB Sean Tucker was splitting first-team reps with teammate Rachaad White. Meyerson quickly clarifies it was only during one drive but that it's "definitely something to monitor." The UDFA from Syracuse likely would've been a solid pick in the 2023 NFL Draft had it not been for a rumored heart condition. We mention this because Tucker, despite not being drafted, is a very talented player in a backfield without much depth behind White, the presumed starter. In addition to his rushing acumen, Tucker has some appeal as a pass-catcher. He ranked sixth in receiving market share (15.8%) among all Power 5 conference RBs in 2022 and could provide enough value as the RB2 in Tampa Bay to warrant late-round consideration in deeper leagues. See where these Bucs backs appear in our current RB rankings.
Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles announced Tuesday that QB Baker Mayfield will be the starter. It's the news we've all been waiting for, and Mayfield's projection has sat well ahead of Kyle Trask's ever since our fantasy football rankings came out. Mayfield, of course, played his way into getting replaced by Deshaun Watson in Cleveland and then played his way out of Carolina in just part of 2022. Although the former No. 1 overall pick has also flashed positively at times, it's tough to get excited about him. Let's hope he can at least do enough to support the weekly fantasy values of WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, and RB Rachaad White. Trask remains a decent stash for superflex and dynasty rosters, in case Mayfield plays his way out of another starting gig.
The Buccaneers didn't play QB Baker Mayfield at all in the second preseason game. Instead, they rode Kyle Trask throughout the first half, and then re-inserted him after John Wolford left with a neck injury. HC Todd Bowles said afterward that doesn't mean he has named a starter. "We were going to play Baker at the end of the half, but we wanted to see Kyle in the two-minute period, so we kind of left him at the time it went down," Bowles said, according to Pewter Report. "He was up to play. I made the decision at the last minute." Although Bowles still refuses to admit it, signs sure seem to point toward Mayfield being the guy. Of course, either Bucs QB will only be an option in 2-QB and superflex formats, or as a late third QB in best ball drafts.
Preseason Round 1 of the Bucs' QB battle went to Baker Mayfield. He got the start in Friday's night exhibition vs. the Steelers and finished 8-of-9 for 63 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INTs across three possessions. QB Kyle Trask played the next four series, completing 6 of 10 passes for 99 yards, 0 TDs, and 1 INT. Mayfield earned a strong 87.7 Pro Football Focus passing grade vs. Trask's 57.4. This battle probably isn't settled just yet, but Mayfield is the favorite to open the season as Tampa's starter.
Bucs rookie Sean Tucker is “a bit behind” the team’s other RBs in terms of learning the offense, per beat writer Scott Reynolds. Tucker missed the entire offseason program because of a heart issue, and for now, he appears no higher than fourth on the depth chart. Reynolds calls Ke’Shawn Vaughn the current No. 2 back behind Rachaad White, with Chase Edmonds “coming on strong" at camp.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield will start this week's preseason opener, and QB Kyle Trask will start the second exhibition, according to Pewter Report. Mayfield and Trask have reportedly been splitting first-team reps in training camp. This is further confirmation that this remains an ongoing battle.
Bucs OC Dave Canales said Tuesday that the competition for the team's starting QB job is even tighter now than it was earlier this offseason. QB Kyle Trask has had a nice start to camp, while QB Baker Mayfield has already tossed five INTs. “The first couple of days, I think the experience that Baker brings – just playing in games, being in camps, going through installs – you can see where the offense was gelling really well,” Canales said. "But it just took a couple of days for Kyle to really settle in. And then what we saw is the last two practices, Kyle really showed what he can do, stretching the field with his arm, getting the ball out quickly, making decisions. So I’m really excited about both of those guys and the progressions they’ve made throughout the last couple of days.” This battle figures to ultimately be decided in preseason action. Stay tuned.
Buccaneers rookie DT Calijah Kancey is expected to miss four weeks after straining his right calf. That would cost the first-round pick all three preseason games but give him a shot at being ready for the opener. We wouldn't bet on Kancey getting near full playing time early under that scenario. The rookie already sat low in our 2023 IDP rankings. We'll keep an eye on his status upon his return from this injury.
The Bucs see "star potential" in RB Rachaad White, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes. "Not only will he get a heavy workload rushing, but the Bucs have been expanding his route tree, believing he can inflict damage as a receiver," Fowler adds. We have little doubt that White can excel as a receiver. He looked like the best pass-catching RB in the 2022 draft class and then caught 50 balls as a rookie. The bigger question is whether White can get it done on the ground after an underwhelming 2022 in that department. But it sounds like the Bucs plan on giving him every chance to prove himself. White sits well ahead of ADP in our fantasy football rankings.
Bucs reporter Jenna Laine believes QB Kyle Trask has improved his processing and decisiveness since minicamp. “The QB competition is a lot closer than it was back then,” Laine tweeted. Trask and Baker Mayfield are splitting first-team reps in training camp. We might not get a Week 1 starter named until after the preseason.
The Giants have activated WRs Sterling Shepard and Jamison Crowder from the Non-Football Injury List. They’re practicing today, but both veterans remain off the redraft radar.
The Giants are starting WR Sterling Shepard on the PUP list for training camp. That's no shock. Shepard's 2022 ended with a torn left ACL. And that followed a 2021 Achilles' tendon tear. We'll see how soon Shepard can return to action in 2023. Don't be surprised if he has a low-impact season in a suddenly crowded WR corps, though.
Bucs RB Sean Tucker has been medically cleared for the start of training camp. A pre-draft physical revealed a heart issue that seemingly had Tucker's football future in jeopardy. "I always knew it was just a matter of time," Tucker said. "When it was right, I was already ready and didn't have to ramp anything up. I was keeping my body right and staying in good condition." We'll keep an eye on Tucker's health and standing in a relatively wide-open Bucs RB room.
Bucs RB Rachaad White got the "three-down back" label from OC Dave Canales. “I think the one thing that I’ve seen from him first-hand is just how versatile he is,” Canales said on a recent podcast appearance. “He’s got smooth hands. He’s got great vision and pace, patience in the hole, and then he’s got like he’s got some really cool hidden power. ... So I’m really excited to see like how we can utilize him in different ways, getting him the ball in space different ways. He’s exciting. Rachaad’s really exciting to think about how to use and see what kind of back we could have. He’s a three-down back." White underwhelmed as a runner last year, averaging 3.7 yards per carry and ranking outside the top 40 RBs in Pro Football Focus rushing grade, Elusive Rating, and NFL Next Gen Stats' Rush Yards Over Expected Per Attempt. But he caught 50 passes -- the 10th most by a rookie RB over last 10 seasons -- and ranked 13th among 43 qualifying RBs in PFF receiving grade. Most importantly, the Bucs didn't add any legitimate competition to the backfield this offseason, giving White the opportunity to see a bunch of volume this year. He makes a lot of sense at his current sixth-round ADP.
Buccaneers RB Rachaad White looks like he's in line for as many touches as he can handle this season. The team dumped Leonard Fournette in the offseason and signed only Chase Edmonds. Tampa Bay also didn't draft a RB, adding only undrafted free agents Sean Tucker and Ronnie Brown. So what's not to like about White? He wasn't good last year. Among 51 RBs who carried 90+ times, White ranked 46th in Pro Football Focus rushing grade, 41st in elusive rating and 45th in rush yards over expected per attempt. An O-line that ranked just 28th in Football Outsiders' adjusted line yards didn't help. That group could improve, with C Ryan Jensen back healthy and second-round rookie G Cody Mauch entering the mix. But that group doesn't look likely to be a strength. The QB switch should mean a higher rushing rate. The Bucs ranked last in the league in run rate each of the past two years. Expect that to change with Tom Brady gone. So White could be set for big touch volume, which would make him at least decent as a fantasy option, even if he remains inefficient. But it's also possible we get surprising production from some other member(s) of the backfield. And Tampa Bay could still add a RB. White makes plenty of sense low in RB2 territory in the 2023 RB rankings. Just don't reach for him too early.
Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin looks like a value by ADP right now, especially at his WR29 price on Underdog Fantasy. He does sit higher than that in our fantasy football rankings. But he has some issues to overcome. Godwin rebounded from his 2021 ACL tear to finish 18th in PPR points per game at the position last year. That followed a No. 8 finish. But he -- and the rest of the Bucs receivers -- benefited from huge passing volume with Tom Brady. Tampa Bay led the league in pass attempts each of the past two seasons and has ranked among the league leaders throughout Godwin's six seasons. That volume figures to come down with Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask replacing Brady. Godwin finished each of the past three years ranked 31st or worse in target share among WRs. If that doesn't rebound, he'd feel a volume drop even more. Godwin is also coming off career lows in yards per catch (9.8), yards per target (7.2), and yards per route (1.73). That's no surprise, given the December ACL tear that closed 2021. We're betting on some rebound for Godwin on that front. Though the QB switch could also challenge the WR's efficiency. Godwin looks like a decent bet at modest ADP. Just don't treat him like a lock for big 2023 fantasy points.
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