Bucs TE Cameron Brate is a healthy scratch for today's game vs. the Panthers. It's not a major surprise after the 31-year-old played just 8 snaps last week. Brate's absence is a slight boost to TE Cade Otton's fantasy stock. TEs Kyle Rudolph and Ko Kieft are also active for Tampa.

Bucs TE Cameron Brate (illness) is inactive for tonight's game vs. the Saints. TEs Cade Otton, Kyle Rudolph and Ko Kieft are active for Tampa. Otton is the best fantasy bet of the trio, but this is a brutal matchup against the league's top-ranked TE defense.

Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin caught 12 balls for 110 yards and a TD in Sunday's OT loss at Cleveland. Godwin's 13 targets led the team by 4, with RB Rachaad White the only other Buc to catch more than 3 balls. WR Mike Evans tied White for 2nd on the team with 9 targets but caught only 2 of them (for 31 yards). FB Ko Kieft snagged QB Tom Brady's other TD throw on his lone target.

Buccaneers TE Cameron Brate left Sunday night's game against the Chiefs with a concussion. We'll see about his progress through the league protocol. Cade Otton and Ko Kieft entered Week 4 as the next 2 TEs in playing time behind Brate.

Bucs TE Kyle Rudolph is a healthy scratch for tonight's game vs. the Cowboys. TEs Cameron Brate, Cade Otton and Ko Kieft are active.

The Buccaneers have agreed to a 1-year deal with TE Kyle Rudolph, according to multiple reports. The veteran managed just 26 catches for 257 yards and 1 TD across 16 games in his lone season with the Giants after Minnesota released him following the 2020 season. It marked the 3rd straight year in which Rudolph's receptions per game declined. Obviously not a threat for big numbers in a season that will find him turning 33 in November, Rudolph still clouds the TE target picture for an offense that (at least for now) must go without Rob Gronkowski. We weren't excited about Cameron Brate or Cade Otton in any format before this signing, which certainly doesn't help either player.

Speculating on the team's replacement plan in the wake of TE Rob Gronkowski's (2nd) retirement, Scott Smith of the team website highlights the potential of 4th-round rookie Cade Otton. Smith says "there is the potential for him to be the one tight end the Buccaneers keep on the field most often," with receiving skills that "many draft analysts" believe exceed his college usage and the fact that he's "already considered an above-average and very willing blocker." Smith goes on to say that there might not be a "single clear answer" and that the Bucs could just blend Otton, fellow rookie Ko Kieft, vet Cameron Brate and perhaps 1 more player. Otton is primarily a name to know for dynasty usage, but this also serves as a reminder to temper fantasy expectations for Brate. He's likely the team's best receiving bet at the position with Gronk gone. But Brate has also played less than 40% of Tampa Bay snaps in 3 straight years. Just 2 of those included Gronkowski, and he missed 5 games in 2021.