Bucs "optimistic" on Godwin & Jones

ESPN's Adam Schefter hears that the Bucs are "optimistic" that WRs Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee) will be able to play vs. the Chiefs tonight. "But Tampa Bay wants to test both pregame to make sure," Schefter adds. We won't get the Bucs' inactives until around 7 pm ET, and Godwin and Jones will both carry elevated risk if they are active. So we'd try to keep them on fantasy benches this week. This news makes WR Russell Gage a shakier Week 4 fantasy play but helps QB Tom Brady.

The Bucs are hiring Dave Canales as their new OC. The 41-year-old has spent the past 13 seasons working under Pete Carroll, first at USC and then with Seattle. Canales most recently served as Seahawks QBs coach, helping QB Geno Smith to a career year. But Canales' only experience as an offensive coordinator came at Carson High School in California in 2004 and 2005. He's a total wild card as we start to project what this Bucs offense will look like in 2023. We're also, of course, still waiting to see what Tampa does at QB. Kyle Trask is the only QB currently on the roster.

Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin hauled 10 of 13 targets for 85 yards in Monday's Wild Card loss vs. the Cowboys. Godwin is 1 of 3 Bucs' WRs who received double-digit targets in this contest. WR Julio Jones tallied 7 catches on 11 targets for 77 yards and a TD, and WR Mike Evans roped in 6 of 11 targets for 74 yards of his own. These are pretty eye-popping numbers on the surface, but it's not nearly as impressive considering QB Tom Brady was forced to throw the ball 66 times in the loss. It's difficult at this time to look ahead to the 2023 NFL season for these wideouts given Brady's uncertain future. We'll have a better idea of what to expect from Godwin and Evans once we learn who the Bucs QB is next season.

Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin hauled in all 8 of his targets for 83 yards and a score in Sunday's loss vs. the Bengals. While Godwin and company did not emerge victorious, the Bucs' WR corps had three players reach double-digit PPR points. Mike Evans posted a respectable 83 yards, bringing in only 5 of his 10 receptions, and Russell Gage exploded with a pair of TDs to go along with 8 catches and 59 yards. While it's difficult to tell week-to-week if Gage can be trusted, managers advancing in the fantasy playoffs can feel confident in both Godwin and Evans against the Cardinals in Week 16 despite the difficult matchup. Both are WR1 options vs. the Cardinals.

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 WR Chris Godwin led the team with 8 targets, 6 catches and 71 yards in Sunday morning's win over the Seahawks. And much to the relief of fantasy football managers everywhere, he finally found the end zone for the 1st time this season. Mike Evans followed with a mediocre stat line on a limited passing day for the Bucs, catching 5 balls for 54 yards among 6 targets. WR Julio Jones claimed the team's other TD catch among 3 receptions for 53 yards.