Watch out earlier than you meander into that Tampa Bay-New Orleans boxscore. I do know it sounds pleasant. There have been 78 whole factors! There have been 897 yards of offense! Each groups have a number of must-start fantasy choices, proper?
So after all the fantasy superstar from this game was Sean Tucker, unheralded operating again of the Buccaneers. As a result of that is how fantasy goes typically.
First, let’s begin with the Tampa Bay gamers you probably used for fantasy. Baker Mayfield is a carnival typically, however he is additionally producing most weeks. Mayfield threw for 325 yards and 4 passing touchdowns, offsetting three interceptions and landing him at 28,8 fantasy points. It is his third straight recreation over the 20-point mark, and he was sitting at QB2 with simply SNF and MNF left on the slate. The Buccaneers have sailed previous 30 factors in 4 of their video games this yr, an offense you’ll be able to usually belief.
Chris Godwin went off towards the Saints secondary, rocking an 11-125-2 line on 13 targets. He is had no less than 5 receptions in each recreation and the shift to a slot-heavier position appears to agree with him. Godwin wanted a much bigger position as a result of Mike Evans was coping with an undisclosed damage for many of the day, limping via the primary half and briefly visiting the locker room. He solely had one goal within the second half and completed 2-34-0 on six targets. Variance bites us all typically. Cade Otton solely had two catches on his six targets, however one among them went for a brief landing. You will take that through the Tight Finish Blackout of 2024.
Bucky Irving picked up the backfield begin with Rachaad White unavailable and was fantastic, however not fairly the smash we hoped for (14-81-1 speeding, 2-24-0 receiving). That is good for 17.5 fantasy factors, and a slot within the high 10 with two video games left to play. However Irving has extra firm within the backfield than we anticipated, with second-year again Sean Tucker crashing the occasion.
Tucker flashed with an early 36-yard receiving landing and he regarded tireless as the close-it-out back at the end, operating over and round gassed defenders within the fourth quarter. It added as much as 136 yards on the bottom, 56 yards via the air, and two touchdowns on 17 touches. Say howdy to 32.7 fantasy factors, largely ignored in Yahoo leagues. Tucker’s roster tag merely rose to 1% on Sunday morning, even after White was formally scratched.
Tucker’s had a meandering soccer journey. He broke out in 2021 as a sophomore at Syracuse, rolling up 1,496 speeding yards and 14 whole touchdowns, incomes first-team All-ACC honors. Averaging 6.1 yards per rush and 12.8 yards per catch, he was on his option to stardom.
Tucker’s stats fell again in his junior yr, partially as a result of the Syracuse offensive line collapsed. After which he went undrafted in the spring of 2023, largely because of a previously undiagnosed heart condition which saved him from operating drills on the mix.
The Buccaneers added Tucker as a free agent and he was on the roster final season, with restricted and mediocre outcomes (15 carries, 23 yards). He solely had three touches within the first 5 weeks of this yr, earlier than stepping right into a key position Sunday.
It reminds us that there are a number of doable NFL stars simply ready to be found, if solely they get a chance. Tucker in all probability wants an damage to White or Irving to have present fantasy relevance, however perhaps there’s one thing from this efficiency that the Buccaneers cannot unsee.
As for Spencer Rattler’s starting debut for the Saints, we might prefer to unsee a good quantity of it. He threw a few picks, he had a fumble, he took 5 sacks. It did not assist that Chris Olave (concussion) was misplaced on the primary collection of the sport, although Rattler confirmed no chemistry with WR Rashid Shaheed (1-11-0, seven targets). As is widespread with backup quarterbacks, the featured receiver was a shock participant not seen as a major starter: Bub Means logged a 5-45-1 line on eight targets.
Quantity and a few landing deodorant saved Alvin Kamara’s day: simply 64 whole yards, however he had 5 catches and scored as soon as. 9 totally different gamers drew a goal and nobody received previous 54 yards; Rattler’s clearly a work-in-progress whereas Derek Carr is just not accessible.
The joys-a-minute Buccaneers get Baltimore and Atlanta the subsequent two weeks, so get your popcorn prepared. The Saints may wrestle to maneuver the ball the remainder of this month, dealing with the Broncos and Chargers.
Contents
Different Week 6 booms and busts
Cole Kmet’s worth on the rise
Kmet not solely scored twice en path to a 21.5 fantasy points within the London win over Jacksonville, however he saw the field plenty (57 snaps, 27 routes) whereas Gerald Everett (18 snaps, 9 routes) was a non-factor. Bears OC Shane Waldron might be troublesome to belief typically, however he appears to have accepted that Kmet deserves to be a full-time participant whereas Everett is only a assist piece. Kmet was the TE7 and TE8 the last two seasons, and he is on tempo to exceed that in 2024.
Combined bag for the Jaguars
It is weird that the Jaguars will not goal Brian Thomas Jr. off the bus — six appears to be like merely is not sufficient for his or her most dynamic participant — however no less than Evan Engram hit the bottom operating, catching all 10 of his appears to be like for a 10-102-0 day. Engram did lose one fumble, however he was nonetheless PPR gold for the struggling Jags. Chicago’s protection is formidable however nonetheless it was disappointing to see Tank Bigsby restricted to 24 yards on seven carries.
Drake Maye offers Patriots much-needed increase
Say this for the Patriots offense, no less than they opened issues up with Maye. Certain, the offensive line is a large number and the talent expertise may very well be higher, however Maye nonetheless dropped again 37 occasions (towards 26 workforce runs) and supplied 243 yards and three touchdowns, taking part in catchup towards Houston. The 2 picks, the 4 sacks, that is life with a rookie quarterback. However DeMario Douglas (6-91-2) and Hunter Henry (3-41-1) each got here dwelling for fantasy, and it is good to no less than have one other offense price contemplating as we navigate the bye week schedule. The Patriots head to London for the Jacksonville breakfast recreation subsequent week.
Zay deserves his Flowers
There are plenty of stars in Baltimore, so a recreation with out a landing can get misplaced within the shuffle. However Zay Flowers regarded like a slinky towards Washington, a stunning 9-132-0 clinic within the first half, catching all of his targets. Alas, the Ravens have been taking part in clock ball within the second half and Flowers did not see a goal within the last half-hour. However for on a regular basis we spend making an attempt to determine Baltimore’s tight finish room (hey, Mark Andrews scored!), do not lose sight of the rising famous person on the skin.
McLaurin, Daniels nonetheless ship in loss
The Commanders weren’t in a position to set up Terry McLaurin on the deeper routes, however two brief touchdowns spend nicely for fantasy. It is refreshing to see McLaurin lastly taking part in with an above-average quarterback within the NFL. Jayden Daniels had just a few hiccups at Baltimore, but it surely’s one thing that he can play a less-than-stellar recreation and nonetheless give us over 20 fantasy factors. The sledding will probably be a lot simpler towards Carolina subsequent week.
Usual story for Watson, Browns
When you’ve seen one Deshaun Watson recreation, you’ve got seen all of them. He was held to 168 passing yards at Philadelphia, took 5 sacks, and could not direct a landing drive. Failure has many dad and mom, after all — there have been dropped passes and procedural penalties; I fear about Nick Chubb making an attempt to run behind this shaky offensive line. However Watson continues to appear to be a person overwhelmed down bodily and mentally each week, even when the Browns proceed to stay to their sunk-cost quarterback.
Be aware: I will comply with up with extra evaluation from Sunday’s slate later within the day.