Bucs Stars Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Fantasy Trade Advice Before Deadline
Nov 10, 2022
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers surely didn't envision a 4-5 record and their offense being largely to blame for the struggles through early November.
After all, Tom Brady returned after a temporary retirement, and there aren't many better one-two punches at wide receiver than Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Throw in Leonard Fournette at running back, and it was reasonable to expect the unit to be one of the NFL's best.
Instead, Tampa Bay is 25th in the league in points per game (18.0).
Brady's frustration has been apparent at times while yelling at his teammates on the sidelines or throwing a tablet, and fantasy football players who were relying on the all-time great are surely frustrated as well.
So frustrated that they may look to trade him in what could be a buy-low opportunity for other managers as fantasy trade deadlines approach.
While Brady has had just one game all year with more than one touchdown pass, he has thrown for 325 yards or more in three of his last six contests. The yardage production has been noteworthy, and the Buccaneers will still face a number of vulnerable secondaries down the stretch.
Tampa Bay finishes with games against the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, who are 25th, 21st and last in the league in passing yards allowed per game, respectively.
That means trading for Brady could set you up with ideal matchups come the fantasy playoffs, and his early-season struggles wouldn't even matter at that point.
The same can be said about Evans and Godwin, who figure to be productive given their track records.
Evans has never failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards since entering the league in 2014, and Godwin has surpassed 1,100 receiving yards in two of the last three years. The latter could be quite the buy-low candidate in a trade considering he has dealt with injuries and is yet to catch a touchdown.
The Buccaneers have been frustrating, but they could break out against poor secondaries during the fantasy playoffs.
That makes Brady, Godwin and Evans worthy of targeting in potential trades.
Saints' Alvin Kamara's Hearing After Arrest on Battery Charges Delayed Until 2023
Nov 10, 2022
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 20: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints looks on during an NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the New Orleans Saints at State Farm Stadium on October 20, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The next hearing in the battery case involving New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has been delayed until 2023.
According to ESPN's Katherine Terrell, Kamara will have a status conference Jan. 23 before a preliminary hearing March 1.
The five-time Pro Bowler was charged with battery resulting in substantial bodily harm and conspiracy to commit battery in February. He was allegedly part of a fight outside a Las Vegas nightclub.
Per Mike Triplett of ESPN, a police report states that Kamara is shown on surveillance footage "punching a man approximately eight times before Kamara's associates proceeded to stomp on him several more times on the ground."
The man, Darnell Greene Jr., lost consciousness and suffered an orbital fracture.
Kamara told authorities Greene made a disparaging comment to one of his friends and told him, "I'll whup your ass too." Kamara said he wasn't involved in the initial altercation but stepped in because "he thought the man was running away and had done something to his group," per Triplett.
In October, Greene filed a civil lawsuit against Kamara. He's seeking more than $10 million in damages.
Terrell noted the delay of Kamara's hearing means it's unlikely the NFL hands down a suspension this season.
Through seven games in 2022, the 27-year-old has run for 443 yards and one touchdown while catching 36 passes for 319 yards and two scores.
Falcons' Drake London, Cordarrelle Patterson Fantasy Trade Advice Ahead of Deadline
Nov 9, 2022
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 06: Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) looks on before the Sunday afternoon NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Chargers on November 6, 2022 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Fantasy football trade deadlines are rapidly approaching, and a trio of Atlanta Falcons should be talked about in that vein.
Tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London have underperformed, begging the question as to whether they are good buy-low candidates.
On the other hand, running back Cordarrelle Patterson returned to the lineup Sunday after missing a month with a knee injury.
The Falcons didn't hold him back against the Los Angeles Chargers, and he finished with 18.3 point-per-reception points after scoring a pair of touchdowns to go with 53 yards on 14 touches.
Should enterprising teams look to offload Patterson while his fantasy stock is high? Alternatively, is it worth it for fantasy players to try to add Patterson even if the price is high?
Here's a breakdown on all of the above.
The Falcons have been an anomaly this year.
On the surface, they appear to have two pass-catching stars in Pitts and London, who were selected fourth and eighth in the past two NFL drafts.
But neither player has been featured this year. Pitts has 23 catches on 46 targets for 285 yards and two touchdowns in eight games. London has 33 receptions on 56 targets for 369 yards and two scores in nine matchups.
Pitts has been feast or famine, too. He had five catches for 87 yards against the Seattle Seahawks and five receptions for 80 yards and a score versus the Carolina Panthers. Otherwise, he has just 13 catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. He has not amassed more than three catches or 27 yards in any of those contests.
London was good over the first three weeks (16 catches, 214 yards, two touchdowns). In the six games since, though, he has just 17 catches for 155 yards and zero touchdowns. He's averaged just 5.2 targets during that span.
Before the season, FantasyPros ranked Pitts as the 32nd player and the No. 3 tight end in PPR leagues. London was a borderline flex player at No. 94 overall and No. 39 among wideouts.
However, per FantasyData, Pitts is just 17th among tight ends in PPR leagues, making him a backup tight end at best. London is the No. 52 wide receiver, so he's at best a bench option, if he's not on the waiver wire.
The talent is unquestionably there for both players.
The 6'6", 246-pound Pitts, who amassed 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Florida Gators in 2020, was amazing as a rookie with 68 catches for 1,026 yards and one touchdown.
London, the former USC star, snagged 88 receptions for 1,084 yards and seven scores in eight games for the Trojans last year before suffering a fractured right ankle.
The primary issue is that the Falcons run the ball 60.1 percent of the time, the second-highest mark in the NFL, per Fantasy Football Today. Their 22 pass attempts per game are the second-fewest in football.
For context, the Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers throw the ball twice as often, leading the league.
The Falcons start dual-threat quarterback Marcus Mariota, who has rushed 60 times for 304 yards and three touchdowns. They tailor the offense around his strengths, and that means a run-first offense that's featured Patterson, Tyler Allgeier and Caleb Huntley.
When Mariota was with the Tennessee Titans, they found success with a similar offense featuring Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray.
It would be hard to trust Pitts or London in any capacity moving forward for the sole reason that opportunities just haven't been there.
On the flip side, Patterson is a player to hang on to or try to trade for.
The jack of all trades had 1,166 total yards and 11 scores last year (153 rushes, 52 catches). He was the No. 1 runner and No. 3 receiver on the team.
The Falcons' 2021 MVP has done well this year too thanks to 421 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns in just five games. He's the No. 14 running back in fantasy points per game.
Given the Falcons' propensity to run the ball, Patterson should be heavily featured moving forward, making him a borderline RB1 in fantasy. Hold on to him for the stretch run if he's on your team. And if Patterson is available in your league, see if you can orchestrate a deal.
Chris Olave Trade Advice, Saints WRs 2022 Outlook Ahead of Fantasy Football Deadline
Nov 9, 2022
Chris Olave
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris
Olave represents a high-upside target ahead of the fantasy football
trade deadline.
The Saints' pecking order in the
passing game is shifting with longtime No. 1 receiver Michael Thomas
expected to miss the remainder of the season after being placed on injured
reserve last week because of a toe injury, and Olave is in position
to benefit.
Let's analyze the top options in the
New Orleans aerial attack, explore what their fantasy value could be
moving forward and debate whether it's time to make a trade offer for
the rookie from Ohio State.
Chris Olave
New Orleans used the No. 11 overall
pick in the 2022 draft on Olave, so he's the receiver who's generating the most buzz in Thomas' absence. His big-play ability is intriguing, and the more consistent targets figure to bolster his value.
If you want to trade for him, now might
be the last chance to land him at a reasonable price.
He's coming off a modest performance
against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night—six catches for 71
yards and no touchdowns—but the more important factor is his
targets (nine) nearly doubled his closest competition, Marquez
Callaway with five.
That gap may close a bit when Jarvis
Landry returns from injury, but it shows Olave is in position to lead
the Saints' receiving group for the rest of 2022.
Making a fair offer now while he's the
No. 15-ranked receiver in PPR leagues and coming off a mediocre game
is probably the best chance for interested fantasy managers to land him because his value
could explode during the season's second half.
Most managers will likely opt to keep
him, however, and it's reasonable to believe he could be a
league-winning asset down the stretch.
Jarvis Landry
The biggest question in a Thomas-less Saints offense is whether Olave is the clear top target or if the ball is going to get spread around pretty evenly when the roster is healthy.
In turn, Landry could possess some sneaky value once back from an ankle injury.
He's spent time as a No. 1 receiver at
both of his previous stops with the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland
Browns, and his strong route-running makes him a reliable option on
short and intermediate routes.
It's still hard to imagine Landry getting 10-plus
targets on a regular basis if Thomas is unavailable, though. So it's
important to keep expectations within reason.
That said, the 29-year-old LSU product
will likely warrant some occasional spot starts against weaker secondaries, especially in potentially high-scoring games.
If he does return and shine with Thomas is out,
he could also create some nice fantasy trade value for himself over the next few weeks.
Marquez Callaway
Callaway operated as the Saints' No. 1
target last year after Thomas' injury, but he didn't turn that
opportunity into fantasy stardom. He finished as the 43rd-ranked
receiver in PPR leagues despite playing in all 17 games.
So it's hard to have a ton of optimism
about his production given what will likely be a crowded battle for
targets. He should be more involved, but his scoring figures to remain heavily dependent on touchdowns, which are difficult to
predict.
He could emerge as a consistent flex option if further injuries arise at the position, but that's about
the extent of his upside until proved otherwise.
Callaway may still be worth a flier for
those seeking a little wideout depth, though.
Baker Mayfield 'Hasn't Failed' as Panthers QB, Injury to Blame for Struggles, OC Says
Nov 8, 2022
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 30: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Carolina Panthers warms up against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 30, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield "hasn't failed" in the eyes of offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.
Speaking with reporters Tuesday, McAdoo said Mayfield's struggles can be chalked up to injuries. The 2017 Heisman Trophy winner underwent shoulder surgery before joining the team and missed time this year because of a high ankle sprain.
McAdoo's explanation may not wash for some fans because Mayfield wasn't performing well before he went down with the ankle injury.
Through Carolina's first five games, he threw for 962 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions while completing just 54.9 percent of his passes.
Ironically, Mayfield's best performance so far came after he returned from the ankle sprain. With the Panthers down 35-0 to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9, he replaced P.J. Walker at halftime and went 14-of-20 for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
For obvious reasons, McAdoo doesn't want to throw one of his players under the bus, but it seems reasonable to conclude Mayfield hasn't worked out for Carolina.
A telling indicator is that NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Walker is expected to start Thursday's game against the Atlanta Falcons despite Mayfield having his monster second half.
Granted, the Panthers have a vested interest in keeping his snap count low.
If Baker Mayfield plays 70% of the snaps this year, the Panthers must send the Browns a 4th round pick in 2024. If he plays less than 70% of the snaps they will send the Browns a 5th round pick. So... https://t.co/Y3LhaoWpJm
After firing head coach Matt Rhule and trading Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina is in full rebuild mode. Keeping Mayfield on the bench and increasing its chances of only sending the Cleveland Browns a fifth-round pick is the smarter play.
Both the Panthers and Mayfield are effectively left to play out the string until he hits free agency in 2023.
Andy Dalton, Saints Offense Called Out by NFL Twitter for Struggles in Loss to Ravens
Nov 8, 2022
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) is sacked New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton (14), with Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton nearby in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
After last week's 24-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the New Orleans Saints believed they found a formula for success that would carry them through the remainder of the season. However, their performance on Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens proved otherwise.
The Saints offense had a dreadful showing in a 27-13 loss at the Superdome as they dropped to 3-6. New Orleans quarterback Andy Dalton did nothing to lead the team to success, throwing for 210 yards, a touchdown and an interception. His touchdown pass came late in the game when the Ravens already had victory in hand.
In last week's game, the Saints rode Alvin Kamara's three touchdowns to victory. This week, Kamara was barely a factor in the team's game plan, as the five-time Pro Bowler totaled 12 touches and 62 yards from scrimmage.
Fans on social media were not happy with what they saw from the Saints on Monday night, and they let the team hear all about it:
I’ve seen enough Andy Dalton for tonight. Can we all agree on that?
The Saints offense looks terrible. At least Jameis Winston would take some shots down field. Yeah, some may go to the other team but, Andy Dalton is trash. #MNF#saints
Through nine games, the Saints have yet to find their identity on offense. It would seem that feeding Kamara would be the best course for success, but it's hard for him to get going when the Dalton-led passing attack is completely ineffective.
New Orleans will have to get its act together when the team visits the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6) in Week 10 on Sunday.
Buccaneers' Tom Brady: 'Doubt Does Start to Creep In' During Struggles
Nov 7, 2022
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 6: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates with fans after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Raymond James Stadium on November 6, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Things were looking quite bleak for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
They were staring at a four-game losing streak when Tom Brady's fourth-down pass to Mike Evans fell incomplete in the final two minutes against the Los Angeles Rams. It didn't help that Scotty Miller dropped a potential go-ahead touchdown pass two plays earlier as Tampa Bay was trailing 13-9.
However, the defense got the ball back for the offense one more time, and Brady worked his magic with a game-winning touchdown pass to Cade Otton.
"Doubt does start to creep in," the legendary quarterback said on his Let's Go!podcast (h/t Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). "Because you're putting all your time and energy into this and it doesn't go well...then you look at the schedule and wonder where do we get one? It's there...you just got to play well.''
The drastic turnaround in those final two minutes changed the entire outlook of Tampa Bay's season.
A loss would have been the fourth in a row and dropped the team to 3-6 ahead of a game against the 6-3 Seattle Seahawks. Instead, the Buccaneers are somehow sitting atop a struggling NFC South in a first-place tie with the Atlanta Falcons at 4-5.
Everything is still ahead of Brady and the Buccaneers, who are in Super-Bowl-or-bust mode given the reality that the all-time great is 45 years old and temporarily retired before deciding to come back this offseason.
The upcoming schedule, which Brady alluded to, doesn't do them many favors with games against presumed contenders in the Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals in the next five games.
There is also a matchup with the rival New Orleans Saints, who could join Tampa Bay and Atlanta atop the division with a win over the Baltimore Ravens on Monday.
But momentum is now on Tampa Bay's side following the dramatic win, and Brady had an answer even for the creeping doubt he was feeling when trailing against the Rams.
Report: PJ Walker to Start for Panthers vs. Falcons over Baker Mayfield
Nov 7, 2022
Carolina Panthers quarterback PJ Walker (11) looks to hand the ball off during the first half of a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
PJ Walker is reportedly keeping his starting spot.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Walker will start on Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons after being replaced at halftime by Baker Mayfield during Sunday's 42-21 blowout loss against the Cincinnati Bengals.
It's been a turbulent season for the Panthers, with the firing of former head coach Matt Rhule, Robbie Anderson feuding with coaches and getting kicked off the sidelines in an October game before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals and the continued uncertainty at the quarterback position.
Mayfield opened the year as the starter, and it didn't go well, as the Panthers went 1-4 while the veteran quarterback threw four touchdowns, four interceptions and was sacked 15 times.
He suffered a high ankle sprain in a Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and that—paired with Rhule being fired and Steve Wilks being appointed interim head coach—opened the door for Walker to become the starter.
But Walker hasn't fared much better, leading the Panthers to a 1-3 record in his starts while throwing for 623 yards, three touchdowns and three picks.
He was poor enough in the first half of Sunday's loss, going 3-of-10 for nine yards and two interceptions, that Wilks went back to Mayfield in the second half.
"We couldn't get anything going offensively and we couldn't get off the field defensively," Wilks told reporters after the game. "That's on me."
So the Panthers have themselves a quarterback conundrum, compounded by the fact that Sam Darnold was activated from injured reserve on Monday. The issue is that neither Walker nor Mayfield has seized the job this year, and Darnold certainly didn't make the most of his opportunity in the 2021 campaign.
In other words, the Panthers have three options at the most important position on the roster, and none of them appear to be a very good one. For now, Walker holds onto the gig.
Panthers' Sam Darnold Returns from Injury amid Baker Mayfield, P.J. Walker Struggles
Nov 7, 2022
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 19: Sam Darnold #14 of the Carolina Panthers warms up before the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium on August 19, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Carolina Panthers have activated quarterback Sam Darnold to the 53-man roster, the team announced Monday.
With the regular season on the horizon, the 25-year-old was forced to go on injured reserve because of a high ankle sprain. He was eligible to return in Week 5, but once Week 5 rolled around, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported it was still "going to be a while" before he was back on the field.
He returned to practice Oct. 19 and now will have an opportunity to suit up for Carolina.
Darnold's initial injury removed any doubt as to who would be starting for the Panthers to open the season. The job was probably Baker Mayfield's anyway from the moment he arrived in a trade.
Unfortunately for Carolina, the deal has done little to improve its QB play. In six games, Mayfield has thrown for 1,117 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions and completed 56.6 percent of his passes.
P.J. Walker provided signs of life until Sunday's disastrous 42-21 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Darnold could give the team another option, although he struggled himself in 2021. He finished his first year in Carolina with 2,527 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
With the Panthers already sitting at 2-7, there is still little risk in giving him another shot as the starting quarterback.
'Vintage' Tom Brady Celebrated by NFL Twitter for Buccaneers' GW Drive vs. Rams
Nov 7, 2022
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during the second half of an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' season looked over for 59 minutes and 51 seconds of game time during Sunday's contest against the Los Angeles Rams.
And then Tom Brady reminded everyone why he is the greatest of all time.
The 45-year-old quarterback threw the game-winning touchdown to Cade Otton with nine seconds remaining to propel his Buccaneers to a 16-13 victory over the Rams. The offense looked broken all game and then drove 60 yards on six plays in 35 seconds against a Rams defense that inexplicably played a soft prevent after controlling the rest of the contest.
For much of the game, it seemed like Tampa Bay was well on its way to a fourth consecutive loss and a 3-6 record. Brady threw the ball 58 times and still only accounted for 280 yards and one touchdown, but it was that one touchdown that proved to be the difference.
He started the drive with a long pass to Otton, found Scotty Miller twice and threw the winner to the tight end. Miller may have been the only player happier than Brady, as he dropped a potential go-ahead touchdown on the previous Tampa Bay drive.
The Rams went three-and-out on their possession following Miller's drop, which gave Brady one more chance to turn things around. He took full advantage, and the 4-5 Buccaneers are still in the middle of the NFC playoff picture.
Brady also became the first quarterback in NFL history with more than 100,000 passing yards (including the playoffs), although he has accounted for more than one touchdown just one time all season.
That was enough Sunday, and he will look to keep the momentum rolling with an upcoming game against the Seattle Seahawks.
