Buccaneers vs. Bengals
Buccaneers
How many times will Jameis Winston turn the ball over?
In only three games, Jameis Winston has seven turnovers (six interceptions, one lost fumble). Still, in the two games he started, he ranked as the #1 QB and #8 QB in each respective week. Winston is on a pass-first, come from behind offense and should have ample opportunity in Week Eight to produce against a weak & injured Cincinnati secondary. Winston is a must-start this week and if can limit turnovers is likely to be a top-5 play.
Is a Running back worth it yet?
Nope. Peyton Barber is still getting low double-digit carries, although Ronald Jones II did receive career-high carries in Week Seven, rushing six times for 13 yards and a touchdown. All three backs (Barber, Jones, and Jacquizz Rodgers) each have about a 33% split of the snaps. These backs may be good for an occasional touchdown and in Week Eight that may be more likely than most weeks, but there are better streams to play – if not, roll with Barber still for “volume” alone.
Planning for Receivers
Mike Evans reasserted himself as top receiver with 11 targets, 7 receptions, and 107 yards, as is most weeks Evans is a must-start. Adam Humphries came in next with nine targets, bringing his season total close to DeSean Jackson and Chris Godwin. Humphries gets short yardage passes and has yet to produce a fantasy relevant week despite his targets. Godwin and Jackson are both coin tosses, but have high enough ceilings in this pass-first offense to warrant a FLEX play in Week Eight if you have either as each should see six or seven targets this week.
O.J. Howard with season-high targets
In Week Seven, O.J. Howard saw nine targets, a season high. Howard had one other week with eight targets, but is otherwise only averaging five targets per game. If this target share sticks, Howard would be a clear top-5 tight end. Otherwise he’s a top-10 as despite an otherwise low target share, Howard has been able to make the best of each reception and get plenty of red zone looks.
-Brennen Gorman
Bengals
Can Andy Dalton recover from last week?
By all rights, Andy Dalton should have had a good game last week. He was going up against a Kansas City Chiefs secondary that had given up at least 20 fantasy points in every week except one, and instead he threw a total dud. His worst start of the season. This week, he’s up against a Bucs secondary that’s giving up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in the league. He should be a solid play this week, but the minute you trust Andy Dalton is the minute he screws it up. Still, I think he’s a QB1 this week based on how bad the Bucs secondary has been (they’ve given up fewer than 300 passing yards just once this season).
Will the receivers continue to play well?
I think it’s pretty easy to count on A.J. Green just about every week. Even in a bad game for Dalton last week, Green still logged seven catches for 117 yards. He’s just so involved in the passing game that it almost doesn’t matter what Dalton does, Green will see action. Tyler Boyd, however, is a little different. He’s pretty involved, but not as involved as Green, and needs Dalton to play well. Both of them have very favorable matchups this week, with Green likely seeing Carlton Davis and Boyd seeing M.J. Stewart. I’d expect both of them to be solid starters this week.
What can we expect from Joe Mixon?
The Bucs’ run defense has been better than their passing defense, but not by much. They have yet to give up 100 rushing yards in a single game, but they’ve also given up less than 19 fantasy points just once. Joe Mixon is obviously a supremely talented back, and against this fairly weak Bucs run defense, I think he should be a solid RB1.
Is there any value in the tight ends?
I think if you’re desperate for a tight end this week, C.J. Uzomah isn’t a terrible option. He’ll likely see Justin Evans in coverage which should be a really good matchup for him, as Evans hasn’t been playing well this year. I don’t think Uzomah is any more than a TE2, but if you need someone, he’s an interesting choice.
Boom: A.J. Green
Bust: N/A
Sleeper: C.J. Uzomah
-Ben Palmer