Falcons @ Buccaneers
Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 29th at 1:00 PM EST
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL
Betting Odds: TBB -1, 48 total via Oddsshark
Network: FOX
Sleeper Spotlight: Russell Gage
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback:
- Matt Ryan (Start/QB1)
This is as tasty of a matchup as it gets for a QB who has thrown for over 300 yards ten times this season. Even if Julio Jones is hobbled this week or misses it entirely, Matty Ice is good enough and the Buccaneers defense is bad enough that the Falcons offense should be able to move the ball down the field through the air. Start Ryan with confidence this week.
Running Backs:
- Devonta Freeman (Flex)
Whoa, what on earth was THAT? Against the worst run defense in the league, Devonta Freeman caught 9 of 10 targets for 74 yards and a touchdown? He also threw in 53 yards and a touchdown on the ground and if you started Freeman you were a happy camper. I’ve never been a Freeman believer myself and I told a few Redditors to sit him last week (sorry guys)… and why should I start now? Tampa Bay has the second-fewest fantasy points against running backs this season, so unless Freeman gets the majority of his looks through the air again this week he’s bound to come back down to earth. I have him as a flex just because they may need to rely on him through the air again if Julio isn’t close to 100%, so there is a chance he will have a decent day. I would say the floor is 10 points and the ceiling is less than 20.
Wide Receivers/Tight End:
- Julio Jones (WR1 if healthy)
- Russell Gage (WR2/Flex)
- Justin Hardy (Sit)
- Austin Hooper (TE1)
Julio Jones was limited in Thursday’s practice and was spotted wearing a brace on his right knee. I’m no doctor but he looks to be favoring his knee in that short clip, and that worries me. I was looking forward to firing him up this week against the Bucs terrible secondary but it sounds like he’ll be limited even if he does suit up. That would seemingly vault Russell Gage into a starting role this week after catching 10 of 12 targets for a total of 76 yards against San Francisco and Jacksonville. That kind of efficiency can go a long way in a matchup this juicy.
Justin Hardy is listed as the #3 receiver on the depth chart but he hasn’t caught a ball since Week 14 so I’m sitting him.
Austin Hooper, finally bounced back last week with 7 catches on 9 targets for 82 yards, and he’s primed for a huge day this week whether Julio is in or not. Hooper is a must-start TE1 this week and my overall TE1 on the week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback:
- Jameis Winston (Start/QB1)
At this point, there is no way you’re benching Jameis Winston this week, even with the thumb injury impacting his ability to throw the ball. It’s been a legendary season for famous Jameis, and with two more interceptions this week he will be the first player in NFL history to throw for 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in a season. At the rate he’s going he may accomplish that feat in the 1st quarter, then throw for four touchdowns by halftime. Start Jameis, sit back, get your popcorn ready and enjoy the show.
Running Backs:
- Ronald Jones II (Sit)
- Peyton Barber (Sit)
I’ll admit, I was drinking the Ronald Jones kool-aid earlier this year and I’m disappointed that the jug is empty. It’s been a roller coaster ride of a year for the Buccaneer running backs and you never know which one will get the few carries to go around each week. One week it’s 14 carries and a touchdown for Jones, another week it’s 17 carries and 2 touchdowns for Peyton Barber. In a pass-happy offense neither of these guys can be trusted, so just bench them and look elsewhere.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:
- Breshad Perriman (Start/WR2)
- Justin Watson (Flex)
- O.J. Howard (TE2)
The year was 2015 – Madden 16 had just been released and 1st round rookie Breshad Perriman was the fastest player in the game with a 97-speed rating. I won three Super Bowls with him as my #1 receiver and I’m sure I’m not the only one who fell in love with him after that. Fast forward to Week 16 of the 2019 NFL season and Buccaneers #1 receiver Breshad Perriman helped lead my team to a real-life-fantasy championship. It was such a glorious moment I nearly shed a tear. You probably don’t care(nor should you, really), but for those of us who have waited years for the Perriman breakout, it means so much to have many more jumping on the bandwagon with us. And again, as the #1 receiver this week on the leagues most pass-happy offense, Breshad Perriman is a must-start player. Jump on the wagon and ride off with us into the sunset.
Justin Watson is an interesting guy who has 12 catches on 20 targets in the last three games, with 119 yards and two TDs as well. Those are solid numbers and as the Bucs’ WR2 this week I would feel comfortable slotting him in as a flex.
I can’t bring myself to recommend starting O.J. Howard for this game, as his production is largely touchdown-dependent. He has seven targets in each of the last two games, so he’s getting looks, but has only caught seven of those 14 targets for 92 yards. Atlanta has been middle of the pack against tight ends this season but their defense has played better of late. Howard is a TE2 for me at best this week and I’m looking for better options elsewhere. I would rather start Mike Gesicki against New England then Howard against Atlanta.
-Ben Brown (@FelixTheDog23 Twitter, iamatechnician Reddit)