What We Saw: Week 2 – Monday Night

Brett Ford
What We Saw 4 Hours Ago
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Introduction
Buccaneers @ Texans
Chargers @ Raiders

Buccaneers @ Texans

Final Score: Buccaneers 20 – Texans 19

Writer: Brett Ford (@Fadethatman)

 

The first quarter was a high-excitement, high-scoring affair as the two teams jousted back-and-forth, trading passing touchdowns inside the first eight minutes of the game. The Texans took a 10-7 lead with a second scoring drive in the opening frame, but early in the second quarter the Buccaneers responded with a touchdown drive of their own to take a 14-10 advantage. From there, the game ground to a near halt as neither team could convert until late in the fourth quarter. The Texans defense made a couple of big plays to stall out the Tampa Bay offense and Nick Chubb broke through with a 25-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes remaining to give Houston a 19-14 lead. Baker Mayfield then led his second game-winning drive in as many weeks, leaning heavily on Bucky Irving to carry the team down the field and handing off to Rachaad White for the score to go ahead, 20-19, with six seconds remaining.

 

Three Up

  • Emeka Egbuka – The rookie was used heavily in the screen game, including a touchdown off a quick screen inside the red zone
  • Bucs RBs – Both Irving and White finished as top-24 RBs in PPR formats a season ago – Monday night showed exactly how they can do it again
  • Nico Collins – Caught an incredible touchdown to open the game, saving his fantasy output

 

Three Down

  • CJ Stroud – Made too many mistakes, questionable decisions and poor throws that stalled drives
  • Mike Evans – Targeted the most of all pass-catchers in the game, but pulled in only five catches as he was shadowed by Derek Stingley Jr. for most of the contest
  • Jayden Higgins – Only targeted once, still behind Xavier Hutchinson on the depth chart it appears

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

Quarterback

 

Baker Mayfield: 25/38, 215 Yards, 2 TD | 3 Carries, 33 Yards

Baker was under duress for much of the game as the Texans’ pass rushers got the best of the Bucs’ injury-riddled offensive line for most of the contest. He still managed to complete nearly 70% of his passes, though most of his yardage was generated from screen plays and YAC instead of the typical air yards that have made this offense so prolific since Baker’s arrival. If the Bucs’ offensive line doesn’t get healthy quickly (Tristan Wirfs can’t return soon enough), Baker could be at rest for regression this season. Baker had to escape a few times, and each of his carries came at vital junctures, including his 15-yard run on 3rd and long to sustain the game-winning drive in the final minutes.

 

Running Back

 

Bucky Irving: 17 Carries, 71 Yards | 6 Targets, 6 Receptions, 50 Yards

Rachaad White: 10 Carries, 65 Yards, TD | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 1 Yard

Irving had a relatively pedestrian night before picking up nearly 10 PPR fantasy points in the Bucs’ two-minute drill. On the final drive of the game, Irving caught four passes for 39 yards, potentially shifting the results of several fantasy managers on Monday night. Of course, to cap the drive, instead of handing the ball to Irving on the two-yard line, the Bucs handed off to White instead, who crossed the line for the game-winning score. Both running backs looked strong and decisive in their running and there’s no reason to think that they couldn’t both end up in the top-30 in PPR formats again this season. Make sure to check out the weekly QB List Start/Sit column for recommendations on whether or not to place White in your flex on a week-to-week basis.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Mike Evans: 11 Targets, 5 Receptions, 56 Yards

Evans was targeted a game-high 11 times, so there isn’t much reason for alarm. He was shadowed for most of this game by one of the elite cornerbacks in the game, Derek Stingley, Jr. and still pulled in five catches for 56 yards. It was nearly more (plus a touchdown), as Evans pulled down an amazing catch in the first quarter near the goal line (that would have at least been close to a score after replay review) but he was whistled for OPI. Evans remains a reliable WR2 in fantasy formats and should get going relatively soon in this pass-heavy Bucs offense. 

 

Sterling Shepard: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 34 yards

Shepard was on the field for 75% of offensive snaps as the Bucs went primarily 13 personnel throughout this game, but was targeted just four times among his 40 routes run. He’s a clear fourth or even fifth option in this offense and should be ignored except for the deepest of leagues. 

 

Emeka Egbuka: 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 29 Yards, TD

For the second-straight week, Egbuka found the end zone and was a massive part of the Bucs’ offense. He scored on a short screen pass on the right flank as the Bucs got a pair of offensive linemen out in front of him to clear the way.

Egbuka appeared to have sustained a thigh injury at some point in the third quarter, and had it wrapped during the game. He didn’t catch a pass in the game after that moment, and looked a step slower than he had at the beginning of the night.

 

Cade Otton: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 24 Yards

Otton was mostly an afterthought until the final drive of the game when he caught a couple of out-breaking routes for yards and got out of bounds. He’s a touchdown-dependent tight end who hasn’t popped off without a significant injury somewhere else within the offense.

 

Ryan Miller: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 20 Yards, TD

Oh man, this must be the guy who caught all those touchdowns from Tom Brady a few years ago, right? Nope! Wrong random white receiver with the last name of Miller. Scotty is with the Steelers. Ryan graduated from FCS Division I school Furman (SC), caught two touchdown passes last season and typically gives Mike Evans a breather when needed. His first catch of the season resulted in a score. And – barring injury – that’s probably the last you’ll see of him in a What We Saw write up this season.

 

 

Houston Texans

 

Quarterback

 

C.J. Stroud: 13/24, 207 yards, TD | 4 carries, 27 yards

What started out as such a promising game for Stroud quickly devolved into a comedy of errors for the third-year quarterback. His best throw of the night came on the Collins touchdown early in the first quarter and from there, things kind of unravelled. He didn’t have much time to throw most of the night, but he also didn’t do himself any favors. He made a couple of questionable decision throughout the night, including what appeared to be an attempted throwaway directly into the hands of Bucs LB Lavonte David (who made one of the worst drops I’ve seen in a long time). Stroud’s struggles are undoubtedly related to a below-average OL in front of him, but he needs to be able to make plays – and he just hasn’t since his rookie year. Might be that he needs to choose a different warm-up routine.

 

Running Back

 

Nick Chubb: 12 carries, 43 yards, TD | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 29 Yards

A classic grinder game for Chubb, he was hit at the line of scrimmage on nearly every carry and generated just 18 yards across his first 11 carries. However, on his final tote of the game, Chubb broke through for a 25-yard touchdown run, as the offensive line finally cleared some space to beat the Tampa defense and find the end zone.

Woody Marks: 3 carries, 14 yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 37 Yards

Marks looked like an explosive backup running back with fresh legs and a chip on his shoulder. He was on the field for just 13 snaps, but did get three of four offensive plays during the Texans’ first half two -minute drill. His best play wasn’t his 37-yard catch and run, though that was fun to watch. Instead, it was a blitz pickup where he cleared out a Bucs LB, protecting his quarterback from a free rusher. Plays like this one will earn Marks more playing time and could help to give him a larger share of the work, and thus more fantasy value.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Nico Collins: 9 Targets, 3 Receptions, 52 Yards, TD

Collins was the Texans’ top target but pulled in just three catches on nine targets. Stroud did a great job to float one up for him for a touchdown in the first half, but then in the late stages of the game completely air-mailed a throw on a rollout to his left where Collins had a step on his defender in the end zone. We love to see the volume of targets for Nico, but please, CJ, give him catchable throws.

 

Xavier Hutchinson: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 29 Yards

Jayden Higgins: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 28 Yards

Behind Collins, it’s clear that the Texans are rotating Higgins and Hutchinson in the WR2 role. Until one of them grabs a hold of the position (hopefully Higgins), neither of them will be fantasy relevant at all.

 

Dalton Schultz: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 29 yards

A 60% snap share with 23 routes run – second-most on the team behind Collins – Schultz could be a sneaky TE streamer in favorable matchups, but beyond that he hasn’t looked particularly special so far this season, Monday night included.

 

Justin Watson: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards

Jaylin Noel: KR only, No targets

Noel was on the field for just 15 snaps, ran 10 routes and wasn’t targeted at all. It was disappointing to see the rookie so uninvolved despite the injury to slot receiver Christian Kirk, which should have freed up some playing time for Noel.

Series Navigation
Introduction
Buccaneers @ Texans
Chargers @ Raiders