Buccaneers @ Raiders
What started out as a back and forth matchup turned into a one-sided affair about halfway through as Tampa Bay defeated the Raiders 45-20. While the main headline of the week was that Antonio Brown would be joining Tampa Bay soon enough, the Buccaneers showed that their offense is not too bad without him, as they easily drove the ball downfield against this Las Vegas defense all day long.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Tom Brady: 33/45, 369 yards, 4 TDs | 1 carry, 1 yard, 1 TD
Tom Brady looked a lot like vintage Brady on Sunday, moving the ball very easily against this Las Vegas defense spreading the ball all over to his receiving options. He also did what he has always done so well, taking the ball from the one-yard line and diving in for the touchdown on the QB sneak.
The 🐐 of QB sneaks.
Brady ties the game up at 7-7.#FantasyFootball | #Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/b2dYQUPk3b
— QB List (@TheQBlist) October 25, 2020
Though that one-yard touchdown run was impressive as always from Brady, he also added four touchdowns through the air. Among those was a classic Brady to Gronkowski fade to the outside for a five-yard touchdown. Another one of these touchdowns was a beautifully placed 33-yard touchdown over the shoulder to Scotty Miller, followed by a rollout to the right finding Chris Godwin for the touchdown later in the 4th quarter. The final one was this strike to Tyler Johnson down at the goal line to put the dagger on the Raiders and clinch the Buccaneers’ 5th victory of the season.
Touchdown Tommy.
His 4th of the day goes to Tyler Johnson.#FantasyFootball | #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/5IILf7hXg1
— QB List (@TheQBlist) October 25, 2020
Running Backs
Ronald Jones II: 13 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD | 1 target, 1 reception, 2 yards
Leonard Fournette: 11 carries, 50 yards | 7 targets, 6 receptions, 47 yards
Just when we thought that we had this backfield figured out, Leonard Fournette comes back from injury and splits the work almost 50/50. Though Jones got the work early in the game (6 carries on the first two drives), the remainder of the game seemed to go in Fournette’s favor. Even when it seemed to be Fournette’s game, Ronald Jones was still mixed in and go the goalline touch for the touchdown. I guess the one clearer thing is that if they were to throw the ball to one of these backs, it would be Leonard Fournette.
Buccaneers final HB snap count
Leonard Fournette 40
Ronald Jones 31— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) October 25, 2020
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Chris Godwin: 9 targets, 9 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
Mike Evans: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 37 yards
Rob Gronkowski: 8 targets, 5 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD
Scotty Miller: 9 targets, 6 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD
Tyler Johnson: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 4 yards, 1 TD
While Chris Godwin had a real impressive game, catching all of his targets including a touchdown in the back of the endzone after Brady extended the play rolling to his right, Mike Evans was very quiet in this game, only catching 2 passes both of which came in the 4th quarter. Along with Chris Godwin, Scotty Miller was also looked to in key situations helping to extend drives out of the slot including a beautifully thrown deep ball for the touchdown.
Chris Godwin puts the @Buccaneers up by 11 with a little toe drag. #GoBucs
📺: #TBvsLV on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/nCwBl54Akc pic.twitter.com/1TBi9M6blU— NFL (@NFL) October 25, 2020
An absolute dime from @TomBrady. 🎯@Buccaneers take a 21-10 lead. #GoBucs
📺: #TBvsLV on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/nCwBl54Akc pic.twitter.com/ubu9vsShrR— NFL (@NFL) October 25, 2020
This week also helped to bring about the re-emergence of Rob Gronkowski for fantasy purposes, with the chemistry the two of them have clearly evident, with Brady looking his way both at the goal line for the touchdown and in third-down conversion attempts. Is he as explosive as he once was, of course not, but he still is just as trusted by Brady.
Back-to-back weeks with a Gronkowski touchdown. #FantasyFootball | #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/BUq83fzk2l
— QB List (@TheQBlist) October 25, 2020
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Derek Carr: 24/36, 284 yards, 2 TDs 1 INT, 3 sacks | 2 carries, 19 yards
Derek Carr had himself a very solid day on Sunday, making plays happen with an offensive line he didn’t know if he would have coming into the week. The interception was a bit forced trying to make a play happen, but the ball did deflect off the receiver’s hand for the interception. The first of these two touchdown passes was a deep was a beautiful ball downfield to Nelson Agholar, with the second a sharp pass to the outside to Darren Waller for the touchdown down by the goal line.
An Antoine Winfield Jr. INT sets up the @Buccaneers TD.#GoBucs lead 38-20.
📺: #TBvsLV on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/nCwBl54Akc pic.twitter.com/T0IVplklW2— NFL (@NFL) October 25, 2020
Running Backs
Josh Jacobs: 10 carries, 17 yards | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 14 yards
Devontae Booker: 3 carries, 5 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 9 yards
Josh Jacobs had a performance to forget on Sunday, though the game script quickly moved away from running the football. A lot of his struggles had to do with going up against the best rush defense in the NFL and an offensive line that he was not sure whether he would have due to COVID-19 concerns. To me, this is more of a good look for Tampa Bay’s defense than concerns about Jacobs. He was still involved in the passing game, but this come from behind and from a large deficit game script allowed Devontae Booker to get more looks this week.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Henry Ruggs III: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 35 yards
Nelson Agholar: 9 targets, 5 receptions, 107 yards, 1 TD
Darren Waller: 9 targets, 6 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TD
Hunter Renfrow: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 42 yards
Carr’s most trusted receiving option continues to be Darren Waller, the target which Carr continues to look at it in key situations including a look at the goal line, which he had not had many of in the past.
Darren Waller wins one-on-one for the score! #NationalTightEndsDay
📺: #TBvsLV on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/nCwBl54Akc pic.twitter.com/KTQ5mjBebd— NFL (@NFL) October 25, 2020
On the receiving end, it was Nelson Agholar who saw the most work, getting 9 targets including a 21-yard strike for the touchdown, He did show flashes of his Philadelphia self with a crucial drop later in the game, but he continues to be looked to in key situations by Carr.
Derek Carr to Nelson Agholor for a 21 yard score.#FantasyFootball | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/KeegS6dDZz
— QB List (@TheQBlist) October 25, 2020
While on the other hand, Henry Ruggs was quieted in Sunday, as Carr looked to him on some deeper routes earlier on. The Buccaneers did a really good job on coverage keeping him off the score sheet and quiet throughout. Because of this, Hunter Renfrow took on a bit more of a role, as well as the good game mentioned above by Agholar.
-Callen Elslager (@callen_elslager on Twitter and Reddit)