Buccaneers Fantasy Football Preview: Can Tom Brady be trusted to keep Mike Evans and Chris Godwin productive?

Will adding Patriots legends Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski make a difference in Tampa Bay?

By Dave Richard

Jul 30, 2020 at 8:10 pm ET • 5 min read

There probably isn't a quarterback in the NFL less like Jameis Winston than Tom Brady. Winston's willingness to push the ball down the field and take risks pushed Mike Evans and Chris Godwin into the upper echelon of Fantasy wide receivers, but it also potentially left points on the board. The combination of Brady's decision making with Bruce Arians' aggression could be a match made in Fantasy heaven — if Brady is still Brady after all this time.

"I thought his deep ball was outstanding last year. Through their play-action game, they hit a lot of deep balls. We don't have to teach Tom (to throw to the guy that's open). But I think the freedom of looking downfield on certain routes and in certain situations, when the matchup's perfect — take it, don't be afraid to take it — some quarterbacks are afraid to take it. I'm not looking for a 'Checkdown Charlie' quarterback."
Bruce Arians on Tom Brady

2019 Review

Record: 7-9 (17th in NFL)
PPG: 28.6 (3)
YPG: 397.9 (3)
Pass YPG: 302.8 (1)
Rush YPG: 95.1 (24)
PAPG: 39.4 (4)
RAPG: 25.6 (14)

2019 Fantasy finishes

QB: Jameis Winston* QB5
RB: Ronald Jones RB26; Peyton Barber* RB42; Dare Ogunbowale RB59
WR: Chris Godwin WR2; Mike Evans WR14; Breshad Perriman* WR51
TE: Cameron Brate TE24; O.J. Howard TE30
*No longer with team

Number to know: 29.3%

Mike Evans has gained more than 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons. He's also averaged 9.3 targets per game over his career, failing to get 9.0 targets per game over a season twice: 2014 (8.1) and 2018 (8.6).

Of the 15 times Brady has connected for over 1,000 yards with a pass-catcher, a wide receiver who predominantly lines up outside has been on the other end just three times (Randy Moss in 2007 and 2009, Brandin Cooks in 2017).

Of the 14 times Brady has averaged at least 9.0 targets per game to a pass-catcher, a wide receiver who predominantly lines up outside has been on the other end just ONCE (Moss, 2007).

Evans lined up in the slot just 29.3% of the time in 2019. It was a career high.

2020 Offseason

Draft Picks

1. (13) Tristan Wirfs, OT
2. (45) Antoine Winfield Jr., S
3. (76) Ke'Shawn Vaughn, RB
5. (161) Tyler Johnson, WR
6. (194) Khalil Davis, DT
7. (241) Chapelle Russell, LB
7. (245) Raymond Calais, RB

Additions

QB Tom Brady; RB LeSean McCoy; TE Rob Gronkowski; OG Joe Haeg

Key Departures

QB Jameis Winston; RB Peyton Barber; WR Breshad Perriman

Available Opportunity

154 carries, 24 RB targets, 84 WR targets, 1 TE target

Rankings and Projections

Player	Jamey Eisenberg	Dave Richard	Heath Cummings
Tom Brady	QB11	QB8	QB12
Ronald Jones	RB28	RB21	RB28
LeSean McCoy	N/A	RB54	RB51
Ke'Shawn Vaughn	RB57	RB61	RB53
Dare Ogunbowale	N/A	N/A	RB57
Chris Godwin	WR5	WR6	WR6
Mike Evans	WR13	WR12	WR16
Rob Gronkowski	TE10	TE9	TE9
O.J. Howard	TE27	TE27	TE29
Matt Gay	K7	K12	K10
Buccaneers DST	DST12	DST21	DST9

	Heath Cummings' projections
QB	Tom Brady	4,601 YD, 29 TD, 13 INT
RB	Ronald Jones	827 YD, 6 TD; 23 REC, 184 YD, 1 TD
RB	LeSean McCoy	476 YD, 4 TD; 17 REC, 119 YD, 1 TD
RB	Dare Ogunbowale	77 YD, 1 TD; 46 REC, 327 YD, 2 TD
RB	Ke'Shawn Vaughn	189 YD, 1 TD; 4 REC, 31 YD, 0 TD
WR	Mike Evans	127 TAR, 74 REC, 1,172 YD, 7 TD
WR	Chris Godwin	133 TAR, 88 REC, 1,187 YD, 8 TD
WR	Tyler Johnson	36 TAR, 20 REC, 258 YD, 2 TD
TE	Rob Gronkowski	85 TAR, 55 REC, 738 YD, 6 TD
TE	O.J. Howard	48 TAR, 32 REC, 425 YD, 3 TD

Biggest Question

Can Brady still sling it?

"Brady led the league in passing yardage as recently as 2017, and that was also the last time he had a legitimate deep threat in Brandin Cooks. Unsurprisingly, Brady's average throw traveled 9.1 yards downfield that season, at least a yard higher than any of his other seasons since 2013. In Bruce Arians' vertical offense, Jameis Winston's average throw depth was above 10, and Brady finally has the weapons to once again push the ball down the field with regularity." -- Ben Gretch

One sleeper, one breakout and one bust

Sleeper

O.J. Howard TE

LV Las Vegas • #88
Age: 29 • Experience: 7 yrs.

2019 Stats
REC 34	TAR 53	REYDS 459	TD 1	FPTS/G 5.9

If anyone's a sleeper on the Bucs, it's Howard. Not only did the team stand by him this offseason, but Arians has admitted that multiple tight ends are part of his personnel plan. Gronkowski's arrival obviously means bad things in terms of target share, but Gronkowski's had problems staying healthy and Howard would theoretically slide into larger responsibilities if (when?) Gronk is sidelined. Howard bumbled away his 2019 but averaged a touchdown every 5.5 catches and 16.6 yards per catch in his first two seasons. He has talent — let's see how he uses it in what amounts to a make-or-break season. If you have the bench depth, he's worth considering as a stash.

Bust

Ke'Shawn Vaughn RB

SF San Francisco • #21
Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Prospect Profile
2020 NFL Draft 76th overall (Round 3)	Height 5-10	Weight 214	40 time 4.51

As rookie running backs go, Vaughn isn't special. He's physical but not dominant, quick but not fast, solid as a receiver and as a blocker but that's about it. Meanwhile, his primary competition for playing time has spent all offseason improving his game, adding muscle and becoming a better blocker. The lack of an offseason program for all rookies is rough, but Vaughn began training camp on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list, further stunting his development. They then signed LeSean McCoy in late July. It's going to take a lot for Vaughn to be impactful this season.

Breakout

Ronald Jones RB

DAL Dallas • #32
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.

2019 Stats
RUYDS 724	REC 31	REYDS 309	TD 6	FPTS/G 10.3

I've done a 180 on Jones following the Bucs' offseason moves. They didn't do much -- drafting Vaughn in Round 3 and adding LeSean McCoy after Vaughn wound up on the COVID-19 list doesn't qualify as a big strike against Jones. Meanwhile, the third-year running back has busted his hump this offseason improving his pass protection and remaining as explosive as he was last year while putting on seven more pounds of muscle. It's his second consecutive offseason where he's rededicated himself to football -- the first one yielded over 1,000 total yards and six scores despite just 203 total touches. His encore, in an offense piloted by Brady and with a better O-line, figures to be much better. McCoy's arrival could mean trouble for Jones if Jones keeps making mistakes, but short of that, Jones has potential to easily finish as a top-20 Fantasy rusher.