Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker, top, is congratulated by wide receiver Jalen McMillan (15) and center Robert Hainsey after scoring against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Be careful before you meander into that Tampa Bay-New Orleans boxscore. I know it sounds delightful. There were 78 total points! There were 897 yards of offense! Both teams have several must-start fantasy options, right?
So of course the fantasy superstar from this game was Sean Tucker, unheralded running back of the Buccaneers. Because that’s how fantasy goes sometimes.
First, let’s start with the Tampa Bay players you likely used for fantasy. Baker Mayfield is a carnival sometimes, but he’s also producing most weeks. Mayfield threw for 325 yards and four passing touchdowns, offsetting three interceptions and landing him at 28,8 fantasy points. It’s his third straight game over the 20-point mark, and he was sitting at QB2 with just SNF and MNF left on the slate. The Buccaneers have sailed past 30 points in four of their games this year, an offense you can generally trust.
Chris Godwin went off against the Saints secondary, rocking an 11-125-2 line on 13 targets. He’s had at least five receptions in every game and the shift to a slot-heavier role seems to agree with him. Godwin needed a bigger role because Mike Evans was dealing with an undisclosed injury for most of the day, limping through the first half and briefly visiting the locker room. He only had one target in the second half and finished 2-34-0 on six targets. Variance bites us all sometimes. Cade Otton only had two catches on his six targets, but one of them went for a short touchdown. You’ll take that during the Tight End Blackout of 2024.
Bucky Irving picked up the backfield start with Rachaad White unavailable and was fine, but not quite the smash we hoped for (14-81-1 rushing, 2-24-0 receiving). That’s good for 17.5…
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