Buccaneers rankings: How the receivers stack up in the NFC South

The Wildcard

For the Bucs and any NFL offense to really make an impact they have to find a wildcard. This is a player who can impact the offense, but isn’t going to be the focus of every team’s game planning, usually due to usage rates.

It’s hard to focus on a guy who gets maybe 25% of the snaps, but those snaps could be big ones when the wildcards break a big play.

4. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

Let’s let Charles Davis tell it:

"“He could not have gotten a better match for his talents with a play-caller and a system than what Sean Payton runs in New Orleans…..run the ball, throw it to him, put him in different mismatches…this is what he gives them.” – Charles Davis"

Bottom line is Kamara is expected to be the most versatile running back on the Saints roster since Reggie Bush.

Good news is they didn’t have to use the second overall pick to get him either.

He won’t be on the field all the time, but when he is, it could make some highlight reels in 2017.

3. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

No doubt Christian McCaffrey was one of the best athletes entering the draft in 2017.

How the Panthers use him is the question, and will determine just how much of a weapon he proves to be.

I’m not alone in thinking this young player will ultimately become a permanent slot receiver somewhere.

Does Carolina see the same thing? If so, then motioning him out of the backfield or getting him out in the open from the backfield will become a dangerous part of their offense almost immediately.

2. O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is one wildcard who should see more than 25% of the snaps, and should make good use of them as well.

Dirk Koetter likes two tight end sets, and Howard figures to be the second one used most of the time if not all of the time.

The rookie has the ability to block and catch, and will be a nightmare coverage problem when he, Mike Evans and Cameron Brate are on the field inside the red zone.

Good luck defenses. Not really.

1. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons

If a defense, let’s say the Buccaneers defense, is able to stop Matt Ryan from finding Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Austin Hooper and Taylor Gabriel then they’ve done a good job.

Problem is, while they’re patting themselves on the back, one of these running backs is taking a screen pass the distance for a score.

Most two-back systems have one who runs well and one who catches well. The Falcons have two which do both.

Ultimately, Atlanta won’t be able to keep both happy enough to keep the tandem intact. Until, then though, they have the ultimate wildcard in their passing game.

Must Read: 5 Best Tight Ends in Team History

Maybe it’s cheating a bit allowing Atlanta to have two wildcards in the mix, but honestly, they go hand in hand.

In fact, if the offense hadn’t gotten so vanilla and predictable in the Super Bowl, the Falcons likely would have walked away with the win.