Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Start ’em or sit ’em Week 4

Not sure which Tampa Bay Buccaneers to put in your fantasy lineup in Week 4? Check out our thoughts here.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers high-powered offense will be put to the test against the Chicago Bears defense.

Khalil Mack leads a great front seven which could cause problems for the Bucs passing attack. The Bears secondary may not match up well with the Tampa Bay wideouts, but the pass rush could cause problems.

For the Buccaneers, the defense continues to be a concern. While Mitch Trubisky doesn’t strike fear into the heart of many NFL fans, Chicago has plenty of weapons that can cause problems.

Allen Robinson has looked the part after returning from an ACL injury, and Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen are a dynamic duo at running back.

While the Bears pose a tough test for the Buccaneers on Sunday, from a fantasy perspective, it should be a big day for the offense.

Find out which Buccaneers should start, or find a seat on the bench in your fantasy lineups this Sunday.

Start ’em

WR Mike Evans

Currently, Mike Evans has the second-most fantasy points among wide receivers. There’s no way he could sit on the bench, no matter the matchup.

Fitzpatrick has targeted Evans 23 times through three games. Even against the tough Eagles defense, Evans snagged 10 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.

With the Bears thin at cornerback, Evans is in for a huge day. WR1.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TE O.J. Howard

Believe it or not, O.J. Howard is the fourth-highest scoring tight end in PPR fantasy leagues. As he continues to get the majority of the snaps over Cameron Brate, his value becomes even more significant.

In its past two games, Chicago has allowed a touchdown to tight ends. Howard is useful in the red zone, but his big-play ability has been on display in every game this season. Expect the Bears’ struggles with tight ends to continue on Sunday.

WR Chris Godwin

Chris Godwin saw a significant jump in targets last week. He had a solid night with five catches for 74 yards and a score, but he could have had a monster night.

Godwin had a pair of drops in the end zone and a fumble. Even with the mistakes, Fitzpatrick kept going to the well, a great sign of trust between the two.

For the most part, Godwin is an unknown commodity around the league, but that’s changing fast. Feel confident to start him at the flex in a pinch.

Sit ’em

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick might be on the turf a ton against the Bears. Last week against the Steelers, he had a putrid first half as the pressure got to him.

Chicago may bring even more pressure, which could mean more turnovers for the veteran quarterback. While he may get the yards to make it a decent fantasy day, the performance from the first two weeks is a thing of the past.

RB Peyton Barber

Tampa Bay’s issues on the ground aren’t all Peyton Barber‘s fault. The former undrafted free agent was supposed to split touches with Ronald Jones, but the second-round rookie hasn’t even taken a snap yet.

Although he’s worth a roster spot due to his volume, his inability to find the end zone makes it tough to start him.

Through three games, Chicago has shut down opposing runners. They haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown this season, and Barber probably won’t break that trend. Put stock in the Tampa receivers, not their running backs.

WR DeSean Jackson

The Steelers 3-4 defensive front dominated the Tampa Bay offensive line. The immediate pressure didn’t give DeSean Jackson enough time to get down the field. Fitzpatrick can’t deliver the deep ball to Jackson with defenders in his face.

That’s the problem with Jackson; he’s the ultimate hit-or-miss player when it comes to fantasy. This week, he will face the same problem thanks to the Bears pass rush.

In just three games, Jackson is halfway towards matching his total yards from 2017. It’s been a stellar start for Jackson, but the ride may be over