The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are taking on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 in a matchup that offers plenty of fantasy football intrigue.
Which Buccaneers are worth a spot in your starting lineup, and which are better served on the bench in Week 8?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to start/sit in fantasy football for Week 8
Sit: QB Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield is averaging only 10.4 fantasy points per contest, making him one of the least productive quarterbacks in fantasy football.
The Falcons are averaging 31 points per game with Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback, so there’s a chance the game script forces Mayfield to air it out. That could finally lead to his long-awaited breakout performance and make me look foolish for putting him in the sit column.
But Mayfield just hasn’t been reliable this season. Until that changes, there are no shortage of better quarterbacks for your starting lineup.
Sit: WR Chris Godwin Jr.
With Emeka Egbuka out, naturally, you might consider giving Godwin a chance in your starting lineup.
But Godwin hasn’t crossed 50 yards in a game this year, and has yet to score a touchdown. He hasn’t scored 10 fantasy points a single time this season, and has overall been a major disappointment. That trend won’t change this week.
Not to mention, the Bucs have embraced a run-first identity after attempting just 11 passes last week. Keep Godwin on the bench, and even consider sending him to waivers.
Start: RB Bucky Irving
Bucky Irving has been boom or bust, scoring over 20 fantasy points in three out of seven games but also scoring less than 8 points three times.
The Falcons boast the NFL’s No. 4 rushing defense, so this is not a favorable matchup for Irving.
However, he’s touched the ball at least 15 times in every game this season, and that volume gives him high fantasy upside.
The Bucs’ gameplan will certainly be to go run heavy as they try to win the time of possession battle and keep the explosive Falcons offense off the field.
If Tampa Bay’s offensive line can win the battle in the trenches for the second straight week, Irving will capitalize with another huge game.
Sneaky Start: TE Cade Otton (if you’re desperate)
Otton is ice cold, with just four catches for 29 yards over the last three weeks. You might be thinking I’m crazy for suggesting him as a sneaky starting option, but hear me out.
The Falcons allow the ninth-ranked fantasy points to opposing tight ends. They’ve allowed four touchdowns to tight ends this year and have been gashed the last two weeks by George Kittle and Colston Loveland.
With Emeka Egbuka out as previously mentioned and Chris Godwin not expected to make much of an impact, it could be Otton that emerges as Baker Mayfield’s top target in the passing game.
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