Winner: Deven Thompkins
Chris Godwin finally had a breakout game, finishing with over 100 yards and leading the team in receptions, but the receiver everyone is going to be talking about is Deven Thompkins.
Thompkins racked up 45 yards on four catches and was the second-most targeted player on the afternoon. Baker looked his way four times and Thomkins reeled in every single pass, one of which was a diving catch for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. On that play, Thompkins got open and fully extended to make a highlight reel catch that served as the perfect exclamation point on his fantastic afternoon.
WOW!! Diving TD catch by Deven Thompkins 🤯🙌
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 1, 2023
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/ilqKZW1XMd
Chris Godwin finally had a breakout game, finishing with over 100 yards and leading the team in receptions, but the receiver everyone is going to be talking about is Deven Thompkins.
Thompkins racked up 45 yards on four catches and was the second-most targeted player on the afternoon. Baker looked his way four times and Thomkins reeled in every single pass, one of which was a diving catch for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. On that play, Thompkins got open and fully extended to make a highlight reel catch that served as the perfect exclamation point on his fantastic afternoon.
He was also used on a jet sweep that gained 11 yards earlier in the game and helped keep the Bucs offense in rhythm. Thompkins was an undrafted free agent last season who made the team thanks in large part of his special teams ability, but he turned in what was easily the best game of his career on Sunday.
Tampa Bay lost Mike Evans in the second quarter to a hamstring injury, but the fact that the passing game didn't take a hit is thanks in large part to the efforts of players like Thompkins. Trey Palmer deserves his flowers for an incredible touchdown catch before halftime, but it's Thompkins who arguably had the best day of any offensive skill position player thanks to the context in which his plays were made.
He's become a bit of a fan favorite thanks to the flips he does when the Bucs are in victory formation, and he had plenty to celebrate on Sunday in New Orleans.