NFL Week 9 FTN Staff Bets
FTN Staff
It’s time to look ahead to the 2023 NFL season! Follow along with all our fantasy football team offseason roundups here.
It’s been a very busy NFL offseason, with free agent signings, coaching change, and several new players entering the league via the NFL Draft. As we prepare for the 2023 fantasy football season, it’s critical to have a full understanding of each team’s offseason moves. Our NFL Team Roundup Series continues today with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
2023 NFL Team Roundup: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2022 Results
Record: 8-9, 1st in NFC South
Season End: Lost 31-14 in Wild Card Round to Dallas
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Summary
Draft
1.19: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
2.48: Cody Mauch, OT, NDSU
3.82: YaYa Diaby, DE, Louisville
5.153: SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pittsburgh
5.171: Payne Durham, TE, Purdue
6.181: Josh Hayes, CB, Kansas State
6.192: Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska
6.196: Jose Ramirez, OLB, Eastern Michigan
Calijah Kancey, DT (1.19)
For the second consecutive year, the Buccaneers take a defensive tackle with their first pick. Very disruptive and athletic player, who had a superior career at Pittsburgh. The only question is his size at 6-foot-1, 280 pounds, but draws comparisons to three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald.
Cody Mauch, OT (2.48)
Cody Mauch will have a chance to compete immediately for a starting spot, either at guard or tackle. Mauch is a converted tight end, which provides excellent lateral mobility.
Payne Durham, TE (5.171)
The third tight end Tampa Bay has drafted in the past two seasons, but the release of veteran Cameron Brate leaves an open depth spot. His 21 career touchdowns at Purdue ranks second all time at the position.
Trey Palmer, WR (6.192)
The Buccaneers need speed, and Palmer brings 4.33 wheels from Nebraska.
Additions
Free agent signings: QB Baker Mayfield, QB John Wolford, RB Chase Edmonds, OG Matt Feiler, DT Greg Gaines, K Chase McLaughlin
Baker Mayfield, QB
The former first-overall pick signs with Tampa Bay after the retirement of Tom Brady. Will he play well enough to hold off second-year quarterback Kyle Trask?
Chase Edmonds, RB
Versatile pass-catching running back has never fulfilled promise flashed with Arizona. Split last season with Miami and Denver.
Joins Tampa Bay after making all 21 extra point attempts and 30 of 36 field goals with Indianapolis last season.
Departures
QB Tom Brady, QB Blaine Gabbert, RB Giovani Bernard, RB Leonard Fournette, WR Julio Jones, WR Scott Miller, WR Breshad Perriman, TE Cameron Brate, TE Kyle Rudolph, OT Josh Wells, OT Donovan Smith, OG Shaq Mason, Edge Carl Nassib, DL William Gholston, DL Akiem Hicks, DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, S Mike Edwards, S Keanu Neal, S Logan Ryan, K Ryan Succop
Tom Brady, QB
The GOAT, Brady ends his career at the age of 45, delivering a championship to the Buccaneers in the 2022 season.
The 28-year-old Fournette posted three solid years in Tampa Bay, with over 1,000 total yards in each of the past two seasons.
Julio Jones, WR
The future Hall of Famer never found his stride with the Buccaneers, catching just 24 passes and two touchdowns in 10 games.
Shaq Mason, OG
The two-time Super Bowl Champion was traded to Houston.
Akiem Hicks, DL
Now 33 years old, the elite run-stopper currently remains a free agent.
Keanu Neal, S
The former 2017 Pro Bowler signed with Pittsburgh.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fantasy Outlook
The four most interesting Buccaneers fantasy options:
Mike Evans, WR
I talked about my thoughts on Mike Evans in this year’s NFC South Prop Bets article. There has not been a more consistent wideout over the past decade, with nine straight seasons of 1,000 yards receiving. The obstacle for a 10th is quarterback play.
Chris Godwin, WR
Chris Godwin dominates the short to intermediate routes of the field, which could be a favorite target of Baker Mayfield this season.
Rachaad White, RB
A huge opportunity awaits last year’s third-round pick from Arizona State. Rachaad White brings 4.48 speed and 50 receptions from last season.
Baker Mayfield, QB
Could we all be underrating the 28-year-old Baker Mayfield in his sixth NFL season? Including veteran Russell Gage, this is the best trio of wideouts he has ever thrown to in his career.
2023 Outlook
DraftKings Sportsbook Wins Over/Under: 6.5 Wins (+120, -140)
NFC South odds: +800
Despite their talent at wide receiver and running back, there is a strong possibility Tampa Bay goes into tanking mode after a slow start. Mayfield is not the long-term answer, and the Buccaneers could turn to Trask if they struggle in the first half of 2022. There is a lot of roster turnover, especially on the defensive front. With at least two elite quarterbacks (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye) projected to go early in the 2024 NFL Draft, there is much skepticism surrounding the Buccaneers win total. Despite the -140 juice, I would look to under 6.5 wins as the bet. I would even bet an alternate line (under 4.5 wins, +240) before I even considered Tampa Bay as an NFC South future.
Their schedule ranks in the middle of the league (17th) per projected opposing Vegas win totals, but New Orleans and Atlanta rank easiest and second-easiest by that same measurement. With the Falcons, Saints and Panthers all projected to be improved, it’s difficult to find a successful season in Tampa Bay’s range of outcomes.
