NFC South Team Previews

OWS Fam,

In today’s Daily Dose we dive into the NFC South.

Over the next 5 days we will be delivering the final 5 divisions to your inbox.

Tuesday: NFC North
Wednesday: AFC East
Thursday: AFC West
Friday: AFC South
Saturday: AFC North

Find the NFC East and NFC West previews here: https://owsdailydose.beehiiv.com/

Team Previews are written by Mike Johnson

ATLANTA FALCONS

Coaching/Philosophy/Scheme Changes ::

• Offense: Atlanta mercifully relieved Arthur Smith of his head coaching duties after the 2023 season. After hiring a defensive minded head coach, the Falcons hired Zac Robinson to run their offense. Robinson was previously the passing game coordinator for the Rams.

• Defense: New Head coach Raheem Morris has previous head coaching experience with the Bucs and worked most recently as the defensive coordinator of the Rams. Morris will be involved on the defensive side of the ball and brought many co-workers from the Rams with him.

Personnel Changes ::

• Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke are out at QB. Kirk Cousins is coming off a torn Achilles and signed a massive contract, while the Falcons used the eighth overall pick on 24-year-old QB Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington.

• Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier are back to lead the Falcons backfield which is now without Cordarrelle Patterson.

• Drake London could finally flourish in a more pass-centric offense with the best QB play of his career. The Falcons expected starting WR group will likely include free-agent acquisitions Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore.

• Kyle Pitts should be back to full health in an improved offensive environment and he no longer has to share the TE work with Jonnu Smith.

Schedule ::

• Divisional Games (6)::

  • CAR x2, NO x2, TB x2

• NFC East (4)::

  • @ PHI, @ WAS, vs. NYG, vs. DAL

• AFC West (4)::

  • @ LVR, @ DEN, vs. KC, vs. LAC

• Other (3)::

  • Vs. SEA, vs. PIT, @ MIN

Bull Case ::

The Falcons offense is loaded with talent at the skill positions, and regardless of the mess they’ve created for themselves by selecting Penix, their QB play will be drastically improved from 2023. Zac Robinson comes from the Rams and the Sean McVay coaching tree. The Rams run primarily 11-personnel (3 WR, 1 RB, 1 TE) and are known for playing their core skill group at very high snap rates which is a big deviation from Arthur Smith’s tendency to rotate personnel often. This feels like a match made in heaven, as Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts should all be on the field for almost every play and have their skill sets used appropriately and creatively. Robinson is more explosive and talented than Kyren Williams and could easily have a similar role for the Falcons to what Williams had in 2023 with the Rams. Tyler Allgeier isn’t going away completely and would be a high-end RB any week Bijan is out, but Bijan has overall RB1 squarely in his range of outcomes. Darnell Mooney fits perfectly as a field stretcher that works opposite London, while Rondale Moore is a talented and explosive player who never seemed to “fit” right with the Cardinals for a variety of reasons. He could blossom working as an explosive slot receiver and movable chess piece who benefits from all the attention the “Big 3” will draw for the Falcons. 

Kirk Cousins is the perfect QB to open things up for this offense, and Zac Robinson inserting the Rams scheme should be great for everyone. We should also note that Cousins has experience in this system from his time in Washington and playing under Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota. He should hit the ground running and have no trouble acclimating to his new surroundings. The upside scenario here is that the pieces fit together perfectly and Cousins is able to recover from his injury and return to the form he had at the start of the 2024 season. There is rightfully a lot of negativity around the Falcons after their selection of Penix at #8 overall, but make no mistake, this offense has the potential to be one of the best in the league in 2024.

Bear Case ::

The Falcons are seemingly set up for a big 2024, but the downside is that Kirk Cousins is 35 years old and coming off a major injury. The selection of Penix puts a lot of uncertainty around the recovery of Cousins and many draft experts had a lot of questions about Penix as an NFL prospect. While the Falcons will almost certainly have better QB play in 2024 regardless of how this plays out, the questions around the position cast a cloud around the team’s ability to hit their upside scenario. Likewise, offensive coordinator Robinson will have to be creative and adjust his scheme to fit his personnel to maximize it. London and Pitts are different players in terms of their skill sets and strengths compared to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. While the “talent” is there, there is a chance that the fit isn’t quite right if Robinson doesn’t build in the right concepts to fully unlock those two dynamic young talents. Again, even the “Bear Case” for Atlanta is an improvement from last season, but considering the steep draft costs of the players involved it is very much in their range of outcomes to disappoint. The “worst case” scenario for this offense would be a setback in the recovery of Cousins, which thrusts Penix into a starting role before he is ready for it, and it doesn’t give Robinson a chance to acclimate and adjust to his new weapons. A relatively soft division and schedule could also leave Atlanta willing to play conservatively and racking up wins if Cousins is less than 100% or Penix is forced into action.

Expectations/Takeaways ::

The Falcons could be one of the most exciting teams in the NFL in 2024 and I am here for it. Bijan Robinson is my pick to be the RB1, and assuming Cousins is the starter for the majority of this season, and considering what TJ Hockenson did last season, I wouldn’t be shocked if Kyle Pitts is a top-3 TE. I also love the fits of Mooney and Moore as complementary pieces that will have some games where they disappear but should have a couple of explosive performances and benefit from the rising tide of a potentially elite offense. Atlanta’s schedule is relatively favorable and Robinson should be an aggressive play caller like McVay, giving us reason to believe the Falcons will have several high scoring games this season after failing to score 30 points in a game last season. The Falcons defense should be solid, but not elite, meaning that they will be in a position to win a lot of games but should have to score points and keep their foot on the gas to do so. If Cousins is healthy, things could really get interesting as he may be playing with a chip on his shoulder after the Falcons added Penix. Atlanta should be really fun to watch and have a lot of storylines in 2024.

Mid-August Update ::

• Kirk Cousins is healthy and playing well at camp. He sounds like he is building nice rapport with his weapons and it is an exciting time to be invested in this offense.

• We have heard from the Falcons that they want to use Bijan Robinson like the 49ers use Christian McCaffrey, but we have also heard that they want to keep Tyler Allgeier “significantly involved”. Both of these things can’t be true. After CMC, I believe Bijan has the best chance of finishing as the overall RB1 this season. Allgeier is one of the highest contingent value bets you can make in the later rounds of drafts.

• Drake London and Kyle Pitts should be ready to explode with competent QB play and more aggressive play calling.

• Darnell Mooney should have some spike weeks this season with his explosive skill set and the defensive attention that the “Big 3” of Robinson, London and Pitts should draw. 

• Rondale Moore has been placed on season-ending injured reserve due to the non-contact knee injury he suffered in an Aug. 7 practice, further clearing the path to the WR3 role for Ray-Ray McCloud.

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CAROLINA PANTHERS

Coaching/Philosophy/Scheme Changes ::

• Offense: The Panthers ended the Frank Reich experience after less than one season and will now be led by first-time head coach Dave Canales, who was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Bucs.

• Defense: Ejiro Evero returns to the Panthers as their defensive coordinator despite the head coaching change. Evero’s defense was actually better than you would think in 2023 considering the overall team dynamics, ranking 25th in defensive DVOA and 6th in opponents yards per play.

Personnel Changes ::

• Bryce Young returns at QB hoping for a sophomore breakout with an improved supporting cast and a head coach who was largely responsible for the career rejuvenations of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield.

• Carolina drafted explosive rookie running back Jonathon Brooks in the second round of the draft and expects him to be their long-term answer at the position. That being said, Brooks tore his ACL on November 11th and his status for training camp and the start of the season are in question. Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard led the backfield last season and both are still currently on the roster.

• Carolina added Diontae Johnson and first-round rookie Xavier Legette to their WR corps this offseason. They also return veteran Adam Thielen and disappointing 2023 second-round pick Jonathan Mingo. There are a few other replacement level WRs on their current roster who will fight it out for the final spots on the roster in training camp.

• Tommy Tremble would appear to be the current “favorite” to operate as the starter at TE among the returning veterans but the Panthers did add intriguing rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders with the first pick in the fourth round. 

Schedule ::

• Divisional Games (6)::

  • ATL x2, NO x2, TB x2

• NFC East (4)::

  • @ WAS, @ PHI, vs. DAL, vs. NYG

• AFC West (4)::

  • @ LVR, @ DEN, vs. KC, vs. LAC

• Other (3)::

  • @ CHI, vs. ARI, @ CIN

Bull Case ::

Diontae Johnson was added via trade and should help them immediately, as he gets more separation than any receiver who was on the Panthers roster last season. Carolina also added a physical playmaker in the first round of the draft when they selected South Carolina WR Xavier Legette. Veteran receiver Adam Thielen is still in town and will be involved as a security blanket for Young but at this point in his career, he should be more effective in a secondary role behind Johnson and Legette. Carolina also added an impressive prospect at running back when they selected Jonathon Brooks with the 46th pick. Brooks tore his ACL in November, otherwise, he would have probably been a first round pick. Finally, Ja’Tavion Sanders was added to give Carolina a potentially explosive option at TE for the first time in a long time. 

The additions of Johnson, Legette, Brooks, and Sanders show a commitment to surrounding Young with a better supporting cast and give him a fighting chance. The Panthers offense was an absolute train wreck in 2023, as their lack of premium talent combined with a dysfunctional front office and coaching staff put Carolina on the fast track to the worst record in the league. Canales has an incredible energy about him and appears to be more of a “player’s coach” than Reich. Likewise, his ability to get the most out of his quarterbacks and tailor his scheme to his players would seem to be a drastic improvement for the prospects of this offense. Carolina’s offense will be better by default this season but they have a chance to truly make a huge turnaround if Canales can work his magic one more time with a disappointing former first-round pick.

Bear Case ::

From my 2023 Carolina Panthers Team Preview:

To sum up the “Bear Case” for the Panthers, there is a chance Reich’s offensive system was as much of the problem the last couple of years as the personnel. Young is an undersized quarterback who would not be considered for the #1 pick in many drafts and will be playing with a supporting cast that lacks elite athleticism or talent. Adding to that, the “favorable schedule” argument could work against the fantasy outlook for the Panthers as they could end up being able to be competitive in a bunch of low scoring, “grind it out” type of games that end up limiting scoring. There is a very real chance that Carolina got out over their skis with what they gave up in their quest to answer their questions at quarterback and have taken one step forward and two steps back, or at the very least that this offense is a year or two away from moving out of the lower echelon of the league. 

That “Bear Case” played out basically as described last year. Reich’s offense was unimaginative and predictable, while the concerns about Young’s stature showed in a big way. Perhaps the biggest issue was that they surrounded Young with such a limited group of skill players. The Bear Case for 2024 is honestly not that much different, as the skill group is definitely improved but still filled with question marks and there’s no guarantee that any of their new additions can be the “alpha” in a good offense:

• Legette has some impressive traits but also some very concerning advanced metrics from college that had many draft experts pegging him as closer to a third-round player rather than a first-rounder.

• Johnson has never been an “explosive” player and could end up just being a fancy version of what Adam Thielen was last year.

• Thielen is another year older and second-year WR Jonathan Mingo had one of the worst rookie seasons I can remember.

• Brooks is coming off a significant knee injury and Ja’Tavion Sanders plays a position (TE) that generally takes a couple of years to make an impact, especially for Day 3 draft picks.

Finally, while it was only one year and we’ve seen guys like Trevor Lawrence bounce back from rough starts, the biggest concern is that the Panthers “broke” him with their dysfunction in his rookie season. When you look back at players like Sam Darnold who were highly touted but put in such difficult situations that sidetracked their careers, it is hard not to worry about the same for Young. Canales had success in his last two stops but had some truly impressive physical specimens at his disposal at the skill positions: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Kenneth Walker in Seattle and Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Tampa. He will have to do more with less in Carolina and reverse the damage that was done to Young. Another bottom five offensive season from the Panthers is very much in play.

Expectations/Takeaways ::

Bryce Young had a lot of positive traits for a quarterback entering the league, but his lack of physical size and his overall skill set is one that needs talent around it to work. In 2023, the Panthers surrounded him with a group of players who may have had a little name recognition but lacked any game-breakers. When “haters” try to downplay the success of Brock Purdy with the 49ers, this is what they are talking about. I don’t think there is a huge difference in physical or mental ability between Purdy and Young. Purdy is surrounded by explosive difference making skill players and has one of the top offensive minds of the modern game calling plays and teaching him, while Young’s situation is on the opposite end of the spectrum. 

The upside scenario for Carolina will largely be dependent on the development of Legette and the health of Brooks, as their explosive physicality is exactly what this team needs. Johnson can be a target hog who can create easy looks for Young, and Thielen will be dependable in an ancillary role, but whether this offense thrives or not will depend on whether the Panthers have “the guys” to compete on a weekly basis. A popular saying in the coaching world is “sometimes, it’s about the Jimmy’s and Joe’s, not the X’s and O’s” . . . meaning you can do everything right from a coaching standpoint, but if you don’t have the talent, it might not matter. Carolina will be better in 2024 but how much better will depend on the “Jimmy’s and Joe’s.” As for the Best Ball perspective on these guys, all of them are priced very low and there is a ton of room for profit. This is exactly the type of team that I am willing to take some shots on as long as their ADPs stay reasonable. They fit better as a team stack on Drafters than they do on Draftkings and Underdog.

Mid-August Update ::

• Bryce Young seems more comfortable in the Dave Canales offense and has better weapons. He won’t be benched and has good coaching and solid weapons, so he’s a solid pick for rosters that are taking two or three QBs.

• Rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) may start the season on the PUP list and miss at least 3 or 4 weeks. This puts Chuba Hubbard in line to open the year as a starting RB and gives a glimmer of hope to the Miles Sanders truthers out there.

• Reports are that Diontae Johnson, who’s currently dealing with what appears to be a minor groin injury, could soak up a ton of targets in this offense with questions around the rest of the skill players.

• Rookie Xavier Legette could be a tremendous asset for the Panthers with his athletic attributes and physicality. After some hamstring injuries early this summer, he has been healthy so far in camp.

• One-time second-round picks Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall have reportedly been playing great at training camp and could figure in the mix as well.

• Rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders is our best bet for fantasy production from the tight end position. Injuries to his competition have given him opportunities that he has reportedly done very well with.

________________________________________________________________________________

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Coaching/Philosophy/Scheme Changes ::

• Offense: New Orleans has a new offensive coordinator for 2024 with Klint Kubiak coming over from the 49ers, where he was their passing game coordinator last season.

• Defense: Dennis Allen was the Saints defensive coordinator for seven seasons prior to taking over as the head coach in 2022. Allen is still heavily involved in the defense and the Saints should have a similar scheme in 2024.

Personnel Changes ::

• Derek Carr will return as the Saints starting QB as his contract leaves them little flexibility to make a change. They did draft Spencer Rattler out of South Carolina in the fifth round as a developmental prospect.

• Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, and Kendre Miller are all set to return for the Saints backfield. Williams was ineffective last year, which should leave Kamara and Miller to lead the backfield as explosive, multi-dimensional backs. Taysom Hill will obviously factor into the backfield some weeks as well.

• Chris Olave is the clear “alpha” in the Saints WR room, with explosive playmaker Rashid Shaheed continuing to grow as a player. A.T. Perry and Equanimeous St. Brown both fit the mold of a big-bodied receiving complement and will fight it out in camp for that spot, while free agent acquisition Cedric Wilson will hope to find a depth spot.

• Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill return as the top tight end options this year, while Foster Moreau could also see some work as he returns to full health.

Schedule ::

• Divisional Games (6)::

  • ATL x2, CAR x2, TB x2

• NFC East (4)::

  • vs. PHI, vs. WAS, @ DAL, @ NYG

• AFC West (4)::

  • vs. LVR, vs. DEN, @ KC, @ LAC

• Other (3)::

  • vs. LAR, vs. CLE, @ GB

Bull Case ::

The Saints were very close to a division title and have a lot of stability in the organization as they return all of their core skill players from 2023. One of the most underrated things in pro sports is continuity and the Saints have that in their personnel. On the flip side, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak could help infuse some much needed juice to this Saints offense as well. The team is certainly not lacking for explosiveness, with three legit factors out of the backfield (Kamara, Hill, and Miller) as well as two downfield threats (Olave and Shaheed) and an emerging tight end threat in Juwan Johnson. 

The division is still weak and Derek Carr is capable of being a good QB, especially when he is in the right situation. The Saints should be able to give him easier situations this year, and removing Jameis Winston from the situation and the resulting uncertainty around the QB position, it could help him perform at a higher level as well. Turning Olave into a true “Alpha” wide receiver and unlocking the explosiveness of Miller and Shaheed will be critical for the Saints offense to take a step forward, and Kubiak was the perfect hire for the job. 

Bear Case ::

As usual in the NFL, the fate of the offense largely depends on the quarterback position. When Carr is good, he can support a strong offense and make the plays in front of him. He has had a lot of great stretches in his career but he’s also done some head scratching things. Last season with the Saints he had some very tough stretches, and from a football perspective, many expected them to move on from him. However, due to a mismanaged salary cap and an albatross of a contract, the Saints had no choice but to bring him back and actually give him more job security than he had in 2023. That’s a bold choice.

While the Saints skill group looks solid on paper, there are some questions around the “fit” with the new offense and where some of these players are at in their careers. The Saints have relied on Kamara and Taysom in recent years, but both are hitting a breaking point in their age where we should expect their performance to take a downturn. Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson are very talented receivers, but don’t really fit the “mold” of Aiyuk // Deebo // Kittle who were elite after the catch and with the ball in their hands. The downside scenario for this offense is pretty clear, as they are using a QB they are “stuck” with and have a questionable match between their offensive weapons and philosophy and scheme. Things could take a bad turn in a hurry if they aren’t able to sort through some of these issues, and head coach Dennis Allen could be one of the first coaches on the hot seat if the Saints struggle in what is largely considered the worst division in the NFL.

Expectations/Takeaways ::

The Saints are likely to end up in a very similar position as they did last season – enough talent and coaching to not be a bottom feeder, but lacking the ability to compete with top end teams, and occasionally losing some ugly ones to some bad teams. Something in the six to eight win range is extremely likely, with the offense being extremely opponent dependent – beating up on the bad defenses and getting throttled by the good ones.

• Derek Carr is an interesting option in Best Ball, going extremely late for a QB with a relatively high degree of job security and a reasonable cast of weapons.

• The Saints backfield is tough to figure out, but my general expectation is that Kamara and Miller will be the players to target with Taysom being less involved than in years past. Kamara is appropriately priced, but Miller is one of my favorite running back targets in the later rounds. He is healthier than he was a year ago and his competition is a year older and less effective, while the scheme change should help him as well. I would expect Kendre Miller to be one of my highest owned players in 2024 Best Ball.

• Chris Olave is very talented but probably won’t join the elite tier of WRs until he gets a QB upgrade. He is once again being drafted around the 2/3 turn in Best Ball drafts, a spot at which I won’t avoid him but also won’t go out of my way to force him onto rosters.

• Rashid Shaheed is a perfect pick in the double digit rounds of Best Ball drafts, and I am highly intrigued by the pairing of his skill set with Kubiak’s offense. He had three games of 18+ PPR points in 2023 and should have a bigger role in a better offense this year.

• Juwan Johnson (4) and Taysom Hill (7) combined for 11 games of double digit PPR points in 2023. They are very cheap in drafts and if the Saints offense takes a step forward, they are both in great spots to provide value individually or by drafting them together on Best Ball teams.

Mid-August Update ::

• Derek Carr is still set to be the starting QB until further notice.

• Kendre Miller hurt his hamstring on Day 1 of training camp and his ADP has plummeted down near 200 on some sites after his coach floated the idea that he could get cut. He just turned 22 and has dynamic traits, making it hard for me to believe he doesn’t make a team. He’s exactly the kind of “left for dead” ADP faller in August that could be a game-changer in December.

• Alvin Kamara should be the clear lead RB and Jamaal Williams could be involved as well if Miller’s injuries persist.

• Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are the clear top two WRs on this team, but A.T. Perry has lost control of the WR3 job. Several other players are in the mix, with undrafted Mason Tipton drawing rave reviews from several beat writers.

• Juwan Johnson broke his foot in early June and has been out since then. He is ramping up his rehab and sounds relatively close to a return, potentially by the start of the season. Johnson had 14+ PPR points in three of his last eight games last season, making him a terrific dart throw in the 18th or 19th rounds of drafts.

• Taysom Hill’s versatility keeps him intriguing in all formats. He had seven games last year with double-digit PPR points, and thanks to Johnson’s injury and the questions in the backfield, he could be more utilized in 2024.

________________________________________________________________________________

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Coaching/Philosophy/Scheme Changes ::

• Offense: Dave Canales is headed to Carolina as their head coach and has been replaced by Liam Coen as offensive coordinator. Coen is a young coach who was the offensive coordinator for the University of Kentucky last year and the Rams the year before that.

• Defense: Todd Bowles remains the Bucs head coach and has been in charge of their defense for the past five seasons (three as defensive coordinator).

Dave Canales did a great job maximizing the Bucs offense and rejuvenating Baker Mayfield last season. Coen is young and low on experience, with his one season as an NFL head coach not going well for the Rams in 2022. However, that was the Rams “rebuilding year” where they dealt with a plethora of injuries. We should expect his offense to be some combination of the concepts he learned under McVay along with things that worked last year for Canales.

Personnel Changes ::

• Baker Mayfield is firmly entrenched as the Bucs starting QB after leading them to a divisional win and a playoff upset over the Eagles last season, before nearly defeating the Lions on the road in the Divisional round.

• Rachaad White had a workhorse RB role in 2023 and survived both free agency and the draft without Tampa adding any significant competition. Fourth-round rookie Bucky Irving could serve as his top backup.

• Mike Evans and Chris Godwin return as the top two wide receivers for the Bucs and should operate as target hogs once again. Trey Palmer and third-round pick Jalen McMillan will battle it out for the WR3 role.

• Cade Otton had a nice second season for the Bucs and should once again be their top option at the position.

Schedule ::

• Divisional Games (6)::

  • ATL x2, CAR x2, NO x2

• NFC East (4)::

  • vs. PHI, vs. WAS, @ DAL, @ NYG

• AFC West (4)::

  • vs. LVR, vs. DEN, @ KC, @ LAC

• Other (3)::

  • @ DET, vs. SF, vs. BAL

Bull Case ::

The Bucs got it together and Baker Mayfield proved a lot of haters wrong last season. They have talented players and organizational stability, two things that put you in a position to succeed. While they lost Dave Canales, the recipe for success should be pretty apparent and look very similar this year. The Bucs showed last season what their offense is capable of and really seemed to hit their stride down the stretch, scoring 29+ points in four of their last seven games and combining for 55 points in their two playoff games. Considering the Bucs only scored 29+ points once in their first 12 games, it is very possible that we are still undervaluing them. We saw a similar end to the 2022 season for the 49ers where they were scoring 30+ points in every game and that continued into 2023. I’m not saying the Bucs are going to be dominant to that degree but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bucs are able to continue operating as a top-10 offense in 2024 which would be a fantasy goldmine considering their condensed offensive usage.

Bear Case ::

The Bucs lack depth and their “workhorse” RB was not very efficient as a runner, while the coach who helped turned their QB’s career around is out of town. The Bucs also ran extremely hot with regard to injuries, as all of their top five offensive players (Mayfield, White, Evans, Godwin, Otton) played in every game last season. It is easy to see how their performance in 2023 could be viewed as their highest range of outcomes and how fragile relying on that can be for us looking forward. It is extremely rare for all of a team’s starters to make it through an NFL season without any injuries, so we can feel pretty confident Tampa Bay won’t be quite as lucky this season. Their lack of depth could easily be exposed and tank the overall output of the offense. Another concerning factor is that they have a very tough schedule as they face the teams with the four best records in the NFC from 2023, along with the AFC’s #1 seed Baltimore and the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.

Expectations/Takeaways ::

This offense returns all of its core pieces and should be relatively predictable on a weekly basis as long as everyone is healthy. In 2023, the trio of Evans, Godwin, and White consistently combined for solid production with one or two of them posting a usable score basically every week. While the price tags have risen this year, creating more downside, the outlook still remains solid, and in a league where so many teams are surrounded by unknowns, the Bucs provide a comforting level of predictability.

• Rachaad White survived all of 2023 without significant competition being added and seems to have done the same for 2024. After working his way into a monster role last year (his 336 touches were second in the NFL), White seems primed for another massive workload.

• Evans and Godwin both saw 130+ targets last season, with Evans significantly outperforming Godwin due to the nature of his more downfield role as opposed to the possession type of routes Godwin runs. Both are still in great spots for this year, but Evans is no longer coming at a discount.

• Cade Otton had a solid 2023 season, which was highlighted by two great performances in the playoffs. He was basically free in Best Ball drafts last season but will require more draft capital to acquire this season. He’s still a solid pick, especially in team stacks.

• Mayfield had a really nice season last year and I enjoyed drafting him late in drafts. That being said, his price tag has risen significantly this year and I probably won’t end up with much. He lost the coach who got him to perform at that high level and is now being priced around QBs with much higher ceilings (Watson, Maye, Herbert, Lawrence). Sometimes, my approach is as simple as “buy low, sell high.”

Mid-August Update ::

• Rachaad White remains the top RB option with rookie Bucky Irving potentially providing a spark as well.

• Chris Godwin is moving into the “Cooper Kupp role” according to his offensive coordinator, who was previously with the Rams. I believe Godwin could be in store for a career year.

• Rookie Jalen McMillan has been terrific in training camp and seized the WR3 role by all accounts. McMillan and TE Cade Otton should have volatile roles behind Evans and Godwin but will undoubtedly have some very usable weeks.