Godwin sees just 3 targets in Week 2 loss

Godwin’s eight targets today go down as a season-high, but he failed to make much of his opportunities, per usual. The veteran wideout hasn’t hit 50 receiving yards in a game this year and is still looking for his first touchdown of the season. With Emeka Egbuka pulling away as the team’s WR1, there isn’t much volume headed Godwin’s way. With Jalon Daniels likely to make another start next week, Godwin is tumbling down the WR4 ranks ahead of Week 7.

Godwin’s three targets finished tied for fourth on the team behind Emeka Egbuka, Cade Otton, and Kenny Gainwell on a night backup quarterback Jalon Daniels attempted only 25 passes. Week 5 now marks the fourth game in five tries in which Godwin was held to four targets or fewer, leaving the veteran wide receiver completely unusable in a fantasy setting, for the time being. He can safely be stashed on benches ahead of a Week 6 meeting with the Steelers.

UDFA rookie Jalon Daniels made his first career start and leaned on Godwin for some easy completions. Godwin led the team in catches and targets, though Cade Otton surprisingly led the way in yards with 37. Godwin set new season highs in targets and catches. The Bucs are operating an incredibly low-wattage offense without Baker Mayfield, but Godwin could continue to see enough work to return WR4 numbers in PPR leagues. He will put that to the test versus the Cowboys in Week 5.

Godwin was a full participant for two straight days after a Wednesday DNP. The insertion of Jalon Daniels makes him (well, makes every Buccaneers player) hard to trust for Week 4, but Godwin is probably still in the FLEX conversation.

Godwin should be expected to play in Week 4 against the Packers at this point, although he has mostly underperformed thus far. Buccaneers OC Zac Robinson said earlier that Godwin Jr. “is a stud and will continue to do his thing. The ball will find him.” That might be harder than one imagines with an undrafted free agent rookie at quarterback.

It will likely go down as a limited session for the veteran wideout, but Godwin should be on track to play in Week 4. The bad news is that he will do so with UDFA rookie Jalon Daniels as his quarterback. Godwin was already off to a slow start, and things aren’t likely to improve with a backup quarterback under center. He is low-wattage FLEX play for Week 4.

Godwin’s history of lower-leg injuries makes this a little bit concerning. The veteran wide receiver is already set to catch passes from a backup quarterback. If active, he may be playing on an injured ankle. He can only be viewed as a boom-bust FLEX at this time.

Godwin had a long touchdown grab called back on a holding penalty in the second half — a deflating moment for the Bucs in their comeback attempt against the elite Minnesota defense. Godwin was third on the team in targets on a low-volume day for the Tampa offense. Godwin, who has ten receptions over three games this year, won’t have much fantasy appeal going forward if Baker Mayfield’s hand/thumb injury proves to be of the long-term variety.

With sacks and turnovers short-circuiting the Bucs’ offense, Godwin and company were limited to 52 total plays. Godwin was out-targeted 6-4 by Emeka Egbuka, but was on the field for 49-of-57 snaps in Jalen McMillan’s absence. Not that we would expect McMillan to cut into Godwin’s playing time upon his return. One of Godwin’s grabs produced a vicious stiff arm. He’s looking like a legitimate WR3 heading into Week 2 against the Browns.

It’s McMillan, not rookie WR Ted Hurst III, who’s listed as a starter alongside Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka ahead of Tampa’s Week 1 game against the Bengals. Hurst, the tallest of the Bucs wideouts, has by all accounts impressed Bucs players and coaches throughout the offseason and should have some kind of role in the team’s passing attack to start the year. It could be a while before Hurst takes on a more prominent role, however. Bucs general manager Jason Licht said last week that Hurst, 22, has “proven to us throughout camp, even OTAs, practice every day that he’s been very, very steady...it’s kind of evolved into okay, we can use him this year and he’s going to play a role.” Hurst can be stashed in deeper fantasy formats for now. McMillan is unlikely to be a factor in the Tampa offense after once again struggling with injuries this offseason.