Daniels leans on Godwin in first career start

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.

The Bucs main slot receiver saw some early involvement but was invisible for most of the second half as the Bucs pushed the ball downfield. Godwin, who now has 86 yards on seven grabs through two games, is a WR4 option in a struggling Tampa offense. Until Baker Mayfield improves, Godwin should stay on benches in most fantasy formats, especially against the formidable Minnesota defense in Week 3.

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.

Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reported the three lead Buccaneers receivers got the day off Tuesday. For Godwin, it is a veteran maintenance day as he aims to open the season fully healthy; expect him to see more maintenance days heading into preseason. Egbuka and McMillan are dealing with lower-body soreness and were held out of practice out of precaution. Ultimately, no major injury concerns as the Bucs play it safe with their top three wideouts in training camp.

With former Buccaneers WR Mike Evans now a 49er, Godwin is the veteran in Tampa Bay’s wide receiver corps. Godwin was leading the NFL with 50 receptions when he fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle in 2024. It was a significant, season-ending injury that required an intense offseason rehab program, and his lower leg remained an issue for much of 2025. This year, however, Godwin’s offseason has been spent training, not recovering. A solid bounce-back season is within his range of potential outcomes, especially with the targets Evans vacated up for grabs. Godwin is currently the WR40 by PPR ADP. While he may lack the high-end upside he once possessed, that ADP sure looks like decent value.