Team news: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Page 15

A QB change: Panthers will start QB Sam Darnold vs. the Broncos on Sunday.

Related players: P.J. Walker, Baker Mayfield

It will be a tough matchup against the Broncos for Darnold. And, it will tough to expect a lot more to the Panthers offense with this QB change, but it's worth noting for those in deeper supflex or two QB leagues. Owners of D.J. Moore can always hope this change will be the one to get him going, however.

I’d expect Rachaad White to start.

Related players: Leonard Fournette

Fournette is also dealing with a hip injury suffered in the Germany game but is expected to be ready to go after the team's bye this week. This probably isn't shocking news as rumors of White taking over the lead role have been circling for a while. White did start the game in Germany but Fournette managed a goal line TD and the two essentially split the work until Fournette left the game. Auman did add it may not mean White is the lead back. It could come down to who has the hot hand but it at least looks like a hit to Fournette's fantasy value while White seems to be on the rise.

Despite suffering a hip pointer vs. the Seahawks, Buccaneers’ RB Leonard Fournette is likely to be ready for Tampa Bay’s next game after its bye at Cleveland.

Related Players: Rachaad White, Ke'Shawn Vaughn

We'll see how the workload is split after the bye, but Rachaad White was nipping at Fournette's heels prior to the injury and ultimately made great use of his 22 carries, converting them into 105 yards (4.8 YPA). Tampa Bay has a multitude of reasons to incorporate White more into the offense for the rest of the regular season, but we'll see how the injury news plays out over the next two weeks.

P.J. Walker has a high ankle sprain. So Baker Mayfield will start at QB this week, Sam Darnold will be the backup.

The carousel of below-replacement-level quarterbacks continues in Carolina, as Mayfield will once again try his hand at helping make a cohesive offense. Any Panthers QB should be far off of your fantasy radar.

Sam Darnold returned to Panthers practice back on October 19th and has now been cleared for in-game action.

Related Players: PJ Walker, Baker Mayfield

With safety valve Christian McCaffrey now out in San Francisco, the Carolina offense is a poor site to behold. The quarterback roulette will spin again and likely land on Darnold, but he offers no fantasy upside on typical redraft leagues.

Todd Bowles says Antoine Winfield will miss Sunday’s game, as will Cam Brate, Russell Gage, and Luke Goedeke.

Related Players: Cade Otton

Though Cade Otton’s end result in Week 8 was nothing to get excited about (2.5 half-PPR points, 15 yards), the fact is, he is still getting incredible usage. Otton’s 44 routes run were the second-most of any tight end in the league last week, and this comes on the heels of a 37-route (third-highest) performance in the week prior. He should be considered a fringe TE1/TE2 option, even in a difficult matchup against the Rams.

It's actually six Bucs players ruled out, as Russell Gage was also ruled out (hamstring). So Gage, Cameron Brate, Goedeke, Davis, Winfield, Murphy-Bunting all out. Akiem Hicks would make it seven out, meaning Kyle Trask dresses as third QB.

Related players: Julio Jones, Breshad Perriman, Scott Miller, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans

Reports also say Jones will come down to a game-time call, meaning Miller and Perriman should see more time behind the big-two of Godwin and Evans.

Julio Jones, Mike Evans upgraded to limited participants on Tuesday injury report.

Both players were listed as DNP on Monday so this is an upgrade ahead of this week's Thursday night game. Jones hasn't played since Week 4. Jones is dealing with a knee issue while Evans has an ankle injury.

Todd Bowles rules out four players for Sunday at Carolina: DL Akiem Hicks, WR Julio Jones, TE Cam Brate, and CB Sean Murphy-Bunting.

Related Players: Cade Otton

Cade Otton had the full TE1 role back in Week 5 and delivered acceptable results, finishing as the TE14, running a route at the third-highest rate (94.2%) amongst tight ends, and racking up seven targets. The team’s Week 7 implied total sits at 25.5, the fifth-highest mark of the slate, which provides some touchdown equity for Otton, who had two red zone targets in his lone start of the season.

Steve Wilks says P.J. Walker will start this week at QB.

Related players: Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield

Walker wasn't impressive in Week 6 but the Panthers likely have no other choice here. Mayfield is still hurt and Darnold was just designated to return, but will need more time.