Team news: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Page 9

Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin was listed as a full participant in practice today, two days after shedding his knee brace.

Godwin recently said he'd have to see how he felt, and he also said he wouldn't rush back vs. saving himself for the end of the season. Godwin and HC Todd Bowles have stopped short of declaring him ready to go, but it's another great sign, Garafolo noted. He seems on track to play in Week 1.

Rachaad White listed as Buccaneers RB2.

Related players: Leonard Fournette, Ke'shawn Vaughn

Fournette owners take note. White, a rookie, is listed as the team's RB2 ahead of Vaughn.

Chris Godwin, on the In the Moment podcast with David Greene was asked if he would play Week 1. "I don't think any of us know that yet. There's stuff that circulates and half the time I'm like, 'I have no idea where people get this from."

Related players: Russell Gage, Julio Jones, Breshad Perriman, Scott Miller

Stroud tweeted a few posts on the Godwin interview. Godwin said it would come down to feel, but also added while he wants to be there the whole season, he knows it's most important to be there at the end of the season and playoffs. It sounds like Godwin wants to be smart about coming back and make sure it's the right time. If he doesn't go, Gage, Jones, Perriman and Miller should get snaps behind Mike Evans.

Sam Darnold will be forced to miss the first four games, at a minimum. Though Baker Mayfield was likely brought in to operate as the QB1 from the get-go. This will save him from having someone breathing down his neck.

Related Players: P.J. Walker

Person would go on to report that GM Scott Fitterer said the plan is for the Panthers to keep only two quarterbacks on the active roster; Baker Mayfield and P.J. Walker. Walker is worth a roster spot in deep-roster Superflex leagues.

A Florida native, Michel signed with the team in May of this year but was eventually considered a redundant asset in the Dolphins' running back room.

Related Players: Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, Myles Gaskin

Michel was given nine rush attempts through three preseason games and managed 13 yards combined. All signs point toward this being a split backfield with Raheem Mostert being utilized as a change-of-pace back behind Chase Edmonds, who could end up as the fantasy steal of the summer, particularly for those of whom were drafting him when his ADP was at the end of the 9th Round.

Breer calls Rachaad White the best passing-game running back Tom Brady has had since he arrived in Tampa Bay.

Related Players: Leonard Fournette, Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Giovani Bernard

This comes on the back of Greg Auman of the Athletic, labeling Gio Bernard as a likely cut candidate ahead of the season's start. Two completely unrelated sources are projecting Rachaad White with a significant —mostly third-down— role, and where there is smoke, there is often fire. If White has a firm grasp of the role, there's not a very good chance Fournette duplicates his 84 target performance from 2021.

The Bucs are strongly considering a bare-bones, three-RB depth chart heading into the season; Leonard Fournette, rookie Rachaad White, and Ke'Shawn Vaughn.

While Bernard likely didn't offer any intrinsic fantasy value himself, this does open up the door for more playing time behind Fournette for the rookie and the former 2020 3rd-round pick. Rachaad White will likely be the biggest winner, rotating with Fournette, who finished 12th in backfield touch% last season. If Fournette were to suffer an injury, the team would assuredly make a move in free agency with such a thin depth chart.

Chris Godwin is also in a non-contact jersey today. The most he’s done so far in camp have been 7-on-7s. This may be the sign he’s ready for 11-on-11s.

Godwin has progressed quickly but there are still some questions about his availability for Week 1. However, he certainly seems to be on the fast track. Mike Evans also returned today so the Bucs look to be getting healthy right before Week 1. We have Godwin as the WR31 but at this pace he's potentially a huge value if he's ready by the start of the season.

Mike Evans is back practicing today.

Laine said Evans did do some jogging and the hamstring looked to be holding up. Evans has been out about two weeks so the hope is he starts to really progress from here.

Panthers officially announced Baker Mayfield as their opening-day starting quarterback vs. the Cleveland Browns.

Related players: Sam Darnold, D.J. Moore, Christian McCaffrey

Mayfield gets a fresh start in Carolina. We expect him to post serviceable numbers for the Panthers. He was the QB18 in 2020 prior to a QB23 finish last season, though he dealt with some injuries. The weapons in Carolina are pretty solid. Moore is a solid WR1 and McCaffrey is arguably the best receiving back in the league.