Week 3 at Minnesota Vikings
Jameis Winston had an off-game last week, but it didn't hurt Mike Evans. The Pro Bowl receiver finished with 93 yards and a touchdown on 7 receptions and a team-high 9 targets.
Unfortunately, Evans draws a tough matchup this week against Xavier Rhodes and the Vikings. Rhodes is known for shutting down top receivers, so don't be surprised if Evans struggles this week.
But even with the poor matchup, Evans should be viewed as a WR1. He's too talented to sit and is always a threat to score in the red zone.
Week 2 vs. Chicago Bears
Mike Evans was heavily targeted by Jameis Winston in the preseason on limited snaps. It's clear Winston will continue to go to his Pro Bowl receiver, and why not? Evans has proven he's a reliable option and a very dangerous weapon.
DeSean Jackson's presence should only help Evans as it takes some of the pressure off of him from defenders. He gets a great matchup this week against the Bears, and we expect him to continue his dominance against defenders. Evans should be viewed as a strong WR1 option vs. Chicago.
Fantasy Upside
Mike Evans has established himself as one of the best receivers in football with a third straight 1,000-yard season in 2016. Not only did he cross the thousand-yard threshold again, but he set a new career-high in receptions (96), yards (1,321) and tied his high for touchdowns (12). He was an absolute monster last year and finished as the third-highest scoring WR in fantasy (PPR).
Fantasy Downside
A big part of why Evans was able to put up such big numbers last year had to do with the fact he had an NFL-leading 173 targets. That number should drop significantly as the Bucs have added a pair of receiving threats in DeSean Jackson and rookie tight end O.J. Howard. Both players are also threats to take away some of Evans’ big plays.
Despite being a talented pass-catcher, Evans has had some lows as well. He had a three-week stretch last season where he averaged just over 3 catches and 46 yards. He was also tied for third in the league in dropped passes.
2017 Bottom Line
Evans is one of the top talents this season at his position. It wouldn’t be a shock to see some of his overall numbers go down, but he should be more consistent with bigger games all year long due to the addition of Jackson and Howard. He’s a touchdown threat as he’s scored 12 times in two of his three seasons. He’s worthy of being drafted in the first round.
Week 17 vs. Carolina
Mike Evans rebounded in a big way this season as he's set a career high in receptions (91) and yards (1,256) and is just one score away from tying his career high in touchdowns (12).
He had a bit of a rough patch late in the season, but he rebounded with a strong game in Week 16. He should get the ball a lot this week as the Bucs have lost several playmakers in recent weeks. He should be viewed as a strong WR1.
Week 16 vs. New Orleans
Mike Evans has struggled over the last three games, but there's a chance for a rebound this week. Even though he didn't play well against the Saints a few weeks ago, it's hard to imagine him under performing against this poor secondary for a second game.
Evans is a dynamic receiver, and should snap out of this funk. There's a chance he has another dud, but Evans' duds are usually better than what random receiver you claim off waivers. He should viewed as a strong WR1 play.
Week 15 vs. Dallas
Mike Evans has cooled off over the last two games, finishing with 38 yards and 42 yards, respectively. Those aren't horrible outings, but when you compare them with what he had been doing, it's a huge letdown.
He'll look to bounce back this week in a decent matchup against the Cowboys. Dallas is about as middle-of-the-road as it gets when it comes to defending wideouts, so there should be no fear in starting Evans.
There aren't many receiver with as high of a ceiling as Evans this week, and that's why he's a must-start WR1 play.
Week 14. vs. New Orleans
Mike Evans struggled a bit last week against a tough Chargers defense, but don't let that get you down too much. The Bucs receiver has been a beast all season long, and that should continue in Week 14 in a favorable matchup.
The Saints have allowed teams to score in bunches, so there's a strong chance Evans finds the end zone. He's a must-start WR1 this week.
Week 13 vs. San Diego
Richard Sherman didn't scare off Mike Evans, as the talented Bucs receiver caught two touchdowns last week against Seattle. He now has 10 scores on the season (after scoring just three last year) and has already crossed the 1,000-yard mark.
Evans doesn't get a great matchup this week against the Chargers, but there's no way you think about resting him. He's been an elite option this season, and has a comfortable lead for most targets. He's a top-level WR1 play.
Week 12 vs. Seattle
Mike Evans leads the NFL in targets, and that's even after Antonio Brown got an extra game on him on Thanksgiving. Tampa is committed to throwing him the football, even in Week 12 when he'll go up against Richard Sherman and the Seahawks.
This matchup obviously isn't ideal, but the Bucs clearly believe in their star receiver. He may not catch every pass, but he'll get enough looks to where fantasy owners should feel comfortable starting him as a WR1.
Week 11 at Kansas City
Mike Evans only had 66 yards on four receptions last week, which isn't even a bad game, but it's a huge downfall from what he's been doing. Part of the reason he didn't have big numbers is because Tampa went up by so much so fast, the Bucs decided to drain clock rather than play catch up.
Moving forward, there's no reason to consider benching Evans. He's an elite talent, and the only real threat in Tampa's receiving game. He'll be a WR1, must-play start this week.
