Buccaneers Fantasy Rankings, Projections, Analysis for Every Player

The arrival of Bruce Arians isn't the only reason for potential optimism around this offense.

Will the quarterback whisperer help elevate Jameis Winston's game? Could Chris Godwin be on the verge of a Year 3 breakout? What else should we expect from this unit in 2019?

Our analysts rank all their key players by scoring format, project their season-long stat lines and analyze their overall outlooks heading into the season.

Buccaneers Fantasy Rankings, Projections

Jameis Winston, QB

• Pass: 354 comp | 558 att | 63.4 comp% | 4,271 yds | 26.4 TDs | 16 INTs
• Rush: 57 car | 242 yds | 1.9 TDs

Peyton Barber, RB

• Rush: 166 car | 653 yds | 4.9 TDs
• Rec: 26 catches | 164 yds | 0.7 TDs

Ronald Jones II, RB

• Rush: 127 car | 519 yds | 4.5 TDs
• Rec: 19 catches | 119 yds | 0.5 TDs

Mike Evans, WR

• Rec: 84.9 catches | 1257 yds | 7.1 TDs

Chris Godwin, WR

• Rec: 71.8 catches | 998 yds | 5.7 TDs

Breshad Perriman, WR

• Rec: 31.3 catches | 448 yds | 2.4 TDs

O.J. Howard, TE

• Rec: 55 catches | 808 yds | 6 TDs

Cameron Brate, TE

• Rec: 29 catches | 312 yds | 3.2 TDs

Note: Projections as of August 22.

>> Get our experts' latest fantasy rankings and projections in our Draft Kit.

Buccaneers Fantasy Outlooks

Chris Raybon breaks down offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich's playcalling tendencies to forecast who will benefit most.

• Though Bruce Arians is known for his aggressive, "no risk it, no biscuit" downfield passing approach, it's Leftwich, not Arians, who will be calling plays, and Leftwich wants Jameis Winston to be smarter, which could signal regression. Despite ranking top-five in average depth of target in each of his four of his pro seasons, Winston's highest ever finish in fantasy points per game was QB15 last season (QB11 if you remove the two games he came off the bench).

• Arians said Chris Godwinmay never come off the field in 2019, citing Godwin's ability to play the slot. In his career, Godwin has posted a 70.6% catch rate , 9.71 yards per target, and 2.9% TD rate on 173 slot routes and 62.7%-9.43-0.82 on 543 perimeter routes. Arians' offenses in Arizona averaged 39.2 pass plays per game, so if we assume Godwin doesn't come off the field and splits his time 50-50 between the slot and outside, he would project for 15.65 PPR and 10.43 standard points per game, the equivalent of WR20 and WR16 finishes, respectively, in 2018.
• During his tenure in Arizona, Arians’ running backs averaged 23.3 carries and 0.73 rushing TDs per game, with the starter accounting for 70% of carries and 66% of TDs. The most comparable situation to what the Bucs have going on right now with fourth-year vet Peyton Barber and second-year man Ronald Jones is Arians' 2013 Cardinals squad which saw Arians give sixth-year vet Rashard Mendenhall 15.7 touches and second-year man Andre Ellington, 10.5.