Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Preview, Predictions, and Fantasy advice, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Aaron Rodgers led Green Bay Packers.
The Packers will be looking to keep their 100% start to the season going while Tampa Bay will be aiming to find some consistency in what has been a Jekyll & Hyde season for them to this point.
Betpack Betting:
Money line: Packers20/23Buccaneers19/20
Points Spread: Packers –1
Over/Under:55.5
The bookies are rightly taking a cautious approach with their odds. This is one of those rare occasions that you could see reasons for either team winning comfortably. The Packers offense could come out and tear the Buccaneers to shreds but if they don’t, don’t expect their defense to be able to keep them in it against a seriously talented Bucs offense. Consider any money you put on this as high risk.
Fantasy Football Outlook:
Green Bay Packers:
A lot was made of the Packers decision to turn down the chance to grab one of the many talented receivers in the 2020 draft, instead taking the heir apparent to Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love. Well Rodgers has responded in true Aaron Rodgers fashion, by reminding everyone what he is capable of. He has been in blistering form and with Davante Adams back is a good bet to keep that going, even against a very solid Buccaneer secondary.
Alongside Rodgers in the Packers backfield, Aaron Jones has solidified himself as a major fantasy player. He currently sits at 4th in the RB rankings and will surely be fancying his chances of keeping that form going, particularly with monster DT Vita Vea landing on IR for the Buccaneers.
The previously mentioned Devante Adams is one of the best receivers in the league and is another must-start if you have him. Marquez Valdez-Scantling has been known to have some good fantasy outings but is far from a cert. The intriguing option is the TE Robert Tonyan who had a monster day in the week 4 win over Atlanta and is still available in over 25% of NFL.com leagues. If you need a TE to plug in, he’s worth a gamble.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
The Buccaneers actually come into this game with the 3rdranked fantasy defense and are still fairly widely available to pick up. They’ll have a tough task keeping a rampant Packers offense in check this week, so buyers beware.
Receiver duo Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are the headliners of the Buccaneers fantasy options. Both have been dealing with injury issues so far but they’re in line to play vs the Packers and are more than capable of putting up good numbers.
Rob Gronkowski’s return to the NFL after a year of retirement raised a lot of eyebrows but has so far been a disappointment for those fantasy owners who bought in. Brady has been looking to get him more involved as the season progresses but don’t expect a huge output from the ex-Patriot.
Tom Brady’s measured, efficient playing style hasn’t always translated will to the fantasy format and he has been a bit hit and miss again so far this season. The Packers defense is there to be got at though and if this turns into a shootout, Brady has the capability and weapons around him to have a big day. Likewise, running back Ronald Jones has been hard to really rely on and while his yardage hasn’t been bad in most games, the lack of touchdowns has limited his output. Leonard Fournette may be back in the fold this week too so only start Jones if you have to.
My Prediction:
The Buccaneers hot and cold form combined with the Packers’ outstanding offense but pretty suspect defense makes this a fairly tough one to call. Right now, I have more faith in the Rodgers/Jones/Adams trinity having too much for Tampa Bay than the Buccaneers being able to hang with them, but I’m far from confident in that. I’ll say the Packers by 6 but this really could go any way.
Packers by 6.
