Fantasy managers have plenty of questions surrounding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' passing game heading into Week 4, and unfortunately, there aren't many definitive answers.
Baker Mayfield is out with a dislocated right thumb, leaving undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels to make his first NFL start against the Green Bay Packers. That change alone makes projecting Tampa Bay's receivers significantly more difficult. The Buccaneers could lean on screens, quick throws, and the running game to make things easier on Daniels, but nobody knows exactly what this passing offense will look like until we see it.
That makes Tampa Bay's pass catchers riskier than usual, but there are still some players I'm willing to put into fantasy lineups.
Emeka Egbuka: Start
Emeka Egbuka is the Buccaneers
receiver I feel most comfortable starting this week.
Egbuka leads Tampa Bay with 20 targets and 141 receiving yards through three games, catching 13 passes and scoring one touchdown. He's already established himself as one of the most involved players in the passing game, and that volume gives him a relatively safe floor despite the quarterback change.
With Daniels making his first start, I expect Tampa Bay to give him opportunities to complete manageable throws and get comfortable early. Egbuka should have a chance to benefit from that approach, particularly if the Buccaneers use him on possession routes and quick throws rather than asking Daniels to consistently attack downfield.
There is obviously more risk with Daniels than with Mayfield, but Egbuka's involvement makes him a player I'm still willing to start.
Ted Hurst III: Start
Ted Hurst III might be the most intriguing boom-or-bust option of the group. Hurst has caught six of his 13 targets for 103 yards and a touchdown through three games. He also stepped into a significantly larger role after Jalen McMillan was injured against Minnesota, playing 52 of Tampa Bay's 65 offensive snaps and catching a 40-yard touchdown.
There is another factor that makes Hurst interesting this week. He and Daniels have worked together since the offseason and preseason, so there should be at least some familiarity between the two rookies. That doesn't mean Hurst automatically becomes Daniels' favorite target, but it is worth considering when projecting an offense with a quarterback making his first start.
If Tampa Bay does allow Daniels to open things up downfield, Hurst is the receiver I think could benefit. There is plenty of risk, but I'm willing to play him this week because of his expanding role and big-play potential.
Chris Godwin: Flex
Chris Godwin and the rest of the Bucs wideouts are a much tougher decision. Godwin has caught 10 of his 11 targets for 111 yards this season. Against Minnesota, Godwin had an 85-yard touchdown erased by an offensive holding penalty that would have dramatically changed his final numbers.
Godwin's ability to work underneath could be useful for Daniels. If Tampa Bay wants its rookie quarterback to get the ball out quickly, Godwin could see opportunities on shorter routes, including crossers and drags, that allow him to create after the catch.
I'm willing to use Godwin as a Flex, especially in PPR formats, but there is more uncertainty than usual because of the quarterback situation. We simply don't know how Daniels will distribute the football in his first NFL start.
Cade Otton: Desperation start
Cade Otton is the player I'm most hesitant to trust. Otton has remained involved, drawing 17 targets over three games and catching 11 passes for 120 yards. That target volume is encouraging for a tight end, but he hasn't scored a touchdown this season.
There is a scenario where Otton becomes more important with Daniels under center. Tight ends can provide a quarterback with manageable throws in the short and intermediate areas of the field, and Otton's involvement through the first three games gives him at least some opportunity to benefit if Tampa Bay takes that approach.
Still, I'm not comfortable calling him a normal fantasy start based solely on what might happen with Daniels. Otton is a desperation option for managers dealing with injuries or particularly deep leagues. If you're starting him, you're betting on Daniels looking his way frequently or Otton finally finding the end zone.
The biggest thing fantasy managers need to understand this week is that there are more unknowns than usual. Daniels has never started an NFL game, so confidently predicting his target distribution would be a wild guess.
If Tampa Bay keeps things close to the line of scrimmage, Egbuka and Godwin could benefit in PPR formats. If the Buccaneers decide to open up the offense, Hurst has the big-play ability to make his opportunities count. Otton could also become a security blanket, but there isn't enough evidence yet to confidently predict that happening.
Egbuka and Hurst are the two I'm most willing to play, Godwin is a Flex option, and Otton is a desperation start. Just understand that with a rookie quarterback making his first start, the range of outcomes for every Buccaneers pass catcher is wider than usual.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Should you start Bucs WRs and TEs this week in fantasy football?
