New England Patriots - Fantasy News

Patriots vs. Buccaneers Start 'Em / Sit 'Em

by Aaron Bowers

10/3/17

NFL

New England Patriots

James White

For the second time in five weeks, the Patriots will be featured in front of a national audience on Thursday Night Football. They hope the result in Tampa Bay isn’t similar to the 42-27 whooping they received from the Chiefs in the season opener.

This game has all the makings of a shootout. The Patriots offense has been stellar, averaging 32.25 points per game. Their defense has been decidedly less impressive, giving up 32 points per game. With a point differential of +1 through four games, a record of 2-2 is exactly what New England deserves a quarter of the way through the season.

It will take an impressive effort from the Buccaneers offense to keep pace in this game, even at home. Tampa Bay has scored just over 23 points per game, though they’ve yet to face a defense as soft as the Patriots. Coming off a big home win against the Giants, the Buccaneers are 2-1. They’ll need this win to keep pace in the ultra-competitive NFC South.

New England Patriots Week 5 Projected Fantasy Points
Tom Brady: 25.0 PFP
Rob Gronkowski: 14.0 PFP
Chris Hogan: 12.5 PFP
Brandin Cooks: 12.0 PFP
Mike Gillislee: 12.0 PFP
James White: 10.0 PFP
Stephen Gostkowski: 9.5 PFP
Danny Amendola: 9.5 PFP
Phillip Dorsett: 5.0 PFP
Dion Lewis: 5.0 PFP

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 5 Projected Fantasy Points
Jameis Winston: 18.0 PFP
Mike Evans: 15.0 PFP
Jacquizz Rodgers: 10.0 PFP
DeSean Jackson: 9.5 PFP
Cameron Brate: 9.0 PFP
Nick Folk: 7.5 PFP
Adam Humphries: 5.5 PFP
O.J. Howard: 5.0 PFP

Start 'Em: Rob Gronkowski (14.0 PFP)

There are few players in the NFL that are as fun to root for as Rob Gronkowski. He’s a giant of a human who plays with reckless abandon. He’s also the most important offensive weapon on the Patriots offense. After being held in check by All-Pro safety Eric Berry in Week 1, Gronk has rampaged for 16.5 DFP per game. The Buccaneers defense is missing multiple starters, and it just gave up six receptions for 65 yards to rookie Evan Engram last week. Gronk should be able to rumble into the end zone at least once in this game to get over his PFP.

Sit 'Em: James White (10.0 PFP)

The Patriots’ running back situation is a quagmire for fantasy players, and White is no exception. So far it has been impossible for anyone outside of the organization to predict White’s usage. In Week 1, he carried the ball ten times and caught three passes. In Week 2, he caught eight passes and rushed the ball twice. In Week 3, he carried the ball five times and caught one pass, and in Week 4 he received 12 targets and one carry. White hasn’t gotten into the end zone yet this season, and if he isn’t catching a ton of passes, he won’t get over his PFP. We don’t suggest backing him in your Dober Play Card.

Start 'Em: Mike Evans (15.0 PFP)

Evans’ numbers have belied his play so far in 2017, remarkable for someone averaging 14.73 DFP per game. Evans has matched up with Xavier Rhodes, Janoris Jenkins and an underrated Bears’ secondary, and he’s mostly won. Bill Belichick has a reputation for taking away opponents No. 1 options, but Evans is too big and too strong for the Patriots’ defensive backs to handle. In a game where the Bucs will have to sling the ball all over the yard to keep up, Evans is a great bet to bully his way into the end zone and eclipse 15.0 DFP.

Sit 'Em: Jacquizz Rodgers (10.0 PFP)

Fantasy players who have been riding Rodgers will need to find another option. Doug Martin will make his season debut Thursday night, and Rodgers will resume his role as the backup running back. Quizz performed admirably filling in for Martin, scoring more than 11.0 DFP twice in his three games as a starter. However, he’ll need Martin to go down with an injury for fantasy players to have any confidence using him anytime soon. Fade him on your Dober Play Card until his PFP goes down significantly or until Martin inevitably gets hurt.