Chris Godwin remains one of fantasy football‘s most intriguing mid-season targets, despite facing a setback that has sidelined him since the beginning of the year. The Tampa Bay receiver’s recovery situation continues to evolve, with his return timeline still uncertain but showing promising signs of progress.
Fantasy managers who invested in Godwin are playing the long game, banking on his proven track record and the Buccaneers’ high-powered offense. His absence creates both risk and opportunity for those willing to wait for his eventual comeback, especially with fellow receiver Mike Evans banged up and rookie Emeka Egbuka finding his role.
Chris Godwin Fantasy Outlook
The Buccaneers activated Chris Godwin off the PUP list on August 21 following his fractured ankle in Week 7 last season, but he didn’t return to practice until early September. The current estimation for his return to action remains the middle of October, but this is a situation that should be monitored weekly, if not daily.
Of course, this was baked into the 29-year-old’s draft-day price tag. Unless something changes drastically, this will be the sixth time in seven years that Godwin has missed multiple games. Still, there is hope that the cautious rehab approach will result in him peaking at the right time for the Bucs and his loyal fantasy managers.
Tampa Bay has a well-positioned Week 9 bye, which could allow Godwin to test his body to its limits in the second month of the season, knowing that an off week isn’t too far off.
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In any event, you drafted the Bucs standout with the hope that he’d be a 1,000-yard pace player for a seventh-straight season with consistent volume for you when he hits the field, and we have no real reason to think he won’t be.
His lack of touchdowns was a concern heading into last season, but five of his 50 catches in 2021 resulted in scores, giving us hope that we are looking at a WR2 down the stretch.
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The Bucs close the season with about as favorable a schedule as anyone in the league, giving him an even better chance to impact your fantasy season massively, even if he’s not doing that in the first month.
— PFSN Fantasy Football Analyst Kyle Soppe