Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, TB) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: With Jameis Winston suspended, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has stumbled his way into a starting quarterback gig once again, if only temporarily. No one would ever mistake Fitzpatrick for Aaron Rodgers, but from a fantasy perspective, he is in a good spot Sunday in New Orleans. Thanks to good drafting the Saints secondary isn’t quite the laughing stock it once was, but the loss of safety Kenny Vaccaro this offseason hurts. This game also has a hefty 49.5 O/U, the second highest total after HOU @ NE which is at 50.5. The Saints are a 9.5 point favorite in this one, but that still gives the Buccaneers an expected total of around 20 points. If the game goes as expected Tampa Bay will be playing catch up big time in the second half. In terms of pure volume, Fitzpatrick should provide decent production and for the type of league where an owner would need to use Fitzpatrick, moderate production is helpful.

Between Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and DeSean Jackson Fitzpatrick has arguably the best receiving corps that he has ever had. Even a D-III quarterback would know to throw it up to Mike Evans every chance he gets. Burners like Godwin and Jackson can get over secondaries for risky deep passes, and unlike Alex Smith, Fitzpatrick has proven that he’s unafraid of throwing interceptions. Long term, there is not much here with Fitzpatrick. His next two guaranteed starts come against Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, two defenses that shouldn’t be targeted with a quarterback of Fitzpatrick’s caliber. Despite reports that the Bucs are noncommittal to Jameis Winston, it’s hard to believe they would spurn the potential future of the franchise for a 35-year-old journeyman.