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"Fitzmagic" may be dead, but Jameis Winston is breathing new life into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense and possibly your fantasy football team as QB1. So Stop The Slander.
Winston was a laughing stock last season after a few failed motivational speeches went viral. Tampa looked ordinary, despite demonstrating promise to start the season. Things did not get any better in the off-season after he was suspended for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Despite those hurdles and one of the greatest alter-egos hunting for his job, Winston is back behind center, and is primed to finish the season as QB1.
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"Fitzmagic" Disappears
There may not have been a better story to start the 2018 NFL season, than Ryan Fitzpatrick's flirtation with destiny. In three games to start the season, Fitzpatrick threw over 400 yards in every game, with 11 touchdowns and four picks. The swag was at an all-time high, making him one of the most coveted Week 1 or Week 2 waiver adds.
Winston was suspended for the first three games, and there was a legitimate discussion on whether or not the former number one pick would be the starter in Week 4.
He was not.
Thanks in part to a blood-thirsty Chicago Bears pass-rush, Winston took over at halftime and through three and a half weeks, has continued the hot offensive start Fitzpatrick ignited.
What the Bucs have is an offense with several pass-catching weapons, no weak-links and an offensive-minded head coach that was to sling it.
The Buc Can't Be Stopped
It's Week 8 in the football season, and while Winston has just one win as a starter in 2018, the offense, specifically the passing attack, is humming.
Tampa's offense is ranked eighth in points per game. Since Winston's return in Week 4, Tampa ranks fifth in total yards, and fourth in passing yards per game. Despite Tampa throwing the ball the third most in that time, Winston leads the league in first downs per pass attempts. In other words, he moves the chains and sustains drives.
This season, Tampa Bay's 2,261 passing yards ranks second most all-time through six games--by a mere 14 yards. Those 2,000-plus yards is more than the Vikings, Rams and Chiefs--all three of those teams have played one more game than the Bucs.
Last week, against the Browns, Winston unleashed a sneak-attack, rushing 10 times for 55 yards. He has almost 100 yards rushing in two-and-a-half games. Winston's highest rushing season was his rookie year with 213 yards. Winston has run 16 times this year, and seven of those have resulted in first downs.
If he continues on his current trajectory; 300-plus yards passing, with 30-50 yards rushing a game, Winston could be a must-start given the multiple weapons he has at his disposal.
Tampa's Loaded
Defenses have started to adjust against the pass, which is why the running lanes have opened up for Winston. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and DeSean Jackson have wrecked havoc on opposing defenses this season, with and without Winston. Evans--somehow-is the franchise-leading receiver in both yards and touchdowns in Tampa. Jackson is averaging 22.9 yards per catch. Second-year pass-catcher Godwin is a red zone beast. This season, Godwin has eight targets inside the 10-yard-line, no other Buc has more than one. OJ Howard is a game-breaker at tight end who can take an easy short route to the house, as he did against Philadelphia in Week 2.
Tampa's actual deficiency is what has led to Winston's resurgence to the QB1 list. Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber have been awful. Barber is the starter and has surpassed 33 yards rushing just twice this season, not coming close to breaking the century mark. Jones didn't even dress up the for the first three weeks of the season and is averaging less than three yards per carry.
It all adds up to more pressure on Winston. Not only is he expected to deliver through the air, throwing 92 times the last two weeks, but now, due to two running backs who can find daylight as easy as a vampire, Winston has taken to the ground.
The Bucs have no one else in the backfield!
So while there may be some Winston antics that trouble you, there is no denying the opportunity that awaits him every given Sunday. The Bucs may not make the playoffs, but you can be sure your plate will be full of Ws to eat, should you put your trust in Winston. So Stop The Slander, Jameis Winston is a QB1 in fantasy football.
