Chris Godwin

According to Greg Auman, Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin has returned to practice.

Fantasy Impact

This marks Chris Godwin's first practice with the team since tearing his ACL in last season's Week 15 loss to the Saints. Godwin returning this early is a great sign for his fantasy value, as it likely means he could be ready to go when Week 1 comes around. The former Penn State Nittany Lion was WR6 in full-PPR leagues before his 2021 season was cut short, so he'll look to pickup right where he left off. Godwin saw 9.1 targets per game, which was good enough for the 10th most in the NFL. The additions of Julio Jones and Russell Gage will be offset by the losses of Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski, so target share should not decrease for the sixth-year pro. Godwin is currently being drafted as WR21, but his ADP will skyrocket if the team confirms he will be ready for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

While the Bucs did not place Chris Godwin on the PUP list to open camp, sources say they will work him back in slowly.

Fantasy Impact

Godwin remains without a clear timetable to return. The offseason additions of Russell Gage and Julio Jones should allow Tampa Bay to not have to rush him back after tearing his ACL late last season. He remains a big risk from a fantasy football perspective this season.

According to an ESPN report from NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are “hopeful” that WR Chris Godwin will be ready for a Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys just 10 months removed from ACL surgery.

Fantasy Impact

It was recently reported that there is “no timetable” for Godwin’s return to the field, but while speaking on NFL Live, Schefter indicated that a Week 1 return could be a realistic possibility. Prior to this report, it has been highly speculated that Godwin would begin the season on the PUP list which would require him to miss the team's first six games. Godwin avoiding the PUP list would have major fantasy ramifications for multiple Bucs players. Mike Evans, whose draft stock has gone through the roof under the assumption that he wouldn't be sharing targets with Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, or former Bucs WR Antonio Brown to start the season, would likely see his draft stock fall back to high-end WR2 territory (currently WR7 in FantasyPros ECR PPR rankings). Russell Gage, who has been a popular later-round target for fantasy managers, as it was believed he would be the number two option in a Tom Brady-led offense, would see his draft stock take a hit as well. Brady, who finished as the QB3 last season, would likely get a slight bump up by having one of his top receiving options available earlier than anticipated (current ECR QB8). Lastly, Godwin, who’s currently ranked as ECR’s WR29, would likely jump back into WR2 territory.

Tampa Bay continues to offer encouraging updates about WR Chris Godwin's recovery from ACL surgery while also being careful to avoid presenting a timeline for his return.

Fantasy Impact

Some speculate he may be placed on the PUP list for a few weeks to begin the season. With their long-term investment in the 26-year-old, the Buccaneers are not going to rush his return, leaving Russell Gage as the No. 2 wideout in Tampa. In 14 games last year, Godwin caught 98 passes for 1,103 yards and five touchdowns. Even with the unknown injury situation, his ADP remains at 53, suggesting very little injury discount on the highly-productive player.

Greg Auman of The Athletic "wouldn't be surprised" if WR Chris Godwin entered the season on the reserve/PUP list.

Fantasy Impact

After tearing his ACL in Week 15, Godwin's timetable has been up in the air for the 2022 season. Regardless, he signed a three-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after QB Tom Brady came back from retirement. With Brady, Godwin has been a target hog, seeing 211 targets in 26 games to go with 12 touchdowns. He's expected to start training camp on the active/PUP list, but if he lands there to start the season, he will miss at least the first six weeks of the season. At an average draft position of WR20 in half-PPR formats, according to FantasyPros, Godwin's stock already has missing time baked in to it, but should he miss the start of the year on the reserve/PUP list, that would only boost the newly acquired WR Russell Gage, who sits at WR43.