Noah Spence

Saints DE Noah Spence tore his ACL while working out on his own during the coronavirus pandemic and has been placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.

Fantasy Impact

Spence will not count against the 90-player roster limit. The 26-year old pass-rusher started his career with Tampa Bay, recording 5.5 sacks his rookie year in 2016. Injuries have derailed his career a bit, missing 23 games the last three seasons. Last year, Spence played for both the Buccaneers and Redskins prior to being released and subsequently picked up by the Saints. Spence was hoping to turn over a new, healthy leaf in New Orleans, but a torn ACL has once again put a damper on his ability to see the field.

Defensive end Noah Spense as survived the final cut and is currently still with Tampa Bay. Players on defense that did not manage to make the cut include S Keith Tandy, S Josh Robinson, DE DaVonte Lambert, DT Adam Reth, DE Pat O'Conner, S Godwin Igwebuike, S Josh Liddell, LB Nigel Harris, DE Evan Perrizo, DL Nathan Bazata, CB Amari Coleman, DE Demone Harris, LB Nigel Harris, and CB Javier Elliott.

Fantasy Impact

Noah Spence had been relegated to the third and fourth string over the pre-season contests. Despite making the roster it is hard to believe he holds any IDP value in 2018. It is also unlikely that other players on the list that did get cut manage to resurface and become IDP relevant.

The instant reaction report article by bucsnation.com confirmed that on the field versus Jacksonville in the final pre-season contest that former second-round defensive end Noah Spence did nothing to secure his roster spot. The bucsnation.com article was one of many that described his play as dismal and disappointing when the competition was at it's lowest possible level, just in kinder words than most of the other reports.

Fantasy Impact

Even if Tampa Bay may find justification in retaining the former second-round pick, any IDP owners holding out hope should likely move on. In fantasy football terms Noah Spence can be described only as a bust at this point and time.

Senior Tampa Bay beat writer Scott Reynolds has indicated that 2016 second-round pick defensive end Noah Spence may be on the roster bubble when it comes to making the final cuts. Even after positive news coming out of camp early that Spence had looked like he was ready to finally live up to his second-round billing, he has received little to no playing time with the first defensive unit throughout the preseason. Multiple in-game reports during this pre-season back up what Reynolds had to say. Spence has not shown any improvement on the field during the contests even though he has only faced second and third string type opponents.

Fantasy Impact

The earlier reports that Spence had been shining and showing his speed off the edge was likely before they put the pads on. Any IDP owners holding out hope that he'll be a factor in 2018 might want to reconsider that idea. Even if he happens to make the squad it would take a few injuries to players like Jason Pierre-Paul, Vinny Curry, William Gholston, and possibly even unheralded Will Clarke, who shockingly led the defensive end unit in 2017 with two and a half sacks. Noak Spence may be written off as a bust at this point, and that label will be even more fitting if he does not make the Tampa Bay squad this season.

Tampa Bay's newly signed veteran pass-rusher defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has been seen advising third-year defensive end, Noah Spence. After a shoulder injury in 2017 Spence is reportedly gained muscle mass and shown his speed off the edge on a daily basis. Any tutoring that Pierre-Paul can include can only bolster the reports that Spence is ready for a strong role in 2018.

Fantasy Impact

As long as Noah Spence can stay healthy and the shoulder issues from 2017 are behind him, IDP owners should consider the idea that a third-year breakout season isn't out of the realm. After signing veterans Pierre-Paul and Beau Allen and drafting rookie defensive tackle Vita Vea (calf), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not only bolstered their defensive line with depth, but they have surrounded incumbent talent like Spence with priceless insider knowledge.