Offenses have struggled to start the season. But apparently, no one told Chris Godwin and Zay Flowers. With both wide receivers performing at a high level, which one should fantasy football managers prioritize in Week 3 lineups?
Projecting Chris Godwin and Zay Flowers’ Fantasy Output in Week 3
Following fantasy drafts, Flowers was viewed as a weekly WR3/Flex play, while Godwin was more like the first guy off the bench. After two weeks, both are stalwarts in fantasy lineups.
At the same time, managers who may have drafted both of them could be dealing with an embarrassment-of-riches situation. Despite both being top 18 WRs through the first two weeks, it may be difficult to get both in lineups.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer has both projected very well. Godwin gets the edge, but it’s a narrow one. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran WR is projected for 14.3 fantasy points, while the Baltimore Ravens sophomore WR is projected for 13.7 points.
Both players are projected at levels commensurate with their status as every-week must-starts. But if forced to choose one, I would go to Godwin as well.
Godwin’s Week 3 Fantasy Outlook
It’s always difficult to parse through legitimate information and nonsense coachspeak in the offseason. After two weeks, we can definitively say the comments out of Bucs camp that Godwin would be moving back to the slot were real.
Godwin has spent 59% of his time in the slot through two weeks. It has done wonders for his production.
Godwin currently trails only Rashid Shaheed in yards per route run. He’s seen a 32.7% target share so far and already has more 20-point fantasy games than he did all of last season.
Chris Godwin wide open 🙌 A 41-yard TD for the @buccaneers!
📺: #TBvsDET on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/kxcTAKc9uD— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
It’s impressive what Godwin has been able to do in light of the Bucs being surprisingly run-heavy. Their 53% neutral game script pass rate is in the bottom half of the league.
Baker Mayfield has been performing like one of the best quarterbacks in football. Given how he started his career, it’s a bit of a surprise, but let’s not forget this is a former No. 1 overall pick. He was supposed to be this good, it just took him a little while to find his footing.
Mayfield’s ability will help Godwin maintain a high floor, but I worry a bit about a ceiling this week.
The Bucs are touchdown home favorites against the Denver Broncos, who are deploying the worst starting quarterback in the league. Additionally, the Broncos have struggled against the run, allowing the 10th-most rushing yards through two games.
If the Bucs lean on the run even more, Godwin will have to rely on continued efficiency. However, even if he’s not the overall WR1, as he’s been through two weeks, he should still be a safe WR2 bet in fantasy lineups.
Flowers’ Week 3 Fantasy Outlook
There are only four games this week with a projected total over at least 47 points. The Dallas Cowboys and Ravens are one of them.
It’s only been two weeks, but I feel confident in saying there’s been a changing of the guard in Baltimore. No longer is Mark Andrews the preferred option for Lamar Jackson. That role now belongs to Flowers.
The second-year man is taking the traditional sophomore leap. He’s earned double-digit targets in both games this season. He was inefficient in Week 1 against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that takes away big plays from the opponent’s top guy. But in Week 1, Flowers exploded for seven receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.
The Cowboys were completely torched by both Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed last week. Olave had a stat line of 4-81-0, while Shaheed had 4-96-1.
Given the troublesome state of the Ravens’ offensive line, they may not be able to run the way they want to. That bodes extremely well for Flowers, who should be in line for another big day as he further solidifies himself as a weekly WR2 in fantasy.