If you're reading this
http://www.buccaneersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-bryan-anger-jersey , then it's safe to assume that not only are you a Bucs fan, but a football fan in general. Therefore, I don't need to get into excruciating - and repetitive - detail about how football is the ultimate team sport, nor explain how important it is for a team to click. But when it comes to the Bucs, things are a bit different. There isn't any other team in the league that plans to start off the season - barring injury - without their starting quarterback. Even Carson Wentz is looking like he'll be ready to suit up on September 6th, after participating in team contact drills on Saturday and avoiding the PUP list during training camp.Winston's suspension isn't the only issue. If this team falls flat like they did in 2017 then you can bet that the entire staff, front office, and a lot of players will be looking for new homes next season. Several key areas of the team are in dire need of drastic improvement and if they don't develop properly then it will be another long season. So where do the players find the inspiration and motivation to come out on top in 2018?It's easy, within themselves and with each other. And that's exactly what has shown up more consistently than any other theme so far in training camp - these players like each other and they want each other to succeed. We've seen the evidence from star players like Gerald McCoy lugging around pads and working with teammates after practice. We've seen it from Jameis Winston staying late after practice and working with the younger receivers. Gerald McCoy coaching rookie Vita Vea - credit Evan Winter, Bucs NationNow, we're starting to hear about it too. "I thought I had seen and been through it all, but another year, another different situation. I think the biggest thing in all of this is just we're all professionals and we're just communicating as well," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said after Thursday's practice, later adding, "I think leaning on plenty of that past experience not just on the field, but in how you treat guys or how you deal with guys whether it's up front or receivers or the different personalities, that's some of the good experience I have and why I still love playing the game."For Fitzpatrick, it's another season during a 13-year career that has seen multiple stops throughout the NFL, some successful and some not. Other players - like McCoy - haven't tasted much success at all and he knows the onus is on not only the team, but himself to get better. Fortunately for McCoy and the Bucs, they have plenty of help in the form of new teammates."Well we brought in four new guys that have all played in a Super Bowl, and three of them have won it. That's a lot of experience. Guys who know what to do and how to do it; do it the right way," McCoy said at the podium. "We have a new D-line coach who played in three I believe, and had numerous opportunities to go back as a coach. Just the room overall is different, a lot of experience, and a lot of knowledge. Guys bouncing ideas off of each other, things you've never heard before, I'm helping him, they're helping me. Its only just going to make us great in the long run. But we've got a lot of work to do."McCoy has always held the reputation as a great teammate and leader, but this year he seems to be taking it up a notch. Then you have players like running back Peyton Barber, who finished last season as the team's no. 1 back just to watch the Bucs draft Ronald Jones II in the second round out of USC. He'll also have competition in veterans Jacquizz Rodgers and Charles Sims. That doesn't phase Barber, however, he looks at it as a positive. "I get the best of both worlds," he told me after practice as we walked off the field. "I get a vet to teach me everything and I get a rookie who I can teach things. But at the same time, both of them are going to push me."This team-first, work-together attitude was something that was missing last season. This became clear with players such as Chris Baker. After kicking him out of the Bay, it's safe to say that this year's crop of free agents have a much different thought process."It's been great. We just keep creating chemistry out there. Everybody pass rushes differently; everybody plays the run different," new defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said. "As veterans on the team, we're teaching the young guys how to come up and how to do things correctly. We were all once in their position, so we are having great chemistry together. That's a great start for us."Without a doubt, this mindset is becoming a contagious attitude seen on both sides of the ball and it's an attitude that is developing more and more every day. The more this team bonds and develops their chemistry, the better they will get and that could be the key to not only surviving - but succeeding in 2018.Fantasy Football: Week 3 Start and Sit Projections Another week and another weekend of fantasy football festivities! If you're like me and had Carlos Hyde rolled out for the Thursday Night game then you're pretty happy. If you had him in your flex positions, well, good luck to you!First, let's check in on how we did in Week 2:Quarterbacks (3/3): Ben Roethlisberger made good on my starter advice and was the second-highest scoring quarterback with 37-points. My sleeper also came through as Ryan Fitzpatrick put up 31-points. Good enough for QB9 last week. As for Dak Prescott, he unfortunately proved me right by falling in at QB24.Running Backs (2/3): We didn't do as well here as we did with quarterbacks. Jordan Howard disappointed and came in at RB27, doing even worse than my sit of the week LeSean McCoy who came in at RB26. Austin Ekeler continues to impress, and had his second-straight week in RB2 territory with thirteen PPR points.Receivers (WR and TE)(0/3): A big old goose egg in this category for Week 2. Hey, even Fabiano has bad weeks from time to time. Jarvis Landry and the Browns should have won, but his 10 target reduction from the monsoon in Cleveland to the dome in New Orleans really killed this high PPR performers numbers. OJ Howard turned in a 75-yard touchdown for the Buccaneers, and it helped him become the only sit prediction to earn starting numbers as TE3 for the week. Ryan Grant was my biggest reach as a sleeper, and he showed why as he failed to capitalize on a big opportunity against the Redskins.Defense/Special Teams (3/3): A strong finish to go with a strong start. All three picks here came through. The Jacksonville Jaguars rode the line but pulled it out finishing as the 12th ranked defense for Week 2. Our sit, well, they sat and the Pittsburgh Steelers defense was the 31st ranked unit in fantasy last weekend. Finally
Lavonte David Jersey , our sleeper the Chicago Bears looked like one of their classic groups and pulled off a first place finish among all D/ST groups in fantasy football last week.Overall (8/12 - 66%): Better than average, but not good enough. Completely missing on the receivers hurt a lot. Let's do better!QUARTERBACKSJason Getz-USA TODAY SportsSTART: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (vs New Orleans Saints)The Saints allowed fifteen fantasy points to Tyrod Taylor last weekend, which isn't much. However, in the process Taylor completed 75% of his passes and threw for 246-yards. Matt Ryan is a little more experienced than Taylor, a little bit better at the position, and has Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Mohammed Sanu to throw to.Twice the Saints' defense has given up big fantasy football weekends to opposing quarterbacks. This one will be the same.SIT: Mitch Trubisky, Chicago Bears (@ Arizona Cardinals)Could this be Trubisky's coming out party? It could, but it won't. Unless the Bears just decide to piss off the rest of the league and go full pour-it-on mode in this one, Trubisky and his offense should enjoy a pretty comfortable lead early on.This means plenty of Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen, and less Trubisky throwing the ball.It's possible Trubisky is a touchdown thieving fool this weekend, but that's the only way he's putting up starting numbers.SLEEPER: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (vs Buffalo Bills)After two weeks of action Cousins is QB3 according to PFF's fantasy stats. So how is he a sleeper?Well, he and the Vikings are facing the Buffalo Bills. The team tied with the Detroit Lions for giving up the most actual points among NFL teams this year with 39 per game.Cousins has thrown for six touchdowns this season so far and sits tied with the likes of Philip Rivers, and Andy Dalton in the category. But, if his team jumps to an early lead, we may see his running backs get a lot of work. Rolling with him seems like a smart play because of the start he's had, but if his running backs cap off two early drives and the Vikings defense gets a score, Cousins' bottom line is going to hurt.RUNNING BACKSMatthew Emmons-USA TODAY SportsSTART: Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (@ Houston Texans)The rookie has started his fantasy career with a RB5 standing two weeks in. Not bad. And his early success should continue against a Texans defense allowing over 150-yards of rushing offense per game.Six ball carriers have averaged three-yards per carry or more thus far against the Texans and Barkley comes in averaging 4.6 yards per carry after facing two teams with statistically better run defenses.SIT: Lamar Miller, Houston Texans (vs New York Giants)The New York Football Giants are allowing less than 75-yards per game to opposing rushers and is allowing fewer than three touchdowns per game as well.So, if Miller is going to score this week, it's going to be a surprise to the Giants.Considering the Texans' generosity in allowing opposing teams to score around four times per game thus far, Houston is going to have to turn to DeShaun Watson at some point to both run and pass. When it happens, Miller's numbers will fall.SLEEPER: Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears (@ Arizona Cardinals)I promise I'm not just rolling Howard out there until I'm right. Facing Arizona, Howard should get a lot of work and have plenty of opportunities to turn in big fantasy football points for those who play him.Yes, Tarik Cohen is going to get some touches too, but Howard should get enough quality touches to satisfy his landing somewhere RB12 or better.RECEIVERS (WR/TE)Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY SportsSTART: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals (vs Chicago Bears)Larry-Legend may be the only real offensive consistency the team has, but he's the only one you need if he's the only Cardinals player you're playing in fantasy football.Fitzgerald is a PPR machine, and should be good for at least six catches this weekend as he continues to be his quarterback's best friend, and his team continues to play from behind.SIT: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs Tennessee Titans)ASJ has had three catches in each of the first two games of the season and even found the end zone last weekend.Some have identified him as a sleeper to bust out at any moment and have even stashed him as a sleeper option for later in the season.However, three receptions per game is not a lot, even for a tight end. Furthermore, he's facing a Titans defense allowing only 4.6 points per game to fantasy tight ends.SLEEPER: Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers (@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers)Vance McDonald is likely the tight end most fantasy football enthusiasts are eyeballing when they look at the Steelers.But in two games this season, James has ten targets (five in each game) and has turned those into eight catches for nearly 200-yards and a touchdown.He's also a catch/no-catch decision waiting to happen every time he's thrown the ball, and isn't that what Monday Night Football is all about?DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMSPatrick Gorski-USA TODAY SportsSTART: Chicago Bears (@ Arizona Cardinals)Turns out, I really like the Bears over Arizona.My sleeper from last week, Chicago turned in a D/ST1 performance which earns them my start position this week.The defense has looked solid, albeit against lesser competition, which is exactly what Arizona's offense is for the most part.Tarik Cohen continues to play a part in special teams which is a touchdown chance every time Arizona punts. Which will be a lot.SIT: Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers (vs Each Other on MNF)Both teams look to be getting top notch cornerbacks back to their defenses. Brent Grimes and Joe Haden seem on track to play Monday night.Still, this should be a 60+ point shoot-out between a team looking to stay on the high they've started the season on, and a team looking to shelve some drama for a week.Watch with delight, but don't start either D/ST.SLEEPER: Philadelphia Eagles (vs Indianapolis Colts)Weird to see the Super Bowl winning defense on here as a sleeper. Well, it would be - if this was the Super Bowl winning defense.As James Yarcho said last week on the Locked on Bucs podcast, this isn't the same team as it was when it won the Super Bowl.Players like Vinny Curry and Mitch Unrein are playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as one example. Big losses to the defensive line group.So far, Philly's defense sits 14th in PFF's defense and special teams unit fantasy football scoring rankings. Not bad, but not good.Week 3 presents a chance for the Eagles' defense to rise up the ranks a bit as they face the Indianapolis Colts.Sure, the Colts are better with Luck back, but they're not challenging for a Super Bowl title anytime soon. This defense just might.