2012 Team Outlook: Tampa Bay
QB Josh Freeman, --- - Sleeper (undervalued)
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The Buccaneers' offseason acquisitions of wide receiver Vincent Jackson (free agency), All-Pro guard Carl Nicks (free agent) and running back Doug Martin (NFL Draft) should benefit the offense and third-year quarterback Josh Freeman greatly this season. Freeman is coming off a disappointing sophomore campaign in which he threw more interceptions (22) than touchdowns (16). If Freeman rebounds, he could be an excellent bargain for fantasy owners-- making him worth targeting in the middle rounds of all fantasy drafts.
QB Dan Orlovsky, --- - Not Draft Worthy
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Dan Orlovsky appeared in eight games with five starts late last season for the Indianapolis Colts, completing 122-of-193 attempts for 1,201 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. Orlovsky played well enough to earn a two-year contract as a free agent from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to serve as Josh Freeman's backup. Unless Freeman misses an extended period of time due to injury, Orlovsky can be ignored in all fantasy leagues this season.
RB LeGarrette Blount, --- - Gamble (high risk)
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One of the biggest disappointments in fantasy football last season, LeGarrette Blount followed up a breakout rookie campaign with an injury-plagued and ineffective sophomore season in which he rushed for 781 yards and five touchdowns on 184 carries. The Buccaneers added Boise State rookie running back Doug Martin in the first round of the NFL Draft, which means that Blount's days as Tampa Bay's starter may be numbered.
RB Doug Martin, --- - Solid/Safe Pick
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The Buccaneers drafted Doug Martin in the first round of the NFL Draft with the hope that he would challenge LeGarrette Blount for the starting job. Martin, who rushed for 1,000 yards with double-digit touchdowns in each of his final two collegiate seasons at Boise State, appears to have overtaken Blount for the starting job in the pre-season and should have an immediate impact as a rookie. The Buccaneers significant upgrades to their offense with the additions of All-Pro guard Carl Nicks and wide receiver Vincent Jackson make Martin is an excellent sleeper candidate in all fantasy leagues this season.
RB Mossis Madu, --- - Low Potential
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Mossis Madu, a seldom used reserve as a rookie last season, will have a difficult time making the Buccaneers' final roster this season, much less have a fantasy impact. Madu rushed for just 55 yards on 15 carries last season. If injuries decimate Tampa Bay's backfield, he could get a look, but otherwise Madu's fantasy value is slim to none.
WR Arrelious Benn, --- - Deep-league Only
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A highly touted sleeper candidate each of the past two seasons, Arrelious Benn may have finally slipped into a fantasy coma. Benn reeled in 30 passes for 441 yards and three touchdowns last season, but the offseason addition of San Diego wide receiver Vincent Jackson bumps Benn back to the bench and should push him off fantasy owners' radar as a potential breakout candidate this season. Sidelined four weeks with an MCL injury that could keep him sidelined until the regular season won't help.
WR Vincent Jackson, --- - Solid/Safe Pick
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Vincent Jackson posesses every physical tool necessary to develop into an elite fantasy wide receiver, but it is hard to imagine that after leaving San Diego as a free agent this past offseason, that it will happen now in a new system with a new less-experienced quarterback. Despite eclipsing 1,000 yards receiving in three of the last four seasons, Jackson has never caught more than 70 passes in a season or scored double-digit touchdowns. The talent and upside is there, but there are also reasons to be wary of overpaying for Jackson on draft day.
WR Mike Williams, --- - Gamble (high risk)
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Fantasy owners expecting Mike Williams to follow up his outstanding rookie campaign were extremely disappointed last season. Williams put up nearly identical numbers to his rookie season in both catches (65) and receiving yards (771), but his touchdown total fell from 11 as a rookie to just three last season. With former Charger wideout Vincent Jackson signing with the Buccaneers this offseason, Williams may see his numbers decline even further than his sophomore slump.
TE Luke Stocker, --- - Deep-league Only
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Unless Luke Stocker, who caught just 12 passes for 92 yards last season, manages to supplant veteran Dallas Clark, who was acquired in the offseason to replace Kellen Winslow, as the Buccaneers' starting tight end, his fantasy value is non-existent.
TE Dallas Clark, --- - Deep-league Only
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You know the name, you remember the fantasy production. That Dallas Clark no longer exists, so it seems. The oft-injured tight end hopes to resurrect his career with the Bucs, a franchise that parted ways with Kellen Winslow. The 33-year-old Clark likely battles Luke Stocker for the starting job, but seeing as he's missed 15 games over the past two seasons, he shouldn't be on your fantasy radar barring a stunning preseason.
UPDATE 8/19: Clark made his preseason debut in the Bucs second game, but did not catch a pass and received little playing time, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Early reports in camp on the former Colts tight end have been positive, but of the "he's working hard" sort of way. Continue to ignore him in fantasy drafts in all but the deepest of leagues until there is tangible reason to pay attention.
PK Connor Barth, --- - Bye Week Fill-in
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Connor Barth was actually a pleasant surprise for the Buccaneers last season, connecting on 26-of-28 field goal attempts (93%) last season. Barth, who received Tampa Bay's franchise tag during the offseason, also made 2-of-3 from over 50 yards last season. If the Buccaneers offense improves then Barth becomes a sneaky pickup for fantasy owners this season.
Tampa Bay - Deep-league Only
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The Buccaneers defense was atrocious against the run last season and they struggled to hold their opponents under 400 yards of total offense per game last season. The addition of Alabama safety Mark Barron was a controversial move at the time, but it should pay off down the road. The bottomline is that this defense is rebuilding and playing in a loaded division offensively doesn't help their fantasy prospects anytime soon. Fantasy owners would be wise to stay away from this defense alltogether.