ChrisGodwin Jr.

News: 3 days agoBuccaneers general manager Jason Licht praised Godwin on Monday for his consistency and veteran leadership, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

Spin: "I would be remiss if I did not mention [Godwin] for all he has done for this organization and talk about being a consistent, steady, Mr. Clutch player, that is him and he looks very, very good out there right now," Licht relayed Monday. For the first time in his NFL career, Godwin enters the season out of the shadows of Mike Evans (groin), who signed a three-year contract with the 49ers in March. Godwin logged 1,000-plus yard seasons four times from 2019 to 2023, and he was the league leader in receptions before dislocating his ankle in Week 7 of the 2024 season. He was limited to nine regular-season games last year due to a fibula injury, but Godwin is fully healthy entering the 2026 campaign and will serve as a go-to target in the passing game for quarterback Baker Mayfield. Godwin could operate in an elevated role early in the season depending on the statuses of Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) for Week 1 against the Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 13.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Godwin is on the comeback trail after injuries have limited him to 16 games during the past two seasons. In 2025, he appeared in nine games and reached 11 fantasy points only twice. It seems like a long time ago, Godwin was second among receivers in fantasy points in 2024 when he suffered a severe ankle injury. He wasn't nearly as effective when he was on the field last season, but he's now more than a full year recovered from the injury and has less target competition with Mike Evans no longer on the roster. Entering his age-30 season, Godwin's days as a fantasy WR1 may be over, but with Emeka Egbuka as his only competition to lead the team in targets, he certainly has a path to flex numbers.