Who Should I Start? Chris Godwin or Mecole Hardman

Tuesday, April 1, 1:34 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that he's optimistic that wide receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) will be ready to play in Week 1 of the 2025 regular season. "I'm hoping he's on the field Week 1. I'll have more to know about that after [this] month goes on - see how he feels when he gets running and practicing and everything else," Bowles said. Despite suffering a dislocated left ankle in Week 7 of 2024 that sidelined him for the rest of the season, the Bucs re-signed Godwin this offseason to a three-year contract. The 29-year-old pass-catcher will continue to form an excellent one-two punch with veteran Mike Evans when he's healthy, but there will be plenty of skepticism about his fantasy value until we see him get back on the field this offseason. The good news is he was averaging a career-high 19.7 PPR fantasy points per game last year before his injury.

Tuesday, March 18, 9:06 PM

Free-agent wide receiver/return specialist Mecole Hardman (knee) is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers on Tuesday, a source tells ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Hardman will take his speed to the Packers while contributing both on offense and special teams as a kick returner. The 27-year-old former second-rounder (56th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 out of the University of Georgia caught only 12 of 14 targets for 90 yards and no touchdowns while carrying the ball five times for 62 yards and a touchdown in 12 regular-season games before suffering a knee injury in December that landed him on Injured Reserve. The Packers could use the receiver depth with Christian Watson (knee) likely to miss around half of the 2025 season, but Hardman could struggle for consistent involvement in Green Bay's offense, much like he did in KC, behind Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs.