Who Should I Start? Mike Evans or Rome Odunze

Monday, October 20, 10:54 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (shoulder) suffered a broken clavicle in the Monday night loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 7 and will miss most of the season, according to head coach Todd Bowles. It's a tough break for the Bucs and Evans, who will not reach 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his career in his 12th year in the league. What makes it even worse is that Evans was making his return on Monday night for the first time since suffering a strained left hamstring in Week 3. Before breaking his clavicle in the second quarter on a play deep down the field, the future Hall of Famer was unable to haul in any of his four targets. The 32-year-old has 14 catches on 32 targets for 140 yards and a touchdown in four games this year. It's possible he could make it back late in the season, but by that point, he may be of no help to fantasy managers. Chris Godwin (leg) is currently nursing a fibula injury and missed another game in Week 7, so right now, rookie first-rounder Emeka Egbuka and Sterling Shepard will be quarterback Baker Mayfield's top targets at receiver.

Saturday, October 18, 12:11 PM

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is coming off a quiet Week 6, recording just two catches for 32 yards. However, his day could have been much bigger, as Odunze had an 11-yard touchdown negated by a penalty and narrowly missed on a few deep connections with Caleb Williams. Despite the down week, the second-year receiver is still in the midst of a breakout season, totaling 328 yards and five touchdowns in five games, ranking as the WR7 on a per-game basis. Odunze draws a favorable matchup in Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. With the Saints' defense surrendering big performances to WR1s like Marvin Harrison Jr., Jauan Jennings, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba so far this season, Odunze is in a prime bounce-back spot. He should be viewed as a high-end WR2 this week, with significant big-play upside against a struggling Saints secondary.