Who Should I Start? Mike Evans or Sterling Shepard

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.

Tuesday, October 21, 11:29 AM

With Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (collarbone) suffering a broken clavicle in Week 7, which will likely land him on Injured Reserve, Bucs wideout Sterling Shepard appears to be in line for a significant long-term role in the team's offense. With Chris Godwin (leg) also currently sidelined, Shepard looks like Tampa Bay's WR2 alongside Emeka Egbuka. The 32-year-old Shepard hauled in seven catches for 25 yards on seven targets in Tampa Bay's Week 7 loss to the Detroit Lions, giving him 26 catches for 267 yards and a touchdown on 34 targets so far this season. Shepard is not an explosive downfield player, which limits his ceiling. Still, he's proven to be a trusted target of Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and should be rostered in fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams.