Ranking the NFC South's top-five offensive weapons
The NFC South was dismal last season, with Tampa Bay winning the division with an 8-9 record. But that doesn't mean the four teams lack weapons on offense. In inverse order, here's a ranking of the best offensive players in the division.
5. Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay
Godwin is the glue that holds Tampa Bay's offense together. He posted his third 1,000-yard receiving season and had a career-high 104 receptions last season.
Per Fox Sports, Godwin ranks seventh in league receptions (353) since 2019 and has the highest catch rate (74.5%) among the top receivers during that span.
4. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans
Kamara racked up 1,387 yards rushing and receiving and four touchdowns in a down year in 2022. The five-time Pro Bowler remains the team's workhorse and a top-10 back.
His burden will be lightened with the additions of QB Derek Carr and backup RB Jamaal Williams, which should allow for an efficiency increase. CBS Sports expects Kamara and Williams to be one of the top duos in 2023.
3. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans
Olave is on pace for greatness. The Ohio State product had the second-most receiving yards by a rookie last season (1,042), behind only Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson (1,103) of the Jets. According to Pro Football Focus, Olave ranks as a top-10 receiver against zone coverage.
"It cannot be understated how tough it is to be the No. 1 target on your team as a rookie, and Olave did just that," PFF's Braxton Howard wrote.
The 23-year-old is only going to get better in year two, especially with a new QB and a healthy Michael Thomas, who may finally be healthy after dealing with injuries the past three seasons. Thomas had 1,725 yards receiving in 2019.
2. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta
Robinson was a monster in college, putting together a staggering 1,894 total yards and 20 touchdowns at Texas last season. ESPN ranks Robinson as the third-best fantasy RB going into 2023, behind only Austin Ekeler of the Chargers and Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers.
The rookie will have a hefty workload in an offense that features a lot of youth, including second-year QB Desmond Ridder. He should see success with an offensive line that opened many holes last season for Tyler Allgeier, who rushed for 1,035 yards in 2022. He returns, too.
1. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay
Evans is still the top weapon in the division. The four-time Pro Bowler has been a model for consistency for nearly a decade, never having less than a 1,000-yard receiving season. He added another 1,124 yards receiving and six touchdowns in 2022.
"Mike is the most consistent [WR]. That shouldn't make nobody mad," Davante Adams of the Raiders said while ranking Evans as a top-five receiver on the "I Am Athlete" podcast.
He'll have to adjust from Tom Brady to either Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask at QB, but the franchise receiver has played most of his career without elite passers and still shined.
Honorable mention
Miles Sanders, RB, Carolina
Sanders broke out in Philadelphia's Super Bowl offense last season, finishing fifth in rushing yards (1,269) and eighth in rushing touchdowns (11) — thus earning his first Pro Bowl honor.
He'll have a heavier workload in Carolina, though a much less reliable offensive line and quarterback. Bleacher Report predicts Sanders will bust under the pressure.
Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans
Williams was an absolute scoring machine last season. The former Lion led the league with 17 rushing touchdowns — four more than Ekeler, Derrick Henry of the Titans and Jalen Hurts of the Eagles. He'll continue in a backup role for the Saints behind Kamara.
Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans
Thomas is elite when available, but the 30-year-old simply can't stay healthy. He has played in only 10 games over the past three seasons, missing the entirety of 2021 due to ankle surgery.
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