Daily Dr. Roto — June 22, 2018
“Infamous” Jameis Winston: Three-Game Suspension Looming
News came out yesterday that Tampa Bay Bucs QB Jameis Winston will be given a three-game suspension by the NFL for a groping an Uber driver back in 2016. Winston is expected to appeal the suspension, and there is a slight chance that the three-game suspension will be lowered a game or two.
Assuming Winston does not win his appeal and he must sit for the first three games, this is a crippling blow to the Buccaneers. In Week 1 they play division rival New Orleans, Week 2 the Super Bowl Champion Eagles, and in Week 3 the Pittsburgh Steelers. All three are very tough matchups, and there is a distinct chance that the Bucs will start the year 0-3.
Before I delve into the Fantasy Football implications of this news, I want to take a moment to discuss the issue at hand. I have always contended that Winston was not mature enough off the field to be a winner in the NFL. Remember the stolen crab legs incident before the draft? Now he’s groping an Uber driver. Ever hear of Tom Brady stealing a chicken from Publix? If Winston wants to be great on the field, he has to get his act together off the field. Admittedly, when I watched Hard Knocks last season, I was greatly impressed by what I saw of Winston. But the truth is that was with the television cameras rolling. Character is who you are when no one is watching. Does Winston have the character to succeed in the NFL? As of now, he does not.
Fantasy owners might end up getting a bargain if they draft Winston. This should drop him on draft boards considerably, and he should be available in Rounds 13-15 in high stakes leagues. Backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been around the league enough to be able to keep the Bucs offensive players relevant, so I would not drop them too much in drafts. Mike Evans probably goes from the second round to the third round. DeSean Jackson is still a Round 12 to 14 pick, Chris Godwin is still a flier at the end of drafts, as is TE O.J. Howard. Perhaps the only person to see a bump in his draft stock would be rookie RB Ronald Jones. The Bucs might choose to utilize their running game more with Winston out, so Jones might end up creeping up higher into the 4th round of drafts.
The bottom line is that Tampa Bay is going to have to decide whether to ride or die with Winston pretty soon. If they make the wrong decision, it might affect their franchise for another decade.
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