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Fantasy Football: 10 Bold Predictions for Week 1

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A Stud that Could Flop & A Sub that Could Pop

Mike Evans Will Have Fewer Than 50 Yards Receiving

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers draw the New Orleans Saints in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Sunday, and stud wide receiver Mike Evans will draw the coverage of corner Marshon Lattimore, who graded out as Pro Football Focus' number-seven cornerback in 2017.

On top of that, veteran journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will handle signal-calling duties while Jameis Winston serves a suspension. Evans' splits with Fitzpatrick are actually not inherently bad. In fact, in five games with Fitzpatrick last year, Evans' numbers were slightly better.

But the problem comes in that Evans will see superior coverage on a team with a healthy set of offensive weapons. Teammates Chris Godwin, DeSean Jackson, Adam Humphries, O.J. Howard, Cameron Brate, and Peyton Barber all figure to siphon away targets. And Evans' 52.2% catch rate in 2017 suggest that he needs a large amount of targets to float his production.

With the Bucs fully loaded with options, and Evans drawing elite coverage in the Saints secondary, he will be lucky to top 50 yards receiving in Week 1.

Dede Westbrook Will Have 7+ Receptions

Upon returning from injury, Dede Westbrook quietly drew 7.3 targets per game across seven games in 2017. And in an offense that lost presumed ace receiver Marqise Lee for the season, the second-year Westbrook is the best bet to lead the team in targets as he operates out of the slot.

Technically the third receiver behind Keelan Cole and Donte Moncrief, who will start on the outside, Westbrook will operate in the middle of the field along with tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins while the Jaguars draw last year's tight end streaming target -- the New York Giants. The Giants have struggled to cover the middle of the field but should see improved cornerback play on the perimeter.

It all adds up to a bevy of targets for Westbrook and Seferian-Jenkins. The major difference between the two is how they win. Westbrook is a clean route runner, as evidenced by his final campaign at Oklahoma, where he was a Heisman trophy finalist, racking up 1,524 yards receiving. Seferian-Jenkins is better suited to make noise in the red zone with his 6'5" frame.

While he might not find the end zone, I like Westbrook to flirt with seven receptions in Week 1.