Saints at Buccaneers (-3.5) – 40.5 total

Monday Night Football brings us two great NFL rivalries. First, we have the actual game as the Saints head to Tampa Bay for a divisional showdown. Second, we have the game within the game as Mike Evans and Marshon Lattimore face off for the 12th time in their careers. It’s safe to say Lattimore has gotten the better of Evans over the years, but there’s no doubt they’ll both be locked in for this contest. 

While much of the attention will be on how Evans performs, it is Chris Godwin who has been ascending within the Tampa offense recently. He has gotten over 70 receiving yards and scored in each of his last two games, hopefully a sign of what’s to come. You’re probably starting both Godwin and Evans, but the much tougher decisions come in the Buccaneers backfield. Leonard Fournette is on track to play after logging back to back full practices. How much work he takes away from Rachaad White is the million dollar question in this game. 

Fantasy Life consensus rankings have Tom Brady as a borderline startable option, but this has the feel (and projection) of a low scoring game so I would at least take a look at the waiver wire if he’s in your lineup right now. 

On the Saints side, Alvin Kamara has a tough matchup against a Bucs defense that ranks top-5 against opposing RBs. In the passing game, Chris Olave continues to be a strong WR2 option each week, and there could be a larger TE role on tap for Taysom Hill after Juwan Johnson missed consecutive practices with an ankle injury.

Tampa Bay is rightfully favored in this one but you better believe I’m cheering for the Saints so we can live in a world where the NFC South leader has just 5 wins after Week 13.