Chris Godwin Busier Than It Looks in Return

What They're Saying

Godwin: "I'm extremely grateful to be back on the field, to get back out there with my teammates and just have the opportunity to play again. I'm so fortunate to do that. Then, just having some uncharacteristic plays and expecting myself to play better. But, you know, I've got to knock the rust off, and I'm excited about the opportunity to learn from the mistakes that I made and fix them."

QB Baker Mayfield: "I think he's only going to continue to get back to his true form with the more reps he gets, the more confidence he builds. But he's obviously a guy we lean on in critical situations. ... It's great to have him back."

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

According to Pro Football Focus numbers, Godwin played primarily outside against the Eagles, taking the "Z" role (typically lining up on the right side of the formation).

That would mark a change from last year, when Godwin spent 62% of his pass snaps in the slot. But it would fall closer to his 2023 usage, when Godwin spent 62% of his time outside. That year found Godwin averaging his fewest catches and yards per game since 2018.

Of course, Sunday also marked the first game after starting "X" receiver Mike Evans injured a hamstring. Egbuka lined up primarily in Evans' vacated spot, with Sterling Shepard running from the slot.

We'll have to see exactly how the roles settle out among the top three once Evans returns.

The playing time and targets at least suggest that we should expect Godwin to return to being useful for PPR lineups, even if the ceiling doesn't approach last year's high.

Tampa gets a difficult matchup at Seattle in Week 5 but a middling San Francisco pass defense the following week.