Vincent Jackson has agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a five year deal.
Jackson will immediately assume the number one receiver role from Mike Williams who will be one of the main beneficiary’s of this blockbuster signing for the Bucs.
This is an outstanding move for the Bucaneers who have now given stud QB Josh Freeman the weapons to be a success in the competitive NFC south.
Fantasy Impact:
Vincent Jackson – Jackson will be the number one receiver in this offense but how many targets he receives remains a mystery. Freeman has a cannon for an arm and should routinely find Jackson downfield. Jackson was a 60 reception, 1,000+ receiving yard player with the Chargers and those numbers should be replicable in Tampa Bay. Jackson remains a WR1 but also remains a boom or bust play who will put up monster games along with some quiet ones.
Mike Williams – Mike Williams is primed for a breakout year with V-Jax now in town to absorb the double teams Williams is used to seeing. Operating in single coverage Williams has the chance to make an impact similar to the ones Antonio Brown and Victor Cruz had across from Mike Wallace and Hakeem Nicks respectively. As seemed to be a theme, when you have a stud across from a stud who you are double teaming, the stud in single coverage will torture opposing D’s. Mike Williams looks like a WR3 with legit WR2 upside.
Josh Freeman – Freeman is set up to have a career year with Jackson and Williams as his top two wideouts. He has Kellen Winslow as well, and will by all accounts have a new running back to throw the ball to. People may be down on him after a down year in 2011 so add him to your later round QB cheat sheet. Freeman will be a QB2 with legit QB1 upside in 2012.
Arrelious Benn – Benn sees his fantasy stock take a major tumble. Been struggled for snaps last year and is now someone you may want to cut bait with in dynasty leagues. He has a chance to still make an impact but will not be operating on anything close to a full complement of snaps barring an injury. He is a dynasty league drop and should not be drafted in yearly leagues.
Running backs: The Tampa Bay running backs will have an easier time finding lanes to run in than last year and Jackson’s addition will open up a lot of space on first and second downs. LaGarette Blount should be back in some fashion but we expect the Bucs to draft and early day running back. A versatile play-maker in the backfield could make this offense very dynamic and could help Freeman reach the level many thought he would reach in 2011.
