RADIO
Week 1 is almost upon us, and fantasy managers are looking to make last-minute changes to their lineups. Having a good WR is crucial to your success, and if you have Chris Godwin and Christian Kirk, you have a pretty tough decision to make.
Godwin is one of the best slot receivers in the NFL and finally had a 100-plus reception season in 2022. While Kirk blossomed last year with the Jaguars after leaving Arizona.
So, should you start Godwin or Kirk this week, who'll be playing against the Vikings and Colts respectively? Let's take a look.
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A Look At Godwin And Kirk In 2022 And Their 2023 Outlooks
We all know that Tom Brady loves his slot receivers and last season, Chris Godwin filled the Wes Welker/Julian Edelman role to perfection by catching many short passes.
Brady broke his own record for most completions in a single NFL season in 2022, and he couldn't have done that without Godwin's 104 receptions. He also caught 73.2% of Brady's passes targeted to him.
While Godwin and the Bucs had a sad ending in the playoffs, Kirk and the Jaguars had a season to remember. He finally racked up 1000+ yards in a season (1108) and proved that the Cardinals were wrong for not resigning him. He didn't catch the ball as well as Godwin, but his Yards per Reception was marginally better.
The Vikings Or The Colts, Who Has A Worse Pass Defense?
Why were the Vikings in so many close games in 2022 despite having so many offensive weapons? It's because their pass defense was soft as butter. They were a bottom-three unit defending the pass due to their weakness in the secondary. Now, new DC Brian Flores is looking to get the defense back on track, and he can definitely do it. Week 1 will be a challenge with them having to defend Mike Evans and Godwin.
The Colts were actually pretty good at defending the pass in 2022, and DC Gus Bradley hasn't had a bad pass defense since his time with the 2015 Jaguars. That's seven seasons in a row of having a good pass defense. However, just like the Vikings, they are weak in the secondary. Trevor Lawrence can exploit this weakness by having a big game in Week 1.
Should I Start Godwin Or Kirk In Week 1?
Both Godwin and Kirk will be playing weak defenses, and both are technically listed as the WR2 of their respective squads, behind Mike Evans and Calvin Ridley. However, Ridley hasn't played a meaningful game of football since October 2021, so he is pretty rusty. That could make Kirk the main receiving target against the Colts.
However, Godwin has the upper hand in experience and track record. He did well when Jameis Winston was throwing him the football, and Winston is very similar to his fellow number one overall pick and new Bucs QB, Baker Mayfield. This is a toss-up, and you could really go either way. Godwin is probably slightly safer to start, but only by a hair.
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