Week 3 brings a marquee fantasy showdown: Sauce Gardner vs Mike Evans, following Gardner’s lockdown work in Week 1 and a rough Week 2 for the Jets. Evans is a career-long 1,000-yard staple, and Gardner’s matchup could shape TB’s air attack and New York’s game plan. A shutdown of Evans would elevate Jets’ coverage narrative and complicate Tampa Bay’s passing projections for fantasy rosters this week.

Pittsburgh’s first injury report of the week highlights eight players, with rookie Derrick Harmon returning to practice in a limited role and potentially easing a front that’s looked vulnerable early. His reintroduction could lift the defense as it faces New England, though workload will be tapered as he ramps up.

T.J. Watt and Darius Slay Jr. took veteran rest days, Highsmith is ruled out for the Patriots game, and Porter Jr. and Elliott are listed as questionable. Patrick Queen practiced fully, while Scharping was limited. Harmon’s return, combined with the uncertain statuses of key defenders, shapes Pittsburgh’s game plan and fantasy outlook against New England.

The note on Highsmith’s ankle and the team’s decision not to IR him offer a glimmer of optimism for a quicker-than-expected return. Context of earlier battles with Jets and Seahawks adds texture for evaluators tracking how Pittsburgh adjusts its front seven in this matchup.

TB rookie Emeka Egbuka flashed explosiveness early, piling up a 29-yard TD game and a 67-yard, two-TD performance last week, but hip and groin woes threaten Week 3 when the Jets visit. TB’s injury report also includes Luke Goedeke (foot), Cody Mauch (knee) and Calijah Kancey (pectoral), with Kancey likely out for the season after IR placement. TB’s air game remains veteran-led with Evans, Shepard and Irving factoring heavily; Jets QB Justin Fields is out, Tyrod Taylor to start, reshaping Week 3 fantasy dynamics in a pivotal matchup.

With Egbuka’s availability murky, the Buccaneers lean on Evans and Irving as primary targets, while Shepard serves as a steady secondary option. The Jets, now led by Tyrod Taylor, bring a different dynamic on offense, banking on the defense to slow TB’s passing attack. The injury-riddled TB trenches could tilt game flow, elevating or capping TB’s fantasy upside depending on practice status and playability of the rookie and injured linemen.

Baker Mayfield shrugged off a scary left‑leg scare after a 3rd‑and‑10 scramble, guiding Tampa Bay to a 20‑19 comeback win as Week 3 looms. He wore a compression sleeve and called the leg “great” while walking through practice—a good sign for a QB who adds rushing upside when healthy enough to run.

Rachaad White absorbed a nasty hit on a Mayfield fumble but bounced back to punch in a late 2‑yard TD, underscoring the Buccaneers’ willingness to ride him down the stretch. Injury notes around Luke Goedeke and Emeka Egbuka add risk to Tampa Bay’s Week 3 game plan vs. the Jets, so monitor practice reports closely for lineup implications.

Injury chatter aside, the Bucs’ offense remains a higher‑variance play with Mayfield’s grit and the team’s depth at pass catcher facing a critical Week 3 test. Expect a game plan that leans on volume and red‑zone opportunities, but be ready to pivot if any setback emerges in practice.