Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 X-factor players for Week 1 vs. Saints

These Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be critical to knocking off the Saints in Week 1.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers begin their 2020 NFL season with a road game with the New Orleans Saints. The Buccaneers are optimistic about the season and believe they can be Super Bowl contenders. For this to happen, the team will need to show an ability to beat the Saints at some point during the season. The two teams will play each other at least twice and possibly a third time in the playoffs.

For the Buccaneers to get off on the right foot against the favored Saints, not only will they need their best players to play at their best, they will need some key contributions from everyone in the game.

Not only will Tom Brady need to be the player we have known him to be, but he will need help from others on the roster. Here are five players who could be X-factors for the Buccaneers this coming Sunday against the Saints.

5. LeSean McCoy, Running Back

With the team releasing Dare Ogunbowale in favor of Leonard Fournette, LeSean McCoy will get the first crack at being the Buccaneers’ receiving back in passing situations. McCoy has been an accomplished receiver out of the backfield for his entire career.

He has 503 career receptions and has never had less than 28 in a season. For the offense to work, McCoy will have to be better than 28 receptions and closer to at least 40 to 50 receptions.

Tom Brady is known for using his running backs as an outlet and he will need to have trust in McCoy. In this week’s game against the Saints the Buccaneers may need to get as many yards and points as they can. Although both defenses are accomplished, the game has the potential to be a track meet.

If the Buccaneers find themselves throwing a lot, they may go to formations featuring McCoy over Leonard Fournette or Ronald Jones. Neither is a great receiver and may not give Brady as comfortable a feeling as McCoy can.