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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

5 Buccaneers to Watch Against Denver

A few players to keep an eye on when the Buccaneers host the Broncos in Week 4.

1. OT Donovan Smith
The Broncos feature one of the best defenses in the league, with Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware rushing the passer on the edge and two Pro Bowl cornerbacks in the secondary. Ware has been fighting through injuries, so whether or not he will play has yet to be determined. The Broncos proved to be deep at the position, though; last week, Shane Ray stepped in as his replacement had three sacks. Keep an eye on Smith to protect Jameis Winston's blind side.

READ: 3 KEYS TO DEFEATING THE BRONCOS2. WR Adam Humphries
Throughout the first three weeks of the regular season, Humphries has been one of Jameis Winston's most reliable targets. In each of the past two weeks, he has set career-highs for receptions and receiving yards. He has caught 18 passes thus far, which are the second-most on the team and No. 11 among all of the league's wide receivers. Keep an eye on Humphries, particularly in the screen game.

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  1. DL DaVonte Lambert**
    With Robert Ayers sidelined with an injury, Lambert made the first start of his career against the Rams in Week 3. He has climbed the ladder quickly, making the team as an undrafted free agent, then earning a spot on the active gameday roster and eventually working his way into the starting lineup. If Ayers is unable to go against the Broncos, Lambert will likely get the second start of his career.

4. S Chris Conte
Conte has picked up 26 tackles so far this season, which are the second-most of any Buccaneer. That isn't necessarily a good thing, though. If a safety is making a tackle, it's usually a sign that the opposing offense has already picked up a good chunk of yardage. Head Coach Dirk Koetter has praised Conte's coverage ability, comparing his skill set to that of a cornerback. Keep an eye on how he performs on the back end against Denver.

READ: PASS-CATCHERS STEPPING UP FOR WINSTON5. TE Cameron Brate
Like Humphries, Brate earned a starting spot during training camp and has made the most of his opportunity. The Buccaneers were without two tight ends against the Rams. With the increased playing time, Brate hauled in two touchdown passes. He could see a similar workload again in Week 4 with Luke Stocker still fighting through injuries.

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