Chris Godwin Jr. or Oronde Gadsden: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Too close to call — the edges cancel out.

Chris Godwin Jr. and Oronde Gadsden grade out even this week. Godwin's best edge is snap share (78% to 40%), Gadsden's best edge is the consensus rank (TE26 to WR42) — and they cancel out. Start whichever player's game you trust more this week.

Chris Godwin Jr.

Chris Godwin Jr.

WR42TBvs MIN

Projected Points

Toss-Up
Oronde Gadsden

Oronde Gadsden

TE26LACvs BUF

Projected Points

Sit

Chris Godwin Jr.’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
+115 / -146
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 35.5
-113 / -111
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+320
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Oronde Gadsden’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
+107 / -136
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 37.5
-113 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+255
Anytime Touchdown Props →
MIN@
TBSun, Sep 27, 4:05 PM ETView the game →
LAC@
BUFSun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Chris Godwin Jr.

Toss-Up

Starting WR with slot-to-boundary versatility. Physical route runner and YAC producer; recent seasons shortened by injury.

Toss-up — WR42 consensus, projects WR57 this week: 12% target share, 8.8 PPR projected vs MIN.

  • MIN ranks 21 of 32 against WRs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 23.0 team points as 1.5-point favorites.
  • Listed WR-2 on the latest depth chart with a 78% snap share.

Latest on Godwin

Role

Through two games, Godwin has just seven catches for 86 scoreless yards, and in Week 2 his three targets were only a 8.8% share on 34 Mayfield attempts, though his 37 routes run were nearly tied with Egbuka for the team lead.

CBS Sports · Sep 20, 2026

Why Oronde Gadsden

Sit

Second-year starting TE and primary receiving threat at the position. Big-bodied move tight end with WR-like route running, coming off a productive rookie season.

Sit — bench-tier TE at consensus TE26: BUF is the 11th-toughest matchup vs TEs, 8% target share.

  • BUF ranks 11 of 32 against TEs (one of the tougher matchups, 3-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 22.8 team points as 3.0-point underdogs.
  • Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 40% snap share.

Latest on Gadsden

Role

Gadsden is the clear-cut starter at tight end in the short term with Kolar and Njoku unavailable.

Yahoo Sports, Chargers.com, ESPN · Sep 24, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricChris Godwin Jr.Oronde Gadsden
Projected points
Consensus rankWR42TE26
Opponent vs positionMIN · 21 of 323-game sampleBUF · 11 of 323-game sample
Receptions22 of 3212 of 32
Receiving Yards25 of 329 of 32
Receiving TDs14 of 3210 of 32
Targets30 of 3216 of 32
Anytime TD13 of 329 of 32
Target share12%8%
Reception share16%8%
Implied total · spread23.0-1.522.8+3.0
Depth chartWR2TE2
Snap share78%40%
Start/Sit record0–0+2 toss-ups1–0

Recent form

Chris Godwin Jr. — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs CLE
Week 1vs CIN

Oronde Gadsden — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs LV
Week 1vs ARI

Signal breakdown

  • 8.8 vs 8.7 projected PPR pointsChris Godwin Jr. +
  • Rank 42 vs 26Oronde Gadsden +
  • Opponent DvP rank 21 vs 11 (32 = softest)Chris Godwin Jr. +
  • Implied 23.0 vs 22.8 team pointsChris Godwin Jr. +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 78% vs 40% snap shareChris Godwin Jr. +

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