TomBrady

News: 14 hours agoBrady (shoulder/finger) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Spin: Though Brady sat out Wednesday's session with right shoulder and right ring finger injuries, the absence ended up mirroring the regular veteran maintenance days he's expected to receive for the Buccaneers' first practice of every week this season. According to Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site, Brady said after Thursday's practice that his shoulder "feels great," and his ability to take every rep clears up any lingering concern about his availability for Sunday's game against the Falcons. Brady is coming off a season-best Week 4 performance in which he completed 39 of 52 pass attempts for 385 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to the Chiefs, but the Buccaneers essentially abandoned the run after falling into an early deficit. Expect a more balanced game plan Week 5, which will likely result in lesser passing volume for Brady.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Following a brief retirement, Brady is back and will be under center for Tampa Bay this season. The GOAT attempted 719 passes last season, which is the second most in a single season in NFL history. He also paced the league in completions, passing yardage and passing TDs, and only two QBs scored more fantasy points. Bruce Arians is out and Todd Bowles in as head coach, which could lead to more offensive balance, but it's no accident that seven of Brady's last eight offenses have been pass-first (if not extremely pass-heavy). Brady is 45 years old and doesn't offer much with his legs (81 yards last season), but he's still playing at an elite level, won't be short volume and has a good group of targets. We should expect a slight step back this season, but Brady remains a solid fantasy starter.