If things break right for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fantasy managers everywhere are going to want a piece of this offense.
We already know that last year, Baker Mayfield wasn't right in the slightest. Injuries piled on for him, but he kept playing. Knowing now, that he's healthy, we can expect more along the lines of his 2024 output.
And, if that's the case, we're going to see some fun seasons from the likes of Emeka Egbuka, Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin and co.
Throughout training camp and the preseason, though, some things could change. That's where we come in. Consider this to be the place you look no further for any and every Buccaneers fantasy-related update leading up to Week 1.
Latest Fantasy Football updates for the Buccaneers: News, injuries and position battles
Emeka Egbuka exits practice with injury -- 8/12
Egbuka got "rolled up" on an end-around play, according to WFLA's Jeff Dubrof. The electrifying wideout tried to stand on his own before going back down to the ground and walking off the field "gingerly" with trainers.
Hopefully, this is a minor issue and the Bucs are erring on the side of caution. Without Ebguka, their pass-catching corps leaves much to be desired. His potential absence and/or physical limitations could make veteran Chris Godwin the clear-cut WR1. Youngsters like third-year pro Jalen McMillan and rookie Ted Hurst would also be in a position to see additional reps.
Chris Godwin's 'very steady, impressive' training camp continues -- 8/11
Godwin "just finds ways to get open and catch the ball and has great chemistry with Baker Mayfield," per Scott Reynolds of the Pewter Report. The one-time All-Pro has been fed early and often.
Would anyone be shocked to see Godwin turn back the clock and get back to his 1,000-plus-yard ways? A gruesome ankle injury in 2024 derailed him, yet he has the talent, opportunity and rapport with Mayfield to right the ship.
Ted Hurst keeps making plays -- 8/9
With McMillan sidelined, Hurst is taking advantage of the increased reps. He's shown great body control and could be a weapon that makes plays later on in the season, per Slivon. He could be a late-round target.
Kenneth Gainwell's impact is clear -- 8/9
Adam Slivon of the PewterReport, Gainwell has been a "dynamic receiving back." Most of his catches have come on screens and swing passes, but it looks like he'll be a featured weapon in this offense.
Cade Otton has made plenty of plays in camp -- 8/7
Otton's presence on offense is clear. During this practice, he had two nice grabs, including a touchdown in the back of the end zone and a 25-yard gain, per Scott Reynolds of the PewterReport.
Ted Hurst will see more practice reps -- 8/5
With McMillan and Johnson both sidelined, Hurst is seeing an uptick in snaps during practice. He has flashed this summer, including a leaping touchdown grab over cornerback Zyon McCollum.
Jalen McMillan is dealing with a knee injury that will keep him sidelined -- 8/5
Bowles revealed that McMillan (knee) isn't practicing and there's no timetable for his return. While we wait to see how serious this injury is, McMillan being hurt isn't great, especially since he missed last season with a neck injury.
Tez Johnson suffers groin injury -- 8/4
Head coach Todd Bowles reported that receiver Tez Johnson left practice with a groin strain. The severity is still unknown, which isn't ideal as he's had a strong summer.
Kenneth Gainwell's role in offense starting to take shape -- 8/3
Slivon reported that Gainwell is being used more as a pass catcher in this offense. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has consistently put Gainwell in positions to run flat routes. Although they haven't been big plays, it looks like he'll be a safety valve in the pass game.
Tez Johnson continues to build case to be a reliable passing target -- 8/3
Johnson scored in the red zone period, per Brianna Dix of Buccaneers.com. The second-year receiver is using his speed and acceleration to create separation. This summer, he has been a go-to target for both Baker Mayfield and Jake Browning, totaling three touchdowns.
Jalen McMillan looked good during two-minute drill -- 7/31
McMillan set up the defender for an easy pitch and catch. He acted like he was running a go route before putting his foot in the dirt and running an inside route, which opened up a nice throwing window. Baker Mayfield delivered the ball, and he ran into the end zone for a score. Considering McMillan missed last season with a neck injury, this is a great sign.
Emeka Egbuka seems ready to handle WR1 duties -- 7/31
Adam Slivon of the Pewter Report revealed that Egbuka's touchdown catch from Baker Mayfield was the highlight play of the day. He also had several other catches and looked more than ready for the WR1 role.
Kenneth Gainwell already striking fear into the hearts of Bucky Irving managers -- 7/30
"Gainwell appears poised for a versatile role in Zack Robinson's offense," said Fear the Bay's Daniel Morales. "He was targeted on multiple checkdowns and frequently lined up away from the backfield, including in the slot and split out wide, highlighting how Tampa Bay plans to use running backs as legitimate receiving threats."
For anyone following the money, we knew Kenneth Gainwell wasn't here to be just the backup to Bucky Irving. Tampa Bay is going to use multiple backs, which means the very best we've seen of Bucky Irving might have been in late 2024.
Tez Johnson picking up where he left off last season -- 7/30
Per Bucs Nation:
"He consistently created separation ... hauled in a pair of impressive deep receptions ... While he wasn't flawless—he dropped what would have been an end-zone catch—his overall body of work was very encouraging. Johnson's ability to win down the field and make explosive plays stood out, making it one of his strongest practice performances to date despite the late blemish."
The Day 3 rookie entered the league with a chip on his shoulder and proved he was worthy of the playing time last season. Already, he's showcasing his skills in training camp and proving he's going to be hard to take off the field.
Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin aren't in a battle, but they're a noteworthy topic -- 7/28
The wide receiver position has a clear-cut top two in Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin, but will the former take over as the target-leader? There's a case to be made that Godwin will lead the team in targets and both of them could be closer, fantasy-wise, than some might expect.
The Bucs' WR3 is the real question, though, and may come into play as fantasy-relevant if either of the former mentioned were to get hurt. Is it Jalen McMillan? Will rookie Ted Hurst burst onto the scene? Does Tez Johnson continue to command involvement?
How much will Kenneth Gainwell impact Bucky Irving's touches? -- 7/28
We can all agree that, when healthy, Bucky Irving is the lead back. But, they didn't bring Kenneth Gainwell in here to purely act as a backup. He will get plenty of touches. In fact, fantasy managers fear this might end up being a timeshare.
Baker Mayfield's contract status means everything -- 7/28
The latest reports have the Bucs shelving Mayfield's contract talks until after this season. That means, he'll be especially worth drafting this season. In a contract year, Mayfield is the type who would go out of his way to ensure he knocks 2026 out of the park.
In short: draft Baker Mayfield this year.
A Chris Godwin insurance plan is worth the thought -- 7/28
One thing fantasy managers should remember when they're targeting a player like Godwin is the fact that injuries have been a factor. Over the past two seasons, Godwin has played a total of 16 games and major injuries have come into play.
Consider eyeing whomever stands out in camp as the Bucs' WR3 as some late insurance or a potential waiver wire target, this year, if you're a Godwin owner.
FOX 13's Mark Skol says Bucky Irving 'good to go' for training camp -- 7/26
After recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Irving should be good to go. Here's to hoping he stays healthy in Year 3.
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