Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield→ his ranking

Mayfield's stint with Carolina got off to a losing start in 2022. Through his first five starts, he threw for 962 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions, while completing just 54.9% of his passes. An ankle injury in mid-October sidelined him for two games, and after two more uninspiring outings upon his return (155 yards/2 TD and 196 yards/0 TD), the Panthers cut him loose.

He landed in Los Angeles later in the year, where an injured Matthew Stafford opened the door to five starts down the stretch for the Rams. The results were similarly underwhelming (82-of-129 passing for 850 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions), and his 6.5 yards per attempt marked a career low. Mayfield did add 89 rushing yards and a score on 31 carries, but his rushing impact has generally been minimal throughout his career (189 carries for 660 yards and 6 touchdowns).

Everything changed in his first season in Tampa Bay in 2023. Mayfield set career highs across the board (364 completions, 566 attempts, 4,044 passing yards, and 29 touchdowns), while also posting his best-ever completion rate (64.3%). The Buccaneers locked him up that March with a three-year, $100 million deal. He topped 300 passing yards in three regular-season games (317/1, 381/4, and 309/4) and leaned heavily on his arm in the playoffs (337/3 and 349/3), finishing 10th among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring (328.00 points) in four-point-per-touchdown formats.

In 2024, Mayfield took it even further. He broke his own career highs yet again with 407 completions, 570 attempts, 4,500 passing yards, and 41 touchdowns, and his rushing production (60 carries for 378 yards and three scores) was easily the best of his career.

After a dominant Week 1 (310/4), he hit a stretch where Mayfield passed for under 190 yards in three of his next four games, yet still managed six touchdowns across that span. Tampa Bay's passing attack eclipsed 300 yards six times on the season (347/2, 325/4, 370/3, 330/3, 303/2, and 359/5), and Mayfield delivered at least two touchdown passes in 14 of his 18 starts. He finished third at quarterback (428.80 fantasy points) in four-point passing touchdown formats.

Mayfield took a beating last year, leading to him playing through biceps, knee, and shoulder issues. He posted more than two touchdowns in only two games (206/3 and 273/3). Over his first seven starts, Mayfield averaged 22.34 fantasy points in four-point passing touchdown formats, worthy of a top 5 quarterback. He ended up being a lost fantasy start over his last 10 starts (193 passing yards per game with 13 combined touchdowns), which included an early exit in Week 12.

In mid-June, in the National Fantasy Football Championship, he ranks 17th at quarterback with a 10th-round ADP (146). Ultimately, Mayfield had only once been a fantasy edge. I trust a run at 4,000 passing yards, but he’s only had over 30 touchdowns once (44 in 2024) in his nine years in the NFL, so think of him as a steady game manager with some matchup value.

Bucky Irving→ his ranking

Irving entered the NFL with below-average speed for the position (4.55 in the 40) and a smaller frame (5'9" and 190 pounds). Pass protection projects as a weak spot, and he'll need to sharpen his vision and patience to handle the tighter running lanes Irving will face at the next level. On the plus side, he breaks tackles well and has enough wiggle to make defenders miss in open space. His question is how Tampa Bay balances his role as a change-of-pace back.

The Buccaneers added Irving in the fourth round of the 2024 draft as depth at the position. He began his college career at Minnesota (133 carries for 699 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman, plus eight catches for 73 yards), then transferred to Oregon, where his role expanded significantly over two seasons (2,950 combined yards, 21 touchdowns, and 87 catches on 429 total touches). The Ducks used him more as a complete back in 2023, when Irving caught 56 passes for 413 yards and two scores, while also rushing effectively in both 2022 (156/1,058/5) and 2023 (186/1,180/11).

Watching his tape, Irving stands out as a player who manufactures something out of nothing. He has a knack for salvaging plays that look dead in the backfield. The Bucs' rising back runs with his eyes up, always looking to either juke a defender or finish through contact. In the open field at the second level, Irving has a real feel for getting defenders off-balance, reminiscent of a young Shaun Alexander. The one thing missing is the long speed to fully cash in once he hits a clean lane.

Tampa Bay used him in a complementary RB2 role for 11 of his 18 games before handing him their lead role over the final four weeks. Irving finished the season with 254 total touches, producing 1,514 combined yards, eight touchdowns, and 47 receptions. He broke off 11 plays of 20-plus yards, four of which went for 40 or more.

His three 100-yard rushing games (25/152/1, 15/117, and 20/113) all came in the final six weeks of the season. A back injury forced him out of Week 14 after just 16 snaps, but excluding that game, Irving averaged 21 touches per outing from Week 12 through Week 19, producing 141.90 fantasy points over that stretch, a strong 20.27 points per game.

Over his first four games in 2025, Tampa gave Irving 22.5 touches per game and about 71% of the Bucs’ running back snaps, leading to him gaining 430 combined yards with two touchdowns and 19 catches (18.50 PPR fantasy points per game) despite gaining only 3.3 yards per carry. Unfortunately, foot and shoulder injuries sidelined him for seven games. His season ended with two productive fantasy games (16.10 and 16.10).

Across his 173 rushes, Irving scored only one touchdown on the ground while losing 2.0 yards per carry from 2024. His explosiveness was still shining in the passing game (30/277/3 – 9.2 yards per catch).

Kenneth Gainwell→ his ranking

Gainwell's rookie season was marked by inconsistent playing time from week to week. When he did get volume, he delivered, putting together starting-caliber fantasy outings in six games (12.30, 20.90, 15.10, 19.70, 18.70, and 16.50 PPR points). But across his other 12 games, he managed just 27 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown, along with 12 catches for 115 yards. His full-season totals came to 544 combined yards, six touchdowns, and 33 receptions.

Philadelphia largely phased running backs out of the passing game in 2022, and Gainwell's numbers reflected it (409 combined yards, four touchdowns, and 23 catches) for the year. His lone fantasy-relevant performance (12 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown, plus one catch for nine yards) came in the team's playoff opener.

2023 brought a career-high workload of 114 touches, but the production didn't follow, just 547 combined yards, two touchdowns, and 30 catches on the season, with only two games topping the 10-point fantasy threshold (11.40 and 10.90).

His role shrank further in 2024, hitting career lows in both touches (91) and yards per carry (3.9). Across his entire career, Gainwell has broken off a 20-yard play just five times, and 2024 ended without a single usable fantasy performance.

The switch to the Steelers’ offense led to Gainwell becoming a fantasy football asset for the first time in his career last season. He flashed in a start in London (19/99/2 with six catches for 35 yards) in Week 4, giving Pittsburgh more confidence to give him the ball at a higher rate across their final nine games (68/337/2 – 5.0 yards per carry with 48 catches for 389 yards and three more scores). From Week 11 to Week 16, Gainwell produced five playable outcomes (29.50, 18.20, 16.20, 19.60, 23.80 in PPR fantasy scoring).

In the early draft season in the high-stakes market, Gainwell ranks 27th at running back with a late seventh-round ADP (82). Possible 150 touches, leading to 850 combined yards and a handful of touchdowns.

Sean Tucker→ his ranking

Tucker's rookie year was largely uneventful (just 15 carries for 23 yards and two catches for nine yards), but he showed a glimpse of his upside in Week 6, exploding for 136 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries while adding three catches for 56 yards and another score. That single game accounted for roughly half (34.20) of his entire season's fantasy point total (68.70), and he never produced another usable outing the rest of the year.

His college tape tells a more encouraging story: over his final two seasons at Syracuse, Tucker piled up 3,065 combined yards, 27 touchdowns, and 56 catches across 508 touches, averaging a strong 5.7 yards per carry and 9.1 yards per catch.

Last year, Tucker grinded his way to 354 combined yards with eight touchdowns and eight catches over his career-high 94 touches. For the second consecutive year, one game (19/106/2 with two catches for 34 yards and one score) defined his fantasy season (34.00 PPR fantasy points – 92.40 for the year).

Emeka Egbuka→ his ranking

Egbuka was a top-two target in Ohio State's passing attack twice over the past three seasons, posting 74 catches for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns in one campaign and 81 catches for 1,011 yards and 10 scores in another. An ankle injury cost him three games in 2023, leading to a down year by comparison (41/515/4). He also carried the ball 24 times in his college career, picking up 145 yards and two touchdowns. His big-game production was front-loaded, with six 100-yard receiving outings in 2022 (4/118/1, 7/116/1, 6/118/2, 5/143/1, 9/125/1, and 8/112/1) but just one such game in 2024 (5/117/1).

Egbuka profiles as a slot-oriented receiver whose game is built more on timing and rhythm than elite burst out of his breaks. He projects as a reliable possession target with strong ball skills in crowded areas, but press coverage at the line could give him trouble at the next level.

Playing behind a talented Ohio State offense often meant defenses couldn't focus solely on Egbuka, which let him work into soft spots over the middle of the field. He shows natural instincts for finding open grass and reliable hands once the ball arrives. Downfield opportunities have been limited in his profile, and Egbuka's expected to run in the neighborhood of a 4.5-second 40 — solid, but not a standout number.

Over his first five games, Egbuka delivered starting fantasy stats (4/76/1, 4/29/1, 6/85, 4/101/1, and 7/163/1), leading to 20.08 PPR fantasy points per game and him gaining 17.8 yards per catch. The Bucs tried to get him the ball over his next eight games (72 targets – nine per game), but he caught only 29 of his chances (40.3%) for 361 yards and one touchdown (8.89 FPPG). Egbuka continued to fade over his final four matchups (4/64, 1/40, 3/20, and 1/8 on 18 targets).

Chris Godwin→ his ranking

Godwin's touchdown production (15 over 41 games) ran lower than expected during his run alongside Tom Brady. In 2022, he set career highs in catches (104) and targets (142), but his receiving yards (1,023) didn't keep pace with his usual output, largely because his per-catch average dipped to 9.8. His best stretch came late in the season, from Week 10 through Week 17, during which Godwin posted 56 catches for 564 yards and three touchdowns on 70 targets over seven starts, including four standout games (6/71/1, 12/110/1, 8/83/1, and 9/120). A hamstring injury had cost him two games earlier in the year.

2023 was a tougher season overall; just two touchdowns limited his ceiling and made his weekly floor shakier than usual. Godwin still cracked 1,000 receiving yards for the third straight year (the fourth time in his career), but his catch rate fell to 63.8%, well below his typical range of the previous four seasons (71.1, 77.4, 76.6, and 73.2).

There was a silver lining. His yards per catch rebounded to 12.3, up from 9.8 the year before. Godwin topped 100 yards twice (8/114 and 10/155) and cleared 15.00 fantasy points in two other games (5/68/1 and 3/81/1).

2024 started off promising, as Tampa Bay leaned on him heavily through the first seven games, producing 50 catches for 576 yards and five touchdowns on 62 targets, a pace that, if sustained, would have set career highs across the board, fueled by three big games (8/83/1, 7/117/1, and 11/125/2). Unfortunately, a season-ending ankle injury in Week 7 cut that momentum short.

Godwin suited up for only two games (3/26 and 3/26 on 14 targets) over his first 11 weeks last season due to a foot injury, followed by a broken leg. Over his final seven starts, he scored over 10.00 fantasy points in four contests (3/78, 5/55, 4/20/1, and 7/108/1).

Jalen McMillian

McMillian broke out at Washington in 2022, posting 79 catches for 1,098 yards and nine touchdowns, but a knee injury limited him in 2023, and he wasn't quite the same player, finishing with just 45 catches for 589 yards and six touchdowns.

The Huskies primarily deployed him out of the slot over his final two seasons. His game takes a couple of steps to get going after the snap. McMillian is a willing and effective blocker who helps spring the run game, but his release against physical, tight-man coverage at the line projects as an early-career hurdle.

His rookie season started slowly. Over his first 13 weeks, McMillian managed just 13 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown on 27 targets, while also missing four games due to a pair of hamstring injuries. Everything changed when a Chris Godwin injury opened the door: over Tampa Bay's final five games, McMillian caught fire, scoring seven touchdowns and adding 24 catches for 331 yards, good for 99.10 fantasy points in PPR formats. He held WR3-or-better snap counts in 13 of his 17 games on the season.

A neck injury in 2025 led to McMillian standing on the Bucs’ sidelines for 13 games. He flashed in Week 17 (7/114 on nine targets) while being a non-factor in his other three games (2/38, 2/15, and 1/11 with six targets).

Ted Hurst→ his ranking

Before transferring to Georgia State, Hurst put together a solid run at Valdosta State, catching 60 passes for 1,027 yards and 10 touchdowns over 25 games. He carried that momentum into his time with the Panthers, starting 24 games and producing strong numbers in both 2024 (56/961/9) and 2025 (71/1,004/6). His college career was defined by explosiveness, averaging 15.5 yards per catch, with eight standout games along the way (7/128/2, 4/112/1, 9/173/1, 8/131, 10/172/2, 9/105, 5/110/5, and 10/165/1). Last season, he was remarkably consistent, posting at least five catches in nine of his starts.

Hurst pairs an NFL-ready frame (6'4", 206 pounds) with legitimate speed, clocking a 4.42 at the 2026 Combine. He's capable of beating tight coverage right off the snap, shows better quickness than his size might suggest, and offers a solid baseline as a route runner. One area to watch is how his hands hold up against the increased velocity Hurst will see on NFL throws. He also does a nice job varying his release to create space against defenders at both the first and second levels. Added strength could push his ceiling even higher.

Tez Johnson→ his ranking

Johnson flew under the fantasy radar in 2025 after Tampa drafted him in the seventh round. Over five seasons at Troy State and Oregon, he caught 310 passes for 3,889 yards and 28 touchdowns on 419 targets. His opportunity was much higher over his two years with the Ducks (86/1,182/10 and 83/898/10), highlighted by seven impact games (12/180/2, 11/137, 11/172/1, 11/121/2, 6/102/1, and 11/181/1).

At the 2025 NFL Combine, Johnson ran a 4.51 40-yard dash while coming to the NFL as an undersized wideout (5’10” and 155 lbs.). He had a good feel for his route running, with the vision to win after the catch. His slot profile helped his fantasy floor, and Johnson’s initial speed and quickness also created some splash plays in the deep passing game. His NFL ceiling is tied to his ability to add bulk and strength.

Injuries at wide receiver for Tampa Bay last year gave Johnson a better-than-expected rookie opportunity. He helped the Bucs from Week 5 to Week 10 (4/61, 1/45/1, 4/58/1, 5/43, and 4/42/2) before getting minimal snaps late in the year. Over his final eight matchups, Johnson only had nine catches for 67 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets.

Cade Otton→ his ranking

Otton's college production was modest across four seasons, totaling 91 catches for 1,026 yards and nine touchdowns on 124 targets, with his best individual season coming as a sophomore (32/344/2). Tampa Bay selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 draft.

He saw a significant rookie-year role, playing 66.5% of Tampa Bay's offensive snaps. He converted 42 of 65 targets into 391 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 9.3 yards per catch, with his best stretches coming in four games (6/43, 4/64, 5/68/1, and 6/28/1). A personal matter kept him out of Week 2.

His 2023 season showed some growth (47 catches for 455 yards and four touchdowns on 67 targets), but his catch rate did improve to 70.1%. His yards per catch barely moved, ticking up to 9.7 from 9.3. His best fantasy showings came in Week 9 (6/70/2) and in the playoffs (8/89 and 5/65/1), with all three of those games featuring heavy target shares (9, 11, and 8).

Otton set new career highs for the second straight year in catches (59), receiving yards (600), and targets (87), even though a left knee injury ended his 2024 season three games early. His production spiked midseason, with a three-game stretch (8/100, 9/81/2, and 8/77/1) coinciding with Chris Godwin's injury, during which he commanded 31 targets across those three contests (10, 10, and 11). Otton finished the year 14th among tight ends in PPR scoring (142.00 points), even with seven games producing fewer than 8.00 fantasy points (1/5, 0/0, 3/44, 1/30, 4/20, 2/24, and 2/32).

Despite missing only one game last season with a knee issue, the Bucs phased Otton out of their receiving rotation in most games. He finished with 59 catches for 572 yards and one score on 81 targets (22nd in PPR fantasy points – 122.20), with only five playable outcomes (4/81, 5/51, 7/65, 9/82, and 7/94/1). His lone score came in Week 18. Otton had five targets or fewer in 11 matchups.

Chase McLaughlin

McLaughlin bounced around the league early, kicking for five different teams in 2019 and 2020, before settling in for 32 starts with Cleveland and Indianapolis in 2021 and 2022. He heads into 2026 riding three strong seasons in Tampa Bay, where he's connected on 91 of 101 field goal attempts (90.1%). Over the past five years, he's hit 39 of 46 attempts from 50-plus yards (going 26-for-30 in that range during his Bucs tenure), and he's nearly automatic on extra points, converting 176 of 180.