Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

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Teddy Bridgewater • QB • Buccaneers

Teddy Bridgewater Wants to Continue Playing

Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who will be a free agent in March, said he wants to continue playing but hasn't talked to the team about a potential return, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Bridgewater only appeared in four games (zero starts) in his first year with Tampa in 2025, going 8-for-15 passing for 62 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. The 33-year-old veteran would be backing up Baker Mayfield again if he re-signs with the team for the 2026 season. Bridgewater isn't a terrible backup option for teams looking for QB depth this offseason, but he probably isn't going to get any realistic looks to compete for a starting gig. The 11-year pro will be a long shot for any fantasy value if he comes back next season. Bridgewater hasn't started a game in the NFL since 2022 with the Miami Dolphins.

3 days ago

Chris Godwin Jr. • WR • Buccaneers

Chris Godwin Jr. Looking to Build on Week 17 Breakout in Week 18

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. has battled injury and inefficiency for much of the 2025 season. However, the 29-year-old had a breakout performance in Week 17, recording seven receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown on eight targets against the Miami Dolphins. Godwin Jr. also led all Buccaneers wide receivers in snap share, playing 79% of his team's offensive snaps. In Week 18, Tampa Bay will face the Carolina Panthers. Carolina has been a solid pass defense so far this season, ranking 11th in the NFL in total passing yards allowed (3,454) and ninth in passing touchdowns allowed (19). Still, Godwin Jr. should have his chances to produce. Over his last four games played, Godwin Jr. is averaging just under seven targets per contest. Given the likely target opportunity and his encouraging performance last week, Godwin Jr. profiles as a low-end fantasy WR2 in Week 18.

5 days ago

Chase McLaughlin • K • Buccaneers

Chase McLaughlin Remains a Solid Option for the Regular-Season Finale

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin has been a solid fantasy option for managers this season, but he will look to rebound in Saturday's game against the Carolina Panthers. He was limited to five points last Sunday, as he made one of two field-goal attempts and both of his extra-point tries in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Dolphins. Before last Sunday's game against Miami, McLaughlin hadn't missed a field goal attempt since Week 6. The 29-year-old has been a consistent option and has recorded at least eight points per game in six out of the last eight weeks. Overall, he's converted 29-for-34 on field goals and 31-for-32 on PATs through 16 contests. McLaughlin can be used as a streamer for the regular season finale and comes in as the ninth-ranked kicker in the latest RotoBaller rankings for Week 18.

6 days ago

Mike Evans • WR • Buccaneers

Mike Evans Remains a Solid WR2 for Week 18

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans will need to be at his best for the must-win game against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday. Evans mostly struggled last week until he snagged a four-yard touchdown in the final moments of the loss to the Miami Dolphins. The veteran wideout will look to extend his two-game touchdown streak during this Week 18 contest. Since returning in Week 15 from a broken collarbone, Evans has seen 28 targets and has hauled in 14 of them for 194 yards. The expectation is that Evans will continue being a focal point in the passing game for this must-win contest. The 32-year-old has done enough to earn the respect as a WR2 in fantasy football for this Saturday afternoon contest.

6 days ago

Sterling Shepard • WR • Buccaneers

Sterling Shepard an Afterthought in Healthy Bucs' WR Room

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard has been completely phased out of the team's game plan with their WR corps at full strength, putting him on the back burner for fantasy. The 32-year-old was a bigger part of Tampa Bay's offense earlier in the campaign, as the receiving room dealt with a myriad of injuries. However, as veterans Mike Evans (rest) and Chris Godwin Jr., and second-year pro Jalen McMillan have returned to full health, Shepard has faded from the offense. In fact, Shepard has been a healthy scratch over the past few weeks, signaling the team's preference in the starting lineup. The Oklahoma product has been a fine secondary option over the course of his career, but he can be avoided for fantasy purposes in a loaded Bucs' pass-catching unit.

6 days ago

Emeka Egbuka • WR • Buccaneers

Emeka Egbuka's Fantasy Value is Plummeting, Hard to Trust in Week 18

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has fallen off the fantasy radar so quickly as soon as All-Pro Mike Evans returned to the lineup, but also since the return of second-year wideout Jalen McMillan out of Washington. Egbuka has seen his snap share cut almost in half, and over the past three weeks, he has only seen 14 targets and hauled in eight of them for 140 yards. What is most concerning is that he has not been on the field as often, as he has only played 59.3 percent of the snaps over this three-game stretch, and is clearly behind Evans and Chris Godwin in the pecking order, and he and McMillan appear to be splitting snaps as the WR3. Egbuka was off to a blazing start to the season with five touchdowns and 445 yards through the first five games, but he has quickly fallen off the radar and disappointed in the second half of the season with only 485 yards since. At this point, he is still worth a roster spot in most formats, but he can't be trusted to start as anything better than a WR3, and his value is plummeting.

6 days ago

Baker Mayfield • QB • Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield Clear to Start Against Panthers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (knee, shoulder) practiced in full for the second straight day on Thursday and has been cleared to play in Saturday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Mayfield is nursing knee and shoulder injuries, but he will be active as the Bucs look to win the NFC South this weekend with a win over Carolina and a loss by the Falcons to the Saints. The 30-year-old won't be a very inspiring QB1 option for fantasy managers still playing for something in Week 18, although he is coming off a 346-yard passing effort with two touchdowns in last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins. In the first meeting against the Panthers two weeks ago, Mayfield threw for only 145 yards with a touchdown and an interception. After four straight games without multiple passing TDs, Mayfield has two TD passes in two of his last three games.

7 days ago

Tristan Wirfs • OT • Buccaneers

Tristan Wirfs Questionable for Week 18

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that left tackle Tristan Wirfs (toe) is questionable to play in Saturday's divisional clash against the Carolina Panthers in the Week 18 regular-season finale, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Wirfs didn't play in last week's upset loss to the Miami Dolphins, but he could be on the right side of questionable for this week's big game after practicing in limited fashion on Wednesday. The 26-year-old's status is key for a game on Saturday that will decide the winner of the NFC South division. The loser will miss the playoffs. In a must-win game this weekend, it would be a surprise if quarterback Baker Mayfield doesn't have his blind-side protector available.

7 days ago

Tez Johnson • WR • Buccaneers

Tez Johnson Remains Buried on Tampa Bay Depth Chart

Across a seven-game stretch from Week 5 to Week 12, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson recorded 22 receptions for 274 yards and five touchdowns on 34 targets. However, Tampa Bay has welcomed wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan back from injury in recent weeks, burying Johnson on the depth chart. Over his last five games, Johnson has hauled in just four catches for 18 yards. The 23-year-old has also played 16 or fewer offensive snaps in three consecutive outings. Heading into the team's Week 18 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, there is little indication that Johnson is ticketed for a significant role in the Tampa Bay offense. Johnson has shown enough in his rookie season to carry some upside in dynasty formats, but he should likely be off the radar of redraft fantasy managers in Week 18.

Dec 31

Baker Mayfield • QB • Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield Limited With Two Injuries on Tuesday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (knee, shoulder) is on the team's Week 18 injury report with multiple injuries and was listed as limited in the first practice of the week on Tuesday, according to Brianna Dix of Buccaneers.com. Mayfield injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder earlier this season, but now he's dealing with an injury to his throwing arm heading into a must-win Week 18 divisional game this Saturday against the Carolina Panthers. The 30-year-old veteran will almost certainly play this weekend, but he certainly hasn't looked 100% in a long while. Mayfield's fortunes haven't turned around recently as the Bucs have gotten healthy on offense, and he's averaging just 222.5 passing yards with six touchdowns and six turnovers in the last four games. At best, Mayfield will be a low-end QB1 option as he plays for the NFC South title this weekend against Carolina.

Dec 30

Sean Tucker • RB • Buccaneers

Sean Tucker Maintains Touchdown Upside Heading into Week 18

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker has seen a drastic decrease in usage since fellow Buccaneers back Bucky Irving returned from injury in Week 13. Over his last five contests, Tucker is averaging under four rush attempts per game. However, Tucker has maintained a role at the goal line, recording three rushing touchdowns in that five-game span. The 24-year-old has had a nose for the end zone in 2025, scoring eight touchdowns on just 90 touches across 16 games. Additionally, Tampa Bay's rushing offense as a whole was miserable in Week 17, as they totaled 53 rushing yards as a team in a loss to the Miami Dolphins. Between his role at the goal line and the possibility he earns more work as Tampa Bay searches for backfield solutions, Tucker maintains fantasy upside. In leagues with 12 or more teams, Tucker could be worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into his Week 18 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

Dec 30

Jalen McMillan • WR • Buccaneers

Jalen McMillan Ascending Bucs' Pecking Order?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan exploded for seven catches and 114 yards in the team's 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. The 24-year-old's target (nine) and yardage totals were team-highs, setting personal bests across the board. Coincidentally, McMillan did not see a significant rise in snap share, hovering around the same figure he's recorded since returning from an injury. Regardless, he and Chris Godwin Jr. were the only other pass-catchers to eclipse 40 receiving yards (108). With a myriad of mouths to feed in Tampa Bay's attack, it's unlikely McMillan would have another performance such as this when they square off with the Panthers in Week 18. That said, he sports solid athleticism and offers fantasy managers big-play ability for one of the few meaningful games in the campaign's final week.

Dec 29

Chris Godwin Jr. • WR • Buccaneers

Chris Godwin Jr. a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Heading into Week 18

Across eight healthy games in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. has recorded 32 receptions for 352 yards and two touchdowns on 50 targets. The 29-year-old broke out in Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins, hauling in seven catches for 108 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. It was Godwin Jr.'s first game with more than five catches or 78 receiving yards this season, and it may be a sign that the veteran wideout is finally working his way back to full strength from the lower leg injuries that have bothered him since the middle of 2024. Godwin Jr. also played 79% of Tampa Bay's offensive snaps in Week 17, the most among all Buccaneers wide receivers. In all PPR fantasy leagues with 10 or more teams, Godwin Jr. is a player to target on the waiver wire heading into his Week 18 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

Dec 29

Baker Mayfield • QB • Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield Has Three Turnovers as Division Title Remains Up for Grabs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 33 of his 44 pass attempts for 346 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions during Sunday's Week 17 loss against the Miami Dolphins. He also rushed for 16 yards, took three sacks, and lost a fumble. The Buccaneers had an opportunity to gain ground on the Panthers in the NFC South, but instead, they were upset by the Dolphins in Miami. Mayfield racked up the passing yards and touchdowns to salvage his fantasy performance, but the three turnovers were a main reason why Tampa Bay lost. He has six turnovers over his last three games and will look to turn things around with the NFC South title on the line in Week 18. Mayfield ranks as a mid-to-high QB2 as he prepares to face the Carolina Panthers.

Dec 29

Chris Godwin Jr. • WR • Buccaneers

Chris Godwin Jr. Goes Over 100 Yards in Loss to Miami

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. exceeded expectations during Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. Before this game, Godwin recorded 50 combined receiving yards in his last two games. On Sunday, Godwin hauled in seven of his eight targets for 108 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Godwin saved his best performance of the season for the fantasy football championships. It should be noted that over half his yardage came on a 59-yard play in the fourth quarter. He figures to continue being heavily involved in the passing game next week. Godwin has seen five or more targets in five straight games. The Bucs will need to be at their best with the division title on the line against the Carolina Panthers in Week 18.

Dec 28

Sterling Shepard • WR • Buccaneers

Sterling Shepard Remains a Healthy Scratch for Week 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Miami Dolphins. Shepard has now been inactive for back-to-back weeks and is the odd man out in a receiver room that also features Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson, and Kameron Johnson. Even if one of those receivers were to suffer an injury, Shepard would still be too far down the pecking order to make a fantasy impact next week. He can be dropped in all fantasy leagues.

Dec 28

Chase McLaughlin • K • Buccaneers

Chase McLaughlin is a Viable Streaming Option for Week 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin has been offering consistent fantasy value all season. He's getting plenty of chances and is converting on them when he's called upon. The 29-year-old has converted 28 of 32 field goal attempts and has made 29 of 30 extra point tries over 15 games in 2025. McLaughlin hasn't missed a kick since the Week 6 matchup versus the San Francisco 49ers. He'll head into a decent matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. A team that is middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to kickers this season. McLaughlin isn't an elite option, but is a consistent enough option to be trusted for Week 17.

Dec 28

Emeka Egbuka • WR • Buccaneers

Emeka Egbuka Fading in Bucs' Passing Game

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has seemingly been phased out of the team's aerial attack in recent games, coinciding with their corps of pass-catchers getting back to health. The Ohio State product began the campaign red-hot, notching five touchdowns and two 100-plus-yard performances through the first five games of his pro career. Since then, he's scored just once while his catch percentage has waned significantly. Moreover, Egbuka's snap share has dipped considerably since Week 15, lining up with the return of teammates Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan. Despite the 23-year-old's talent, a Bucs' offense with all of its playmakers spells a shrinking role for the rookie, making him less sure of a thing for fantasy than he once appeared to be.

Dec 27

Cade Otton • TE • Buccaneers

Cade Otton a Shaky Tight End Option in Week 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton has made a minimal impact in the passing attack during the second half of the season. When the Bucs were banged up, Otton was getting double-digit targets some weeks, but that's not the case anymore. The return of receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan has basically put an end to Otton's streaming value. The fourth-year tight end has been held to under 25 receiving yards in four straight games. It's tough to imagine anything changing during the upcoming Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. There should be better streaming options at the tight end position available for fantasy championship games this weekend.

Dec 26

Jalen McMillan • WR • Buccaneers

Jalen McMillan is a Risky Streaming Choice

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan hasn't made much of an impact since making his season debut in Week 15. McMillan has hauled in four of his five targets for 53 yards and has yet to find the end zone. The 24-year-old has good long-term upside, but he doesn't appear to be a viable fantasy option right now. He figures to fight for playing time as the No. 3 wideout with rookie Emeka Egbuka. McMillan has a decent matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, but he can't be trusted as a third or fourth passing option. The second-year wideout is worth stashing in dynasty formats, but he should be on the waiver wire in 12-team fantasy formats.

Dec 26

Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

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