Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

NFC SOUTH

Sean Tucker • RB • Buccaneers

Sean Tucker Still Not Practicing on Wednesday

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have taken to the practice field ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Bengals, and according to reporter Greg Auman, the only player not in attendance is running back Sean Tucker (undisclosed). Tucker has been dealing with an undisclosed issue that has held him out of practice since last week, and head coach Todd Bowles has already called him a game-time decision. The Buccaneers will issue their first official practice report on Wednesday, which should help to add clarity to Tucker's season-opening availability. While unlikely to see his own starting role for fantasy, Tucker's presence could have a significant effect on Bucky Irving's Week 1 value, particularly near the goal line after Tucker led the team with seven rushing touchdowns in 2025.

6 hours ago

Baker Mayfield • QB • Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield Strong Option off the Waiver Wire for Week 1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield signed a three-year extension with the Bucs on Tuesday and enters the 2026 season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder after finishing the 2025 season as the QB17 on a points-per-game basis (17th) after finishing as the QB4 in 2024. Mayfield dealt with a handful of injuries last season and finished the year throwing for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He also contributed on the ground with 382 rushing yards, giving him a safe floor to go with his passing volume. Mayfield has a strong matchup in Week 1, going up against the Cincinnati Bengals, who ranked bottom 10 against opposing quarterbacks last season, allowing roughly 19.1 fantasy points per game to the position. Second-year standout receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) appears to be trending toward playing in Week 1 to go along with another of Mayfield's go-to targets, Chris Godwin. Mayfield is being drafted as a QB2 in most formats, but his Week 1 matchup may be too good to pass up. Fantasy managers looking to stream a quarterback in Week 1 should look Mayfield's way.

19 hours ago

Baker Mayfield • QB • Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers Reach Agreement on Three-Year Extension

Two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $165 million on Tuesday that will prevent him from becoming a free agent after the 2026 season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Mayfield broke off contract talks with the team as training camp opened at the end of July, but with the regular season kicking off this week, a deal was revisited and agreed upon. The 31-year-old veteran was a Pro Bowler in each of his first two seasons in Tampa in 2023 and 2024, but he played through injuries in 2025 and dropped down to 3,693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 games and failed to make the postseason. Mayfield's fantasy football stock is down overall heading into the 2026 campaign with top wideout Mike Evans now in San Francisco and Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) banged up going into the season opener this Sunday. However, he should still be considered a midrange QB2 in superflex leagues, and he has some QB1 upside in Week 1 in a matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Yesterday

Kenny Gainwell • RB • Buccaneers

Kenny Gainwell Could Feature Prominently in Red-Zone, Goal-Line Situations

FOX Sports' Greg Auman believes that Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell could feature prominently in red-zone and goal-to-go situations under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson in 2026. Gainwell is essentially replacing pass-catching RB Rachaad White in a new offense this year, but unlike White, the 27-year-old could be featured more in the red zone, which is bad news for fantasy managers who are hoping for a bounce-back year from Bucky Irving. Gainwell, a former fifth-rounder by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 from Memphis, broke out last year in his lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a receiver, catching 73 of 85 targets for 486 yards and three touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. He added a career-high 114 carries for 537 yards and another four scores on the ground. Gainwell is expected to be used often alongside Irving in his first year in Tampa, giving him weekly RB3/flex upside, especially in point-per-reception leagues. He could come out of the gate strong in a Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, in which the Bucs may be forced to throw early and often.

Yesterday

Jalen McMillan • WR • Buccaneers

Jalen McMillan Listed as Starting Receiver for the Bucs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is listed as a starting wideout for the team on their unofficial depth chart entering their Week 1 contest this Sunday versus the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. McMillan missed the entire preseason due to a knee injury, but he was back on the practice field on Monday and is trending in the right direction to play in the season opener this weekend in a favorable matchup against Cincy. At least to begin the 2026 campaign, McMillan will be in three-wide sets alongside Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka (toe), with Ted Hurst III checking in as the WR4. While McMillan rested during the summer, Hurst was turning heads and impressing the coaching staff, so McMillan will need to stay healthy and produce to hold off the impressive young pass-catcher. McMillan played in only four games in 2025 due to a serious neck injury he suffered in the preseason, but he caught 37 passes for 461 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games as a rookie in 2024 after being selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. The 24-year-old is only rostered in 15% of Yahoo leagues and is tough to recommend as a Week 1 starter in deeper leagues after he missed most of camp and the preseason.

Yesterday

Jalen McMillan • WR • Buccaneers

Jalen McMillan's Experience an Advantage in Depth-Chart Competition

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) is competing for the No. 3 role on the depth chart, and his experience in the Bucs' offense gives him an early advantage over his teammates. Chris Godwin Sr. and Emeka Egbuka (toe) project as Tampa Bay's top two wideouts, leaving McMillan and Ted Hurst III vying for the next spot in the pecking order. The good news for McMillan is that Hurst is a rookie, which means his ascension into a meaningful role might be delayed as he adapts to NFL speed. On the other hand, McMillan has been in the NFL since 2024 and has 17 games' worth of experience (plus three offseasons) under his belt. His familiarity with the system and his connection with quarterback Baker Mayfield go a long way, especially considering that McMillan averaged 10.4 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues as a rookie. Managers should expect McMillan to open the year as the Bucs' No. 3 wide receiver, which also puts him on the fantasy radar in deeper leagues. The 24-year-old is a matchup-dependent WR3/flex as it is, and he would jump into the WR3 tier on a consistent basis if Godwin or Egbuk were to miss time. As a result, McMillan should be added off the waiver wire in all 12+ team leagues.

Yesterday

Sean Tucker • RB • Buccaneers

Sean Tucker to be a Game-Time Decision in Week 1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles will not disclose running back Sean Tucker's (undisclosed) injury because he does not have to until Wednesday, but he said Tucker will be a game-time decision on Sunday, Sept. 13, for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals as he works his way back, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Tucker was not seen on the practice field on Monday and most likely will not take part in the team's first official practice of the season on Wednesday. The 24-year-old came close to being a training camp casualty with the Bucs looking to save a little money going into the regular season, but they ultimately decided to keep him around as the RB3 behind Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell. As long as both Irving and Gainwell stay healthy, Tucker belongs on the waiver wire in most redraft fantasy football leagues. He is rostered in only 1% of Yahoo leagues right now after the former undrafted free agent from Syracuse had 320 rushing yards and a career-high seven rushing touchdowns on 86 carries in 2025 in his third year in the NFL with Tampa. Tucker added eight receptions for 34 yards and another score as a receiver in 17 games.

Yesterday

Sean Tucker • RB • Buccaneers

Sean Tucker Not Seen at Buccaneers' Practice

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker (undisclosed), who missed time last week with what head coach Todd Bowles described as a minor injury, was not spotted during Monday's practice, according to beat writer Rick Stroud. Following rumors of a potential split from the team, Tucker recently agreed to a pay cut and is again a candidate to see significant goal-line usage after leading the Buccaneers with seven rushing touchdowns in 2025. The Buccaneers open the 2026 season with a road game against the Bengals, and with the first official injury report of the season set for release on Wednesday, Tucker's status will need to be monitored, as, to this point, the nature of his injury has not been disclosed.

2 days ago

Jalen McMillan • WR • Buccaneers

Jalen McMillan on the Practice Field on Monday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) was seen practicing on Monday, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud. In addition to McMillan, fellow wideout Emeka Egbuka (toe) was on the field, which means the team's top three wideouts -- Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and McMillan -- could all be active for Week 1 this Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Cincinnati Bengals. That would be great news for quarterback Baker Mayfield in a potential shootout as he looks to get out of the gate strong following a disappointing 2025 campaign. McMillan did not play at all in the preseason due to his knee injury, but there is optimism that he will be available this weekend in the regular-season opener. The 24-year-old played in only four games last year due to a serious neck injury that he suffered in the preseason, but he had an impressive 37-461-8 line in 13 games played as a rookie in 2024, and he should have a bigger role this year with Mike Evans no longer around. Still, McMillan will need to hold off rising young receiver Ted Hurst III in a new offense in 2026. McMillan is currently rostered in only 16% of Yahoo leagues and is shaping up as a deep-league sleeper for his Week 1 matchup against the Bengals if he plays this weekend.

2 days ago

Emeka Egbuka • WR • Buccaneers

Emeka Egbuka Practicing on Monday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) is practicing on Monday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Pewter Report reports that Egbuka is "participating in warmups and running routes." It is a good sign to see Egbuka doing something on the field on Monday after he was limited to side work last week. However, the 23-year-old could just be limited and may need to upgrade to a full practice before the end of the week before the Bucs clear him to play in the Week 1 season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jalen McMillan (knee) was also practicing on Monday, so Tampa could have all three of their top wideouts available against Cincy this weekend, in addition to veteran Chris Godwin Jr. That would be good news for quarterback Baker Mayfield in a game in which the Bucs may need to open up the passing playbook in order to keep pace with the Bengals' explosive offense. If Egbuka is cleared to play later this week, fantasy managers should consider him a low-end WR2 option to kick off the season. The Bucs will release their first official practice report of 2026 on Wednesday.

2 days ago

Baker Mayfield • QB • Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield Building Some Bounce-Back Momentum

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has given fantasy managers a few more reasons to buy into a bounce-back. His numbers slipped to 3,693 passing yards and 26 touchdowns last season after the 4,500-yard, 41-score campaign he put together in 2024, but he also played through several injuries and still ran for a career-high 382 yards. Things have gone smoothly enough with new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson that Mayfield said in August the Bucs were in a good place with the new system. Chris Godwin Jr. has helped, too. Tampa Bay's camp coverage said Godwin had returned to peak form, and Mayfield called him the best version of himself after leaning on him throughout camp. There are still questions with Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan banged up and Mike Evans gone, so this is not suddenly a top-end QB1 case. Still, RotoBaller's positional rankings moved Mayfield from QB17 in August to QB16 in the Sept. 3 update. It's a small bump, but the summer has gone well enough to justify it.

3 days ago

Jalen McMillan • WR • Buccaneers

Jalen McMillan's Redraft Appeal Takes Another Hit

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (knee) has lost some of the late-round appeal he carried into training camp. He banged up his knee in early August, missed all three preseason games and was still sidelined when Tampa Bay practiced on Sept. 1. The Bucs remain hopeful he'll be ready for Week 1, but this comes right after a 2025 season that was mostly lost to a serious neck injury. McMillan spent months in a restrictive brace before returning in Week 15 and finished the year with 12 catches for 178 yards in four games. That followed a much more encouraging rookie season, when he caught 37 passes for 461 yards and eight touchdowns. There is still room for him in this offense, but the missed summer work matters with Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka holding clearly defined roles and Ted Hurst III and Tez Johnson also in the mix. RotoBaller had McMillan at WR57 in late August. He's down to WR64 in the Sept. 6 half-PPR rankings.

3 days ago

Ted Hurst III • WR • Buccaneers

Ted Hurst III a Fantasy Riser After Consistently Productive Camp and Preseason

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ted Hurst III is trending up in fantasy football after a consistent and impressive summer. While Emeka Egbuka (toe), Jalen McMillan (knee), and Tez Johnson (groin) all missed portions of camp due to their injuries, Hurst was consistently available for the duration of the summer. Not only did he stay healthy and get consistent reps, but he also had an impressive performance in training camp and the preseason, during which he caught two passes for 19 yards. Head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield have both been outspoken about Hurst's reliability this year, so we wouldn't be surprised to see him take on a significant role this year, despite the fact that the Bucs have a somewhat crowded receiver room. The rookie out of Georgia State currently ranks as the WR83 in RotoBaller's redraft rankings, but we could see him jump into the top 50 by midseason.

3 days ago

Emeka Egbuka • WR • Buccaneers

Emeka Egbuka's Stock Falling Amidst Injury Uncertainty?

Across 17 games as a rookie in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) recorded 63 catches for 938 yards and six touchdowns on 127 targets. When longtime Bucs wideout Mike Evans departed the team in free agency this past spring, it looked like Egbuka would be his successor as the team's WR1. While that may still be the case, Egbuka suffered a sprained toe in training camp that has limited his participation throughout the summer and now has his status for Week 1 in question as well. Egbuka's production also tailed off throughout the course of his rookie season, as he failed to record a touchdown after Week 10 and only topped 50 receiving yards just once in his final eight games. The 23-year-old should still play a significant role in the Tampa Bay passing game once he's fully healthy, but his current injury uncertainty brings some risk to his profile entering 2026.

4 days ago

Kenny Gainwell • RB • Buccaneers

Kenny Gainwell Could See Larger Workload

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell was brought in to be additional depth in the backfield this upcoming season. The Bucs have Bucky Irving as their lead back, but that doesn't mean that Gainwell won't be involved. Gainwell received a two-year, $14 million deal from the Bucs this past offseason. He'll likely fill the pass-catching role in the backfield similar to what Rachaad White did the past few years. Given the injuries the Bucs are facing right now, Gainwell might be asked to do more than expected early in the season. Both Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) are banged up heading into the Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bucs could lean on Gainwell more as a receiving option if the Bucs are limited early in the year. The 27-year-old is looking like an intriguing PPR option heading into Week 1.

4 days ago

Tez Johnson • WR • Buccaneers

Tez Johnson Has Late-Round Appeal in a Banged-Up Receiver Room

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson has worked his way back into the late-round conversation with Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) still sidelined in the team's latest update. Neither has been ruled out for Week 1, but both have missed multiple weeks, which leaves extra snaps up for grabs if one isn't ready. Johnson has already shown he can take advantage of that kind of opening. The former seventh-round pick started eight games as a rookie and caught 28 passes for 322 yards and five touchdowns, then opened this summer as one of Tampa Bay's early camp standouts. A groin strain interrupted his August, but he returned for the preseason finale and caught one pass for nine yards. Chris Godwin Jr. remains ahead of him on the depth chart, and rookie Ted Hurst III has played his way into the early-season mix, so Johnson is far from guaranteed a major role. Still, with Egbuka and McMillan not yet back, he has enough contingency value to justify a final-round shot in deeper leagues.

5 days ago

Bucky Irving • RB • Buccaneers

Bucky Irving a Bounce-Back Candidate with Clean Bill of Health

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is primed to bounce back in fantasy football now that he's fully healthy for the 2026 season. Irving missed a whopping seven games in his second pro season last year, which resulted in him falling to RB34 with just 865 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns. For context, he had been the RB13 the year prior. Irving is now fully healthy again, giving him a good chance to push for a top-12 finish in fantasy football at the running back position. There are certainly some other mouths to feed here, but as far as the backfield goes, Irving has pretty clearly solidified himself over Kenny Gainwell and Sean Tucker. In fact, the presence of those two other backs could allow the Bucs to manage Irving's workload. Sure, that might lower his ceiling slightly, but it will also reduce injury risk and increase the chance of him playing all 17 games. As it stands, Irving ranks as the RB19 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings. He has an ADP of 52.7, which corresponds to the fifth round of fantasy drafts and makes him the 22nd running back off the board.

5 days ago

Cade Otton • TE • Buccaneers

Cade Otton a Potential Early-Season Streamer

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton has rarely flashed for fantasy since coming into the league as a fourth-round pick in 2022, but he has reliably done what's been asked of him, and with the Buccaneers opening the season with a receiver room at less than full strength, he could again be asked to step up. Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) have both been dealing with lingering injuries, putting their Week 1 availability in question. Even if both should suit up for the Buccaneers' season-opener against the Bengals, they could each face a snap count of sorts, providing Otton with a pathway to heavier involvement and an increased target share. Cracking the top 15 of the position four times in 2025, Otton has become a prototypical streamer, and although he ranks as RotoBaller's TE24 for 2026, he has the opportunity to re-enter that conversation straight out of the gate, making him a potentially usable piece early in the year.

6 days ago

Chris Godwin Jr. • WR • Buccaneers

Buccaneers GM Speaks Highly of Chris Godwin Jr.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht praised wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. for his consistency and leadership, Brianna Dix reports. On Monday, Licht talked about how consistent Godwin has been for Tampa Bay and even called him Mr. Clutch. Before his fibula injury, Godwin was a top-20 player at his position. He recorded three straight 1,000-yard campaigns before suffering his injury during the 2024 season. Now, Godwin is fully healthy heading into the 2026 season and should serve as a top target in the Bucs' passing attack. Both Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillian (knee) are banged up right now, so Godwin could be leaned on heavily early in the season.

6 days ago

Emeka Egbuka • WR • Buccaneers

Todd Bowles Remains Cautious Regarding Emeka Egbuka's Week 1 Status

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles is still a bit cautious about wide receivers Emeka Egbuka (toe) and Jalen McMillan (knee) as far as playing in the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. "Headed in the right direction. I don't know how fast. I'll have a better gauge next week. They're moving forward every day," Bowles said. Egbuka got some work in on a side field with trainers on Wednesday, but he has not been a full go with the rest of the team for a while after spraining his toe, and he is a true question mark right now for the season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13. Like Bowles said, fantasy managers will have a better idea of the 23-year-old's Week 1 status next week, when the Bucs start to release official practice statuses. If both Egbuka and McMillan are limited or out in Week 1, it will mean more targets for both Chris Godwin Jr. and Ted Hurst III. Egbuka's case as a legitimate WR2 in fantasy in Year 2 has been tempered this summer due to his toe injury, and he is currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 23 fantasy WR. The former first-rounder from Ohio State had a solid rookie season in 2025 with a 63-938-6 line on 127 targets in 17 games played.

7 days ago

Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

LEGEND