2025 Fantasy Football: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Preview

The Buccaneers’ offensive weapons dealt with numerous injuries last year, with Chris Godwin missing 10 games, Jalen McMillan missing 4 games, and Mike Evans and Cade Otton each missing 3 games.  Despite that, Tampa Bay ranked 1st on 3rd downs, 3rd in time of possession and rush yards per play, 4th in the red zone and points per game and 5th in pass yards per play.

The areas they struggled in were in goal-to-go (16th) and interception rate (27th).  Now, they return their core with the addition of first-round receiver Emeka Egbuka.  McMillan and stellar running back Bucky Irving have a year of experience under their belt, and Evans is motivated in a contract year with no signs of decline.

QB:  Baker Mayfield

Mayfield had a bounceback year in 2023, setting career-highs in completion percentage (64.3%), passing yards (4,044) and passing TDs (28).  Last year, despite all of the missed time from his top weapons, he bested each of those numbers with 71.4% on completions, 4,500 passing yards and 41 TDs.

The only negative to be noted about his season was the increase in interceptions, which rose to 16, the second-highest total of his career, following his 21 interceptions in 2019.  The 16 INTs tied Kirk Cousins for the most in the NFL last season.  

TAMPA, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 10: Bucky Irving #7 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers carries the ball to score a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Raymond James Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

RB:  Bucky Irving

Irving came out strong as a rookie and by mid-October took over the top spot in the backfield.  Then, by December, the Bucs let him take an even bigger share of the workload.  Over his last 8 games last year, Irving rushed 124 times for 703 yards (5.7) and 5 TDs.  He also finished his rookie season with 47 receptions for 392 yards.

RB:  Rachaad White

White hasn’t been an efficient runner in the NFL with 3.6 and 3.7 yards per carry in his first 2 seasons.  Irving’s success allowed his rushing work to almost be cut in half year-over-year as he finished 2024 with 144 carries, down from 272 the year prior.  The limited role provided for his best return in yards per carry at 4.3.

White has caught 50+ passes in each of his 3 NFL seasons.  He’ll continue to have a role in the offense due to his ability to find the endzone in the passing game.  Despite only having 4 more receptions than Irving, White recorded 6 more TDs as Irving failed to reach pay dirt as a receiver.

RB:  Sean Tucker

White missed 1 game last year, and Tucker made the most of it by rushing 14 times for 136 yards and a TD.  He also caught all 3 of his targets in that game for 56 yards and a TD.  The 136 rush yards is more than White has ever recorded in any of his 50 games and 40 NFL starts.  White’s top performances were 25 for 105 in 2022 and 15 for 100 and 25 for 102, both in 2023.

WR:  Mike Evans

Evans turns 32 in August and is in the last year of his contract, but doesn’t seem to be slowing down.  He’s the model of consistency, having played 11 NFL seasons and gone over 1,000 yards receiving in all 11 seasons.  In the last 5 seasons he’s caught between 70-79 receptions each year.  In 4 of those 5 years, he’s caught 11+ TDs, with 3 of those years hitting 13+ TDs.

WR:  Chris Godwin

After playing in 32 of 32 games in his first two years in the league, Godwin would miss time in each of the next four seasons, averaging three missed games per season.  In 2023, he started in all 17 games before missing 10 games last year.  The Bucs gave him a 3-year extension this offseason, but hedged their bet with the first-round selection of Emeka Egbuka in the draft. 

WR:  Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka is a smart receiver who wins in his routes with shakes, fakes and changing up pace.  He’ll lull defenders to sleep by slowing, only to accelerate out of a cut or double move.  He’s deadly against zone coverage.  Defensive backs who don’t play the ball are dead, as he displays quick, late hands not to tip the arrival or location of the oncoming pass.

Egbuka does almost all of his damage before the reception, as he’s not elusive, explosive, or able to routinely break tackles after the catch.  His yards after catch only come if there’s a spacing issue or blocking that allows for a runway. 

WR:  Jalen McMillan

McMillan couldn’t have been thrilled with the addition of Egbuka and Godwin’s extension in tandem.  McMillan must have felt that he had shown enough after the way he ended his rookie season.  In his last 5 games, he was targeted 31 times.  He caught 24 of those passes for 316 yards (13.2 ypr & 77% catch rate) for 7 TDs. 

The injuries at the skill positions last year may have prompted the Bucs to acquire more top-end talent, even at their depth positions.  Also, Evans and Godwin could both be gone after 2026.  The addition of Egbuka to McMillan gives them an early start at resetting at the position and allows them both to learn from 2 talented veterans.

TE:  Cade Otton

Otton only missed 1 game in his first 2 seasons as a pro.  Despite missing 3 games last year, he still set career-highs in targets (87), receptions (59) and receiving yards (600).  The 4 TDs also tied his career-high set the previous season with Mayfield.  He should be in line to top all of those marks, unless the Bucs decide to run a ton of 10 personnel with the weapons they have.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 5: Rachaad White #29 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is congratulated by Cade Otton #88 and Robert Hainsey after his touchdown against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on December 5, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

BREAKOUT PLAYER:  Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka gets to enter the NFL as a first-round receiver that will be an afterthought to opposing defenses as they have to worry about Evans, Godwin, Otton and Irving, also in the passing game, along with the fear of Mayfield running.  He’ll finish the year with 60 / 600 / 4. 

BUST:  Rachaad White

White has been sub-par as a rusher in the NFL.  His value has predominantly been as a receiver out of the backfield.  This year, he’ll fail to reach 50+ receptions and 100 carries for the first time as a pro.  His 9 total TDs in each of the last 2 seasons will be cut almost in half as he finishes with 5 for the year.

SLEEPER:  Sean Tucker

Tucker had 1 less rush TD than White on a third of the carries and 1 more receiving TD on a fifth of the receptions.  He’ll eat into White’s carries this season and will see his carries, rush yards, receptions and total TDs double year-over-year.  He finishes with 600 rush yards, 18 receptions, and 6 total TDs.

BOLD PREDICTION:  Baker Mayfield

Mayfield is coming off his best season and has tons of weapons.  At running back, he has a talented young back who averaged 5.4 yards per carry and caught 47 passes, which was 2nd among RBs on the team.  At receiver, Mike Evans puts up 1,000 yards and 11+ TDs almost yearly, Godown was re-signed, Egbuka was drafted, and McMillan grows even more in Year 2.  At tight end, Otton returns from a career year.

Mayfield is coming off a season in which he tied for the most INTs in the NFL and has struggled with turnovers for most of his career.  He has less than a 2-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio for his career, but will finish 2025 with a 4-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio with 40 TD passes to only 10 INTs.