The Tampa Bay Buccaneers absolutely did not need to draft a wide receiver, let alone one in the first round. Yet, here we are with Emeka Egbuka joining a crowded wide receiving corps with two established stars in front of him. Is there any hope for the rookie in fantasy football this season?
Emeka Egbuka Fantasy Outlook
Last year, Egbuka was considered a first-round dynasty rookie selection. Then, he decided to return for his senior season.
We know the stigma against four-year players is real. However, it can also be taken a bit too far. Early declarations are viewed more favorably because they show an ability to perform at a high level sooner. Ebguka could go to the NFL as a junior. He simply chose not to. Chris Olave did the same thing. Last season, Egbuka caught 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Ohio State has a good track record for producing competent NFL-caliber wide receivers. Given that Egbuka was pro-ready a year ago, he should be able to hit the ground running.
This feels like Olave’s situation since the talented and NFL-ready WR was dinged for returning to school for an extra year.
Egbuka is a fundamentally sound receiver, so he didn’t need to be fast or super-athletic. But he did it anyway, running a 4.42 40-time for a 97th-percentile speed score.
Emeka Egbuka 2025 #ReceptionPerception Prospect Profile 👀
– 68.1% success rate vs man
– 83.6% success rate vs zone (82nd percentile)
– 81.3% success rate vs press (very limited reps caveat)
– Strong set of handsMy appreciation for Egbuka grew the more games I added to the… pic.twitter.com/r9gSzNLXzH
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) March 28, 2025
The landing spot in Tampa Bay is excellent for Egbuka long-term. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are 32 and 29 years old. Baker Mayfield is only 30 and not going anywhere. As early as 2026, Egbuka could be the WR1 on this team. This does pose a problem specifically in 2025, though.
Fantasy managers are already drawing comparisons between Egbuka’s situation and Rome Odunze’s last year, who was stuck behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba two years ago, who was trapped behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
There is absolutely a scenario where Evans and Godwin are mostly healthy and Egbuka is relegated to WR3 duties all season. As great as Mayfield is, it’s almost impossible for any quarterback to support three highly productive pass catchers. If Evans and Godwin are healthy and performing at peak ability, Egbuka’s ceiling likely rests in the WR3 range.
With that said, Evans missed three games with a hamstring strain last season, and Godwin is coming off a broken ankle. Staying healthy in the NFL is difficult. It’s more likely than not that one of, if not both, Evans and Godwin miss time. There’s also the chance this is the year Evans declines. We have not seen any signs, but it happens quickly, especially for wide receivers with Evans’ skill set.
Any game in which Egbuka can get himself into the WR2 spot on his team presents an opportunity for him to entrench himself as a starter further. Remember, this is a very talented player. If Egbuka can get on the field and make himself undeniable, there’s a possibility that he could force more targets his way.
We must address Jalen McMillan’s breakout over the final five weeks of last season. He posted WR1 numbers for each of those contests. However, if the Bucs were confident with McMillan as their WR3, they would not have drafted Egbuka. Draft capital matters, and I expect Egbuka to open the season clearly ahead of McMillan.
There’s a real chance Egbuka’s rookie year looks like JSN’s or Odunze’s, and he’s barely worth rostering. But we play to win the game. There’s also no denying Egbuka has WR2 upside. Given his WR46 ADP, I am willing to chase that.
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Mayfield is playing like the guy the Browns thought they were getting when they selected him No. 1 overall in 2018. The Bucs also project to have a bad defense. They play in a division with multiple teams in domes and have a lot of potential shootouts on their schedule.
I have Egbuka ranked as my WR36. I am extremely bullish on him. If he can get to around 12 fantasy points per game, that would be a great return on investment.
Frank Ammirante’s Emeka Egbuka Fantasy Projection
Emeka Egbuka is one of my top targets in fantasy football drafts — he put up 1,000-plus yards in two seasons at Ohio State. Egbuka has a fantasy-friendly profile as a potential high-volume slot receiver who can also play on the perimeter. The Bucs’ rookie has even drawn comparisons to teammate Chris Godwin.
Speaking of Godwin, he’s currently recovering from a dislocated ankle that ended his season last year. The veteran’s status is in doubt for Week 1, which would immediately force Egbuka into an enhanced role. All reports indicate that the rookie has been balling out throughout camp, described as a polished receiver who can make an impact right away.Â
While this is a crowded WR room that also includes Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan, the Bucs are a pass-heavy offense that should be involved in several shootouts throughout the year. There’s upside that Egbuka can emerge as one of the top targets in Tampa.Â
Even though the price has increased, I’m still willing to take a swing for the fences at Egbuka as a high-upside WR3.
