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.
Dan Fornek’s Emeka Egbuka Fantasy Projection
No rookie has gotten more positive buzz throughout training camp than Emeka Egbuka. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers unexpectedly took Egbuka in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay returned Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan and re-signed Chris Godwin in free agency, making Egbuka’s fit a confusing one initially. However, as the offseason has progressed, it’s clear that Godwin is still recovering from the dislocated ankle he suffered in 2024.
That gives Egbuka an immediate path to playing time, which he has taken advantage of during practices. Egbuka frequently gets open, makes plays, and generates yards after a catch. He’s consistently been praised by the coaching staff and Baker Mayfield for his preparedness and ability to get open.
MORE:Â Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
That should be surprising since he racked up 205 receptions for 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns in four seasons at Ohio State despite competing for targets with players like Garrett Wilson, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jeremiah Smith.
Egbuka seemingly has the inside path to starting in two wide receiver sets and being the secondary target earner to Mike Evans. Given how much the Buccaneers targeted the slot last year, he could be poised for a high-volume role until Godwin returns to full health. The rookie should immediately get enough workload to be considered a WR2 in fantasy.
