Emeka Egbuka

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wide Receiver
FANTASY NEWS STATS INJURY

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Emeka Egbuka the New WR1 in Tampa Bay?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has climbed up the depth chart and could open next season as Baker Mayfield's No. 1 target in the passing game. Legendary wide receiver Mike Evans recently signed with the 49ers after 12 years in Tampa Bay, leaving Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. atop the wide receiver depth chart. Both Egbuka and Godwin had their ups and downs last season, but the former has significantly greater upside and offers more of a threat to make big plays in contested one-on-one scenarios downfield. In other words, he edges out Godwin in terms of the superstar potential needed to fill the void of someone like Evans. The former Ohio State first-round pick finished his rookie campaign with 63 catches, 938 yards, and six touchdowns. He was the overall WR23 in PPR leagues, and that was after he came back down to earth during the second half of the season. Through the first five weeks of his rookie season, he had ranked as the WR3 in PPR leagues. Egbuka has already shown that he can be a top-five fantasy receiver, so we wouldn't be totally surprised if he returns to that form as the post-Evans era gets underway in 2026.

Mar 11, 2026 9:17 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Could be Primed for Year 2 Breakout

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka faded after a slow start in his rookie NFL season in 2025, but he could have a clear path to his first 1,000-yard season next year with veteran wideout Mike Evans set to test the free-agent market. Over his first five career games, the 23-year-old 19th overall pick out of Ohio State caught 25 of his 38 targets for 445 yards and five touchdowns. Injuries to Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan helped Egbuka's cause as one of quarterback Baker Mayfield's go-to options through the air. Egbuka started to cool off for fantasy managers when Evans, Godwin, and McMillan all returned from their injuries. Still, it was a very successful first year in the NFL for Egbuka, who finished with a 63-938-6 line on 127 targets in 17 regular-season games. He should have an elevated target share with a very high ceiling in fantasy in 2026 if Evans signs elsewhere in free agency.

Mar 4, 2026 1:11 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Primed for Consistent 2026 Season?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka came out of the gates as a clear favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, racking up 445 receiving yards and five touchdowns in the first five games of his career. Unfortunately, a Week 6 hamstring tweak and an inexplicable lack of chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield limited him to only 493 yards and one touchdown over his next 12 games. While neither Egbuka nor Mayfield missed a start, they were both clearly affected by injury at points throughout the year. With Chris Godwin Jr., Mike Evans, and Jalen McMillan in and out of the lineup with injuries of their own, Egbuka was never able to find a late-season rhythm as he worked to break through the rookie wall. Mike Evans has recently suggested he would be open to continuing his career outside of Tampa Bay, which could open a massive opportunity for Egbuka in year two. However, if the Buccaneers run it back in 2026 with the same foursome atop the depth chart, he may still struggle to find a consistent role and be viewed as a better-in-best-ball wideout.

Feb 19, 2026 9:00 AM EST

Emeka Egbuka Starts Fast, Finishes Slow in Rookie Season

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka entered the NFL with high expectations after Tampa took him with the 19th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. Egbuka quickly showed that his talent was for real, catching 25 of his 38 targets for 445 yards and five touchdowns in his first five NFL games. The 23-year-old would only go on to catch one more touchdown pass the rest of the way, though, to finish with 63 receptions for 938 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 17 contests. Egbuka opened 2025 with a substantial role, with both Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan dealing with injuries. Veteran Mike Evans also went down due to injury during the season, which assured Egbuka of a heavy target share. Once both Evans and Godwin returned, Egbuka saw his role shrink dramatically. Egbuka's talent will play long-term, but he could have his fantasy upside capped in 2026 if Evans, Godwin, and McMillan are all in the fold.

Jan 27, 2026 5:59 PM EST

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.

Jan 2, 2026 9:55 AM EST

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, 2025 1:13 AM EST

Emeka Egbuka Needs to Bounce Back in Week 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has seen a significant drop-off since his fantastic beginning to the season. Over the last six games, Egbuka has been held to under 45 receiving yards in every game but one. The return of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan isn't going to do Egbuka any favors in terms of target share. The Bucs have a lot of mouths to feed, and unfortunately, Egbuka is getting lost in the shuffle. He hauled in one of his two targets for 40 yards during last week's loss to the Carolina Panthers. Egbuka should be viewed as a WR3 for the Week 17 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The upside is great, but Egbuka isn't getting the ball enough to be trustworthy in most formats right now.

Dec 26, 2025 3:16 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Could Be More Involved in Week 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka caught only one pass in a Week 16 loss to the Panthers, but offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard told the media on Wednesday that he would like to get his rookie wideout more involved, specifically noting the importance of getting him the ball early. After a red-hot start to the season that had him looking like a locked-in Rookie of the Year candidate, Egbuka has failed to top 65 receiving yards in six straight games, and he's caught only one touchdown since Week 5. With the recent returns to health of Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan, he has also seen two of his lowest snap shares of the season over the past two weeks. Grizzard's words should offer encouragement to fantasy managers forced into starting Egbuka in their Week 17 title matches, but he's still a perilous play given his recent usage.

Dec 24, 2025 2:54 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Offers Shaky WR3 Value in Week 15

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has struggled to produce any consistent numbers over the last month of the season. Egbuka has finished with 42 receiving yards or fewer in four straight games. His target share has been there, with eight targets or more in seven consecutive contests. Unfortunately, Egbuka and quarterback Baker Mayfield aren't on the same page right now. Egbuka's fantasy value could drop even more going forward with veteran Mike Evans (collarbone) trending in the right direction to return in Week 15. Egbuka figures to lose targets to Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. to close out what has been a strong first NFL season. The rookie wideout has enough big-play potential to warrant a look for the Thursday night matchup versus the Atlanta Falcons, but fantasy managers might want to temper their expectations for him as a WR3/flex.

Dec 10, 2025 10:17 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Falls into WR3 Territory Going into Week 13

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka hasn't found much success over the last few weeks. Egbuka has been held to 40 receiving yards or fewer in three of the last four games. The rookie wideout has shown great flashes, but has also posted a good amount of duds. It's also worth noting that quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder) is extremely banged up right now, so it's unclear how well he'll be in the passing game this weekend. Egbuka has tremendous upside, but has the floor of a WR3 for the upcoming Week 13 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Nov 28, 2025 7:53 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Considered a WR2 for Week 12

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's Week 12 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Egbuka has been battling an illness this week, but it's not serious enough to hold him out of this contest. The rookie wideout has slowed down in the second half after his epic beginning to the year. Egbuka has been held to 50 receiving yards or less in three of his last five games. The hope is that he'll rebound in what should be a high-scoring affair against the Rams this weekend. Egbuka has too much upside to keep out of fantasy lineups right now. However, he's probably not anything more than a WR2 at the moment

Nov 21, 2025 5:33 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Still Limited on Thursday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (illness) remained a limited participant in practice on Thursday. He has maintained the same status for two days in a row, and he'll likely need to log a full practice on Friday to avoid any sort of injury designation. If he remains limited for a third day, he'll presumably end up with a "questionable" tag. Egbuka isn't the only player under the weather; six Buccaneers players are listed on the injury report with an illness, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, who upgraded to a full participant on Thursday. Fantasy managers should remain optimistic that Egbuka, a standout rookie, will recover in time for Sunday's Week 12 contest against the Los Angeles Rams. He remains a high-end WR2 in fantasy football despite scoring double-digit fantasy points just once over his last five games.

Nov 20, 2025 9:27 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Misses Practice With Illness

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (illness) was one of six players who didn't practice on Wednesday due to an illness, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Quarterback Baker Mayfield also wasn't feeling well, but both players should be ready to go in time for a Sunday night affair against the hosting Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Receiver Chris Godwin (leg) is nearing a return from a fibular injury that has kept him sidelined since Week 5, but even if Godwin is back this weekend, Egbuka should continue to be Mayfield's go-to target through the air. Egbuka has lived up to the hype so far in his first NFL season and leads the Bucs in catches (45), targets (85), receiving yards (717), and touchdowns (six) through 10 games. The matchup against the Rams isn't ideal, but Egbuka will still have WR1 upside for fantasy purposes.

Nov 19, 2025 8:00 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Remains a WR1 for Week 11

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka bounced back nicely during last week's game against the New England Patriots. The rookie wideout posted a few duds over the last couple of games, but played well last weekend. Egbuka hauled in six of his 13 targets for 115 yards and a touchdown in the loss. The Bucs offense is extremely banged up, so Egbuka should likely continue seeing double digit targets. Sadly, Egbuka and quarterback Baker Mayfield haven't always been on the same page. The upside is too high to be ignored, so plug in Egbuka as a WR1 against the Buffalo Bills in Week 11.

Nov 14, 2025 5:46 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Bounces Back in Week 10

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka bounced back in a big way during Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. He got the fun started early with a 21-yard touchdown grab on the Bucs opening drive. Egbuka continues to be a focal point on this Bucs offense that is extremely shorthanded. The rookie wideout hauled in six of his 13 targets for 115 yards and a score in the loss. It's unclear if the Bucs will get any reinforcements ahead of their Week 11 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Regardless, Egbuka should remain a big factor in this offense going forward.

Nov 9, 2025 6:47 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Needs to Bounce Back in Week 10

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has seen a significant drop-off since his tremendous start to the season. Over the last three games, Egbuka has been held to under 50 receiving yards in two of those contests. The targets have been there, but the rookie wideout and quarterback Baker Mayfield haven't been on the same page lately. It's worth noting that Egbuka was nursing a hamstring injury, so hopefully he's back to full health after the bye week. The Bucs will need Egbuka to rebound this weekend against the New England Patriots. Fantasy managers need to keep plugging Egbuka into their lineups and hope he's able to get back to his elite ways.

Nov 7, 2025 5:06 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Practicing Fully, Looking Good for Sunday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) looked like his normal self in his return to practice on Wednesday. Egbuka used the bye to recover and seems ready for a big Week 10 matchup with the New England Patriots. The rookie leads all Bucs players with 34 receptions for 662 yards and five touchdowns. He has seen 21 targets over his last two games, further proving his emergence in this offense. Egbuka should be started in all formats this week, as he faces a Patriots defense that ranks 15th against fantasy wide receivers.

Nov 5, 2025 2:09 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Ready to Bounce Back in Week 8

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) has been cleared to suit up for the Week 8 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Egbuka suffered a hamstring injury in Week 6, but still suited up during last Monday's game against the Detroit Lions. The rookie wideout struggled as he hauled in four of his 12 targets for 58 yards in the loss. The hope is that Egbuka is close to 100 percent healthy now. The Bucs will need him to be the focal point on offense with Mike Evans (collarbone), Chris Godwin (leg), and Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) all sidelined. Egbuka was on a roll before this injury, so he should be viewed as a must-start WR1 this weekend.

Oct 24, 2025 5:25 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Returns to Thursday's Practice

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) was spotted at practice on Thursday, according to Pewter Report. The standout rookie ultimately suited up in the team's loss to the Lions in Week 7, although he wasn't seen at practice on Wednesday. It undoubtedly bodes well for his status ahead of Tampa Bay's Week 8 road matchup with the New Orleans Saints. Fantasy managers will still want to keep an eye on his game-time designation this Sunday, but he projects to be out there after playing 75% of snaps on Monday night. Look for him to get back on track against a Saints squad that's yielded the sixth-most points per game (26.6) if he's good to go, particularly with the Bucs down a myriad of skill players.

Oct 23, 2025 12:00 PM EST

Emeka Egbuka Begins Week 8 With a DNP

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) was unable to practice on Wednesday, per Brianna Dix of Buccaneers.com. Egbuka injured his hamstring in Week 6 and only practiced one day before suiting up in the Monday night loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 7. The Ohio State product played 75% of the offensive snaps and didn't look 100% healthy, catching only four of his 12 targets for 58 yards against an injury-ravaged Detroit secondary. He's clearly still not 100%, but if he can return to practice on either Thursday or Friday, he figures to play this Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. Mike Evans (collarbone) will miss most of the rest of the year, and Chris Godwin (leg) will miss another game, so if Egbuka is active this weekend, he should be good for double-digit targets from quarterback Baker Mayfield. In his first five NFL games before getting hurt, Egbuka was fantastic with 25 catches, 445 yards, and five touchdowns on 38 targets.

Oct 22, 2025 6:07 PM EST