When asked if Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is a potential Rookie of the Year candidate in 2025, head coach Todd Bowles said, "Right now, we don't even consider him a rookie." Egbuka was the talk of training camp this summer, and he's carried it over into the first regular-season games of his NFL career, catching 14 of his 21 targets for 181 yards and three touchdowns as the WR2 with Chris Godwin (ankle) still out. The Ohio State product had three touchdowns in his first two games and then set season highs in catches (six), targets (eight), and receiving yards (85) in the Week 3 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. Egbuka will have more competition for targets when Godwin returns (possibly in Week 4), but the rookie will remain a big part of the passing attack all year long. He has quickly become a must-start in all fantasy leagues.
Sep 22, 2025 1:12 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hip) is officially active for Sunday's contest against the New York Jets. The rookie wideout was unable to practice on both Wednesday and Thursday before returning in a limited capacity on Friday. While Egbuka was cleared to get the start, Adam Schefter of ESPN noted that the former first-round pick could see his snaps monitored in this contest. Through his first two professional games, the Ohio State product has looked rather impressive, catching eight of his 13 targets for 96 yards and three touchdowns. Despite him potentially being limited in this game, managers should still view him as a solid WR3 in all leagues as he remains Baker Mayfield's No. 2 option in the passing attack.
Sep 21, 2025 11:41 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hip, groin) is currently listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the New York Jets. Despite that, Egbuka is in line to play, but could have his snap count monitored, according to Adam Schefter. Egbuka missed the first two practices of the week before getting in a limited session on Friday. It sounds like he's in good enough shape to play, but his value could take a dip. He has been excellent through the first two games of the season. Egbuka has hauled in eight receptions for 96 yards and three touchdowns in two contests. Fantasy managers will need to check back for a final update on his status after warmups.
Sep 21, 2025 9:02 AM EST
According to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hip, groin) will play Sunday against the New York Jets without any restrictions caused by his injuries. The rookie from Ohio State missed two days of practice this week and is listed as questionable, but it appears he'll play as normal come game time. The lack of limitations is great news for managers who roster Egbuka, who already has three touchdowns to his name through two games. He's solidly in WR2/Flex territory against a middling Jets pass defense.
Sep 21, 2025 7:13 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (groin) is expected to play in Week 3 against the New York Jets. Egbuka battled a groin injury late in Week 2's thrilling win over the Houston Texans, missing Wednesday and Thursday practices before returning on Friday. The Jets have struggled defensively in 2025, allowing 30+ points to both the Steelers and Bills, and the Buccaneers' potent offense is aiming for similar production. Egbuka remains a WR2 option for Week 3, looking to score for a third consecutive game.
Sep 20, 2025 12:54 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (groin, hip) will be questionable for Week 3 against the visiting New York Jets on Sunday, according to Brianna Dix of Buccaneers.com. The good news is that Egbuka returned to practice on Friday after sitting out on Wednesday and Thursday. With Chris Godwin (ankle) officially ruled out again, veteran Sterling Shepard would be worth a look as a flex streamer this weekend as the team's WR2 if Egbuka is inactive. If he's cleared to play on Sunday, Egbuka should remain in all starting fantasy lineups after going for eight catches on 13 targets for 96 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games of his NFL career. Egbuka has been great as the WR2 behind Mike Evans so far, but this could be the last week that he's the clear No. 2 option if Godwin returns in Week 4.
Sep 19, 2025 12:31 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (groin, hip) was back on the practice field on Friday after sitting out on Wednesday and Thursday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. It's good news for the Bucs, but Egbuka isn't exactly in the clear to play in Week 4 against the New York Jets. There's a good chance the 22-year-old will be listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report. The Bucs play in the early window on Sunday, though, so fantasy managers will know early whether Egbuka will be active against the Jets. The Ohio State product will be a must-start this weekend if he's active, as he's caught eight passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns on 13 targets in his first two NFL games. If Egbuka doesn't get cleared to play this weekend, Sterling Shepard would be the WR2 across from Mike Evans, with Chris Godwin (ankle) not expected back until at least Week 4.
Sep 19, 2025 12:20 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hip, groin) remained out of practice on Thursday, per Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com. This comes as a bit of a surprise, as earlier reporting indicated that Egbuka would practice in a limited capacity on Thursday after missing practice on Wednesday. The 22-year-old is off to an excellent start to his NFL career, recording eight catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns through Tampa Bay's first two games. However, his status for Week 3 against the New York Jets now appears to be in doubt. If Egbuka is unable to play, Buccaneers wideouts Mike Evans and Sterling Shepard would both likely be in line for a bump in targets.
Sep 18, 2025 4:25 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hip, groin) is expected to practice on Thursday, despite not being available for the portion of practice open to the media. The Ohio State alum was tagged with a DNP to start the week of preparation, but it's good news that he'll be out there in some fashion the next day. Egbuka has paced all Buccaneers wideouts in snaps thus far, including running mate Mike Evans, who he outsnapped 74-63 in their Week 2 win. It's unclear when exactly the rookie sustained his injuries, but as of now, they don't seem to threaten his status for the team's home meeting with the New York Jets on Sunday. That said, fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on the capacity in which he practices on Friday. He'll be a low-end WR2 with upside if he's active.
Sep 18, 2025 12:09 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (groin, hip) has been as advertised through his first two NFL games, but he's dealing with multiple injuries and was unable to practice on Wednesday as the team started preparations for a Week 3 contest against the New York Jets. Egbuka has been a very reliable WR2 across from Mike Evans early on with Chris Godwin (ankle) still sidelined, as he's caught eight of his 13 targets for 96 yards and a league-leading three touchdowns. It's unclear if the 22-year-old's injuries will threaten his availability for Sunday against New York, but fantasy managers will want to keep a close eye on his practice status the next couple of days. If Egbuka can play, he needs to remain in all starting fantasy lineups against a Jets defense that has underwhelmed through two weeks. If Egbuka is out in Week 3, veteran Sterling Shepard could be in play as a sneaky flex play.
Sep 17, 2025 6:35 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka built on his strong NFL debut with another good game in Week 2. He helped the Bucs overcome the Texans in Houston on Monday Night with four catches for 29 yards and his third touchdown of the season. Egbuka was second on the team in targets with seven passes thrown his way by Baker Mayfield. He could have had an even bigger game if he had been able to bring in either of his two deep targets, so the potential for even more production is still there for the exciting rookie out of Ohio State. He and the Bucs take on the Jets in Week 3, and if he continues to be the team's second receiver, he'll once again bring a very high ceiling, especially with Sauce Gardner focused on locking down Mike Evans. Egbuka now has eight catches on 13 targets for 96 yards and three touchdowns in his two NFL games.
Sep 16, 2025 9:20 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka got his NFL career started off with a bang last week. The rookie wideout hauled in four of his six targets for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Atlanta Falcons. He delivered a beautiful 30-yard score in the second quarter. Egbuka found the end zone again with a 25-yard grab as the game-winning score. It's tough to have a much better debut than that right there. He figures to continue having a significant role in the offense with Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) both out. In PPR formats, Egbuka should be viewed as a low-end WR2 for the upcoming Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans.
Sep 12, 2025 6:12 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka had a ton of hype surrounding him coming into the regular season. Due to injuries, Egbuka moved into the No. 2 wideout role for the Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The rookie wideout didn't disappoint as he got heavily involved in the win. Egbuka scored his first career touchdown on a 30-yard reception in the second quarter. He would find the end zone again in what would turn out to be the game-winning 25-yard score. Egbuka finished his debut with four receptions on six targets for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The rookie wideout should remain a viable option against the Houston Texans in Week 2.
Sep 7, 2025 6:45 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is set to make his NFL debut against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The Bucs selected Egbuka with their first-round pick during this year's draft. At first glance, Egbuka was brought in as depth, but has quickly moved up the depth chart due to injuries. Both Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) are sidelined to begin the season. That being said, Egbuka will line up as the No. 2 wideout alongside Mike Evans in Week 1. The expectation is that the rookie wideout is going to make an immediate impact in Tampa Bay. The Falcons struggled to contain the passing game last season. It's tough to know how a rookie will perform in his first game, but given the circumstances, Egbuka figures to be able to offer WR3 value.
Sep 5, 2025 9:06 PM EST
Dan Graziano of ESPN says that he's drafting Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka "everywhere I can." Not only did Tampa fall in love with the former Ohio State star before taking him in the first round, but they've "grown to covet him even more since" and "believe he can play any of the wide receiver positions in their offense." In addition to all that, Chris Godwin (ankle) has yet to practice after dislocating his ankle in Week 7 of last year, and Jalen McMillan (neck) could miss around half the year. Graziano says to expect the Bucs to use Egbuka "in the slot and on the outside as needed." In a pass-happy offense, the 22-year-old pass-catcher could be targeted heavily early on behind WR1 Mike Evans. And the good news for those that took Egbuka in their drafts is that he should remain involved once Godwin and McMillan return, whenever that may be.
Sep 4, 2025 12:51 PM EST
An unnamed NFC executive told The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue that Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is "plug and play" and "will be pro-ready." Egbuka is expected to play a prominent role in Tampa Bay's offense right away, with fellow wide receivers Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) both set to miss the beginning of the season. Egbuka won a national championship in his final collegiate season at Ohio State, recording 81 receptions for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns in the process. Given his prospect pedigree as a first-round pick and the opportunity for immediate contribution with the Buccaneers, Egbuka has been a deserved riser throughout fantasy draft season. He profiles as a high-upside fantasy WR3 for 2025.
Sep 2, 2025 11:17 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka could be in store for a massive role in the passing attack early in the season. According to Greg Auman of FOX Sports, Tampa Bay veteran wideout Chris Godwin (ankle) is not expected to return to action until October. In addition, second-year wideout Jalen McMillan (neck) is slated to miss the vast majority of the season. As a result, Egbuka could slot in as the clear No. 2 option opposite Mike Evans for the better part of his debut season. The Buccaneers selected Egbuka out of Ohio State in the opening round of this year's draft. Egbuka finished his time at Ohio State, totalling 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final campaign. Given Tampa Bay's current wide receiver room, Egbuka's ADP will continue to climb as the regular season approaches. He should hold WR2 value with upside during their Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Aug 28, 2025 4:38 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is primed to open his rookie campaign as the team's WR2 behind veteran Mike Evans with Jalen McMillan (neck) to open the year on Injured Reseve with a "severely sprained neck." McMillan could be out beyond the team's Week 9 bye. Additionally, Chris Godwin (ankle) could open the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would require him to miss at least the first four games. Not only will the 22-year-old rookie out of Ohio State have a prime role in a pass-happy offense to begin the year, but all reports out of training camp on Egbuka have been glowing. The 19th overall pick in April's NFL draft could be targeted heavily with Evans drawing plenty of attention across the field. Right now, RotoBaller has Egbuka ranked as the WR32 in fantasy, and his stock is only rising.
Aug 24, 2025 1:21 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka didn't see a ton of action, but was able to help his team during their second preseason matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. Egbuka was on the field for the first three drives and made an impact during his little time on the field. The rookie wideout hauled in one of his two targets for a five-yard touchdown. It was an impressive corner grab by Egbuka and a solid throw by quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Egbuka could be asked to make an impact early in the season if Chris Godwin (ankle) is sidelined to start the season.
Aug 17, 2025 9:23 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has been a standout performer in training camp practices, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. Laine writes that Egbuka has "stepped into Chris Godwin's role as (Tampa Bay's) big slot receiver." With Godwin (ankle) potentially sidelined to start the regular season while he recovers from ankle surgery, Egbuka could be in line for significant playing time immediately. In his final collegiate season at Ohio State in 2024, Egbuka caught 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns in 16 games. The 22-year-old profiles as a fringe WR3/flex option with significant upside, particularly if Godwin struggles to return to full health in 2025.
Aug 6, 2025 7:12 PM EST
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