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
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard said that rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has exceeded expectations in terms of communication, picking up the playbook and running crisp routes so far in training camp. A report surfaced on Monday from Bucs beat writer Brianna Dix that the 22-year-old has looked like a polished veteran so far this summer and impressed the coaching staff with his perfectionist mentality. This is all worth keeping an eye on as training camp progresses, especially with Chris Godwin (ankle) still on the Physically Unable to Perform list. When Tampa's receivers are all healthy and on the field, Egbuka could struggle for consistent targets behind Mike Evans and Godwin, but if Godwin's ankle injury has him at less than 100% early on, there could be a path to immediate fantasy relevance for the Ohio State product.
Jul 29, 2025 6:10 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has turned heads during his first NFL training camp. The first-round rookie out of Ohio State has shown precise routes, high football IQ, and the ability to play all three wide-receiver positions. He told reporters on Monday that he strives to be an overachiever and a perfectionist. "I think part of that has led me to get here," he went on to say. Egbuka has plenty of competition for targets as he will line up on the same field as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but the early signs are that his strong work ethic and dedication will lead to him having a successful NFL career. For now, he should be treated as a WR5 in redraft leagues for upcoming drafts, but he remains a blue-chip prospect in all dynasty formats.
Jul 29, 2025 8:20 AM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is expected to have a big role in the offense in his first year in the NFL, especially with Chris Godwin recovering from ankle surgery, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. Egbuka is already helping the Bucs stretch the field horizontally and has looked like a running back at times while showing up in the short passing game. However, the 22-year-old from Ohio State has also made big plays down the field during offseason practices. "The thing that sticks out is how cerebral he is," quarterback Baker Mayfield said. "He's so smart. Right now, I think we could plug-and-play him at every [wide] receiver spot; he understands the offense that well. That's just him being a pro already." Egbuka is extremely attractive in dynasty/keeper leagues, but his redraft fantasy value in 2025 could depend on whether injuries in front of him open up more opportunities.
Jun 26, 2025 6:52 PM EST
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has been "the talk" of minicamp. "Emeka has really strong hands," said fellow wideout Mike Evans. "He looks like a running back, but he catches like Chris Godwin. He's a very polished, well-rounded player." The former Buckeye signed his four-year, $18.1 million rookie contract in May after amassing 205 receptions for 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns in 49 games at Ohio State. The Bucs' receiving room is loaded, although it appears Egbuka has a real chance to move up the depth chart during training camp, potentially occupying the No. 3 spot behind Godwin and Evans. Granted, he probably won't see the volume needed to be a consistent fantasy producer throughout the 2025 campaign. However, if there are injuries within the receiving corps, that could change. If anything, Egbuka is worth selecting in the first few rounds of dynasty drafts, especially since Godwin and Evans aren't getting any younger and Godwin is coming off a serious ankle injury. He's also someone to consider late in redraft formats.
Jun 14, 2025 8:25 PM EST
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed first-round rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka to a four-year, $18.1 million contract on Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Despite the fact the Bucs still have Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (ankle), they elected to take Egbuka out of Ohio State with the 19th overall pick in this year's NFL draft. The 6-foot-1, 202-pound 22-year-old is versatile and can move around the field, but he could struggle for volume in his rookie season in 2025 as long as both Evans and Godwin stay on the field. The addition of Egbuka is bad news for second-year pass-catcher Jalen McMillan. Egbuka was highly productive for the Buckeyes, setting a school record of 205 career catches for 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns in 49 games. He should be the favorite to be Tampa's WR3 this season and will be a very attractive dynasty/keeper draft pick for the long term.
May 9, 2025 12:17 PM EST
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