Who Should I Start? Tez Johnson or Efton Chism III

Friday, March 27, 6:00 PM

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers let future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans walk in free agency to the San Francisco 49ers, but second-year wideout Tez Johnson might still have an uphill battle for regular playing time in 2026. The Bucs took Johnson in the seventh round last year out of Oregon, and he ended up playing more snaps on offense than most people expected in his rookie campaign, thanks to injuries to Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan. The 23-year-old showed flashes of upside in 16 games played (eight starts), catching 28 of his 44 targets for 322 yards and five touchdowns. He also added seven rushing attempts for 22 yards. Johnson's workload dropped late in the 2025 season once Evans, Godwin, and McMillan all returned from their injuries. The experience was valuable, but Johnson won't be guaranteed a bigger role in 2026, even with Evans gone. Johnson is still worth stashing in dynasty/keeper leagues, but right now, he profiles as the team's WR4 behind Godwin, McMillan, and Emeka Egbuka.