Five Biggest Questions:
1. Is Baker Mayfield a must-draft QB?
2. Will Bucky Irving be the team's top-scoring RB?
3. Can Kenneth Gainwell replicate his 2025 breakout?
4. Will Emeka Egbuka operate as the clear #1 WR?
5. Will any other WRs be consistently streamable?
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were one of the best WR duos of the past decade. They played together for nine seasons, which is one more than Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. That kind of longevity is rare. Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt collaborated for nine. Mark Duper and Mark Clayton for 10. But especially in the modern NFL, guys don't generally stick around that long.
For the first time since 2013, the Buccaneers are starting a season without Evans. As for Godwin, despite signing a contract that could keep him in Tampa Bay through 2028, there's no guarantee that the 30-year-old will still be here a year from now. The franchise has a somewhat-costly-yet-potentially-necessary "out" after this season if Godwin -- who's missed more than 50% of the team's games these past two years -- becomes more of a liability than an asset.
Out of the ashes of the Evans-Godwin era, Emeka Egbuka is emerging. The 2025 first-round rookie crushed his first nine games, posting a 40-677-6 receiving line. That's a 17-game clip of 76-1,279-11. The problem? Evans and/or Godwin were sidelined in each of those contests. In the four games when that legendary duo was active, Ebuka produced only nine catches for 132 scoreless yards.
Entering this summer, the market saw this as disappointing, which is why Egbuka's ADP was "only" WR19 a week ago. But a lot has changed since then. He's now at WR15, and a guy I had tagged as a big bargain in June is now a tiny bargain. Regardless, I'm all in. Egbuka showed last year that in the right conditions, he could dominate. And those conditions are in play entering 2026. Evans is gone. Godwin (WR39 vs. WR40 last week) *might* be breaking down. Jalen McMillan (a steady WR58) and third-round rookie Ted Hurst III (WR87 vs. WR86 last week) are not strong contenders to serve as #1's -- although I get why McMillan is a trendy pick and am ranking him a round ahead of his ADP.
With so much talent to throw to, Baker Mayfield should be more than fine at his QB19 ADP. Wait, that was last week. Now it's QB17. Dang. He's another great bargain -- or at least, he was. Now he's merely a "good" bargain with a top 19-21 floor and a top 8-10 ceiling.
Aside from a plus wideout corps, Mayfield benefits from having one of the most catch-happy backfields in NFL history (no exaggeration). Bucky Irving (a steady RB25 ADP) caught 87 balls in his final two years at Oregon and has 77 catches in his first 27 NFL games. Kenneth Gainwell (a steady RB32) reeled in 73 balls last season in Pittsburgh. Sean Tucker (RB60 vs. RB56 last week) caught 56 passes in his final two years at Syracuse. This trio should combine for 125+ receptions. For context, only two teams had 125+ RB *targets* last season and only two the year before.
What does this mean? Chaos in the backfield with three potentially fantasy-relevant RBs. Tucker of course is on the periphery because he's a less proven commodity. At least one of these three should be a bargain, though I can't figure out who. For now, Mayfield is the big winner.
Finally, Cade Otton (a steady TE27 ADP) is merely a terrific late-round Best Ball pick. When injuries hit this team, Otton frequently steps up. But in a crowded offense, there's little room for him to shine. I keep wanting to elevate him, and I keep stopping myself because his weekly floor is too low.
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