Fantasy Football Player Notes

Irving's RB19 fantasy points per game finish last year doesn't do him justice. Last year, after he wrestled the lead job away from Rachaad White, he was lights out as the RB6 in fantasy points per game, averaging 18.5 touches and 115.2 total yards. Overall, Irving was fantastic, ranking top-15 in explosive run rate (seventh), missed tackles forced per attempt (third), yards after contact per attempt (fourth), receiving yards per game (14th), and yards per route run (fifth, per Fantasy Points Data). After Week 9 last season, he had 55% of the red zone rushing attempts as the preferred back near the goalline over White and Sean Tucker. Iriving should be a strong RB1 again in 2025.

Mike Evans wrapped up another stellar campaign in 2024, finishing as the WR9 despite playing just 14 games and extending his streak to 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons. After a mid-season hamstring injury, he came back strong, posting 68+ yards in eight straight games and leading the league in top-3 weekly finishes (tied with Ja'Marr Chase). He also set a career-high in yards per route run (2.52), proving he's not slowing down. Evans saw a notable boost in production without Chris Godwin (17.3 vs. 11.8 PPG) but still led the Bucs in high-value opportunities. He remains a volatile but lethal fantasy WR2 with true week-winning upside.

Chris Godwin was on pace for a career year in 2024 before an ankle dislocation ended his season in Week 7. Through seven games, he was the WR2 overall in fantasy, averaging 16.1 points per game with an NFL-leading 50 receptions and a 26% target share. Now locked into a three-year contract extension, Godwin remains a focal point in Tampa Bay's offense. While he faces more target competition in 2025 - with Mike Evans returning, Jalen McMillan entering Year 2, and first-round pick Emeka Egbuka drafted - Godwin's track record in the slot is elite. He's never finished worse than WR20 in PPG when playing at least 60% of his snaps inside. Even with a new OC, Godwin's volume and consistency make him a high-floor fantasy option when healthy, especially in PPR formats.

The Buccaneers QB hit career-highs across the board in 2024, tossing 43 TDs while rushing for nearly 400 yards and 3 more scores. Mayfield finished the season as top five fantasy QB overall and points per game (22.3).
But with Liam Coen gone and replaced by new OC Josh Grizzard (the Buccaneers' passing coordinator from last season) concerns about a production falloff should be considered. Mayfield is coming off a career 7.2 passing TD rate - the second-highest mark in 2024.
Although his high early ranking suggests these concerns are being overblown for a QB who has been a top 10 fantasy producer both years in Tampa Bay. Still, I'm leaning on him being slightly overrated this high in the rankings.

Last year, Rachaad White lost his bell-cow role with Bucky Iriving asserting himself and taking over the backfield. It wasn't all doom and gloom for White, though. In Weeks 10-17, he still averaged 13.5 touches and 68.4 total yards as the RB18 in fantasy points per game. While I don't think that he will continue to rock along as an RB2 in 2025, he could easily retain RB3/flex value in one of the best offenses in the NFL. Last year, White did see his efficiency tick up with the decrease in workload, as he ranked 29th in missed tackles forced per attempt, 15th in yards after contact per attempt, and 18th in yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). White could easily be Tampa Bay's version of Jaylen Warren.

Jalen McMillan caught fire late in his rookie year, posting five straight games with 51+ receiving yards, racking up 24 catches for 316 yards and 7 touchdowns over that stretch. He earned a 19% target share during that span and looked like a rising star in Tampa Bay's offense heading into 2025. However, the road ahead is far less clear.
With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both returning - and first-round pick from Ohio State Emeka Egbuka now added to the mix - McMillan faces even steeper competition for targets than he did a season ago.

Emeka Egbuka lands in a crowded but intriguing spot in Tampa Bay after being selected 19th overall - a clear sign the Bucs believe in his long-term upside, even with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin still on the roster. A polished, reliable slot weapon, Egbuka became Ohio State's all-time receptions leader and broke out as a sophomore after replacing Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2022. While he never truly operated as "the guy" in college, his consistent production alongside NFL-level talent speaks volumes. In the short term, target competition limits his redraft appeal, especially with Jalen McMillan also in the mix. But with both Evans and Godwin over 29 and dealing with durability concerns, Egbuka is one injury away from a clear path to fantasy relevance.