Emeka Egbuka

Emeka Egbuka looks like this year's Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Rome Odunze. The talented first-round selection in the NFL draft finds himself in a squeeze for target volume immediately with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Yes, Godwin is coming off another major injury that could help boost Egbuka's prospects, but Evans didn't show any fall-off last year. I also haven't mentioned Jalen McMillan, who broke out down the stretch last season. Last year, among 112 qualifying wideouts, Evans ranked second in separation score and route win rate (per Fantasy Points Data). Egbuka's skillset also has some considerable overlap with Chris Godwin. All of these factors muddy the picture for Egbuka in 2025. While I'm worried about Egbuka, he remains a talented wide receiver with significant first-round NFL draft capital and a strong analytical profile. In two of Egbuka's final three collegiate seasons, he ranked inside the top 40 FBS wide receivers in yards per route run (38th, 11th) and top 20 in receiving grade (19th, 12th) and yards after the catch (16th, 12th). Egbuka could outproduce his ADP if Evans and/or Godwin can't stay healthy, so he's worth taking a shot on in the middle/later rounds.

Buccaneers first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka is an advanced route runner who gets into his routes quickly and makes sharp cuts. Egbuka isn't really a burner, but he's a shifty mover who consistently makes yardage after the catch. Egbuka was able to assert himself at Ohio State even though the Buckeyes had an abundance of WR talent throughout his time in Columbus, suggesting that he can be productive even on a team with other good pass catchers. The problem is that not only did Egbuka land on a team that has other good pass catchers, but he landed on a team with two other receivers who do their best work in the slot -- Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan. It's probably best not to expect a big rookie-year impact from Egbuka when he has to share targets with Godwin, McMillan and the great Mike Evans.

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.