We view Egbuka as a WR2 worth a pick in Round 4 in full-PPR leagues, and he would have been considered even sooner if not for a toe injury that sidelined him for basically the entire preseason. Last year was a tale of two seasons for Egbuka. In his first nine games, he averaged 8.9 yards per target and 16.1 PPR Fantasy points per game, boosted especially by his first four NFL starts. In the second half of the season, those averages fell to 5.1 and 6.1. Injuries are to blame after a Week 5 hamstring strain seemed to stick with him all year. But he's healthy entering 2026 and with Mike Evans gone to San Francisco, Egbuka remains the favorite to lead this team in targets, but Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and rookie Ted Hurst are all poised to see a lot of targets also.
Egbuka (toe) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Egbuka is ready to go for Sunday's Week 1 opener against the Bengals, and in a game with the highest total on the slate, Egbuka is looking like a fantasy WR2 with obvious upside. He's expected to take over as the Bucs' top wideout this season after Mike Evans left for San Francisco in free agency.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Looks to be practicing fully Wednesday
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Egbuka (toe) was on the field for the start of Wednesday's practice and appeared to be a full participant, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Tampa Bay will post its first injury report of the season after Wednesday's session concludes, and if Egbuka is in fact listed as a full participant, he would be in the clear to play in Sunday's season opener versus the Bengals. For much of training camp, Egbuka was a spectator or limited participant while he tended to a sprained toe, but he appears to have made positive strides in his recovery over the past week. Tampa Bay looks set to have all of its key pass catchers available for Week 1, as Jalen McMillan (knee) also looked to be practicing fully Wednesday.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Getting work Monday
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Egbuka (toe) is "participating in warmups and running routes" at Monday's practice, according to Pewter Report.
Egbuka was limited to work on the side last week, and although it's not yet clear how much he will do Monday, it appears he has taken a step forward in his recovery from a toe issue. There has been hope that Egbuka will be available for Week 1, and there remains reason to believe he will be available for Tampa Bay's opener.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Works on side field Wednesday
Rotowire
Egbuka (toe) worked on a side field with trainers Wednesday and ran without any obvious issues from the injury, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Egbuka has missed a ton of practice time this summer and didn't see any preseason action. However, it sounds like he's nearing 100 percent ahead of the Bucs' Week 1 game against the Bengals in 11 days. Seeing him return to full practices next week would be a positive development. Egbuka is expected to be a big beneficiary of Mike Evans' departure over the offseason, as he'll have a chance to establish himself as the Bucs' clear WR1 ahead of veteran Chris Godwin.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Stting out Tuesday's practice
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Egbuka (toe) is not practicing Tuesday, per Pewter Report.
The second-year wideout is working through a toe injury that has slowed him since mid-August. Coach Todd Bowles said over the weekend that he was "hopeful" Egbuka would be available for Week 1, which is now just under two weeks away. Until Egbuka can return to the practice field, his status for Tampa Bay's season opener appears to be in limbo.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: 'Hopeful' for Week 1
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Egbuka (toe), per head coach Todd Bowles, will "hopefully" be ready for Week 1, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Egbuka continues working his way back from the toe injury he sustained earlier this month, and while the door is open for him to take the field in Tampa Bay's season opener, Bowles is not yet sure if he will do so. Further updates on Egbuka's status will come, but perhaps not officially until the Buccaneers begin to release injury reports.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Limps off with trainers at Wednesday's practice
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Egbuka limped off the field with trainers at Wednesday's practice, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Egbuka was "rolled up on" by a teammate and stayed down on the field briefly before limping off under his own power. He was then brought to a trainer's table on the sideline to be examined. Afterwards, Egbuka stuck around on the sideline to watch the rest of practice -- a good sign that the training staff doesn't think his injury is serious.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Dealing with soreness
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Coach Todd Bowles said Egbuka didn't practice Tuesday due to soreness in his lower body, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
With Mike Evans out of the picture in Tampa Bay, Egbuka is expected to take on greater significance in the passing game alongside veteran Chris Godwin. Egbuka had a strong start to his rookie 2025 campaign but slowed down in the second half en route to 63 catches (on 127 targets) for 938 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season contests. With more targets likely for him this season, his first 1,000-yard season is fully within the realm of possible outcomes in 2026.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Will focus on Z receiver spot
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New Bucs OC Zac Robinson said Tuesday that Egbuka will focus on the Z receiver position in 2026 after moving around the formation as a rookie last season, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin missing a combined 17 regular-season games to injuries last season, Egbuka was forced into multiple roles as a rookie. Godwin split time between the slot and out wide on his 428 offensive snaps, but he figures to play mostly a slot role in three-wide sets under Robinson, who talked up third-round rookie Ted Hurst (6-foot-4, 206 pounds) as a prototypical X receiver Tuesday. After Egbuka got off to a hot start last season, he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 6 and dealt with the issue for multiple weeks despite not missing a contest. Full health and a dedicated position should help him return to form in his second campaign.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Quiet finish to rookie season
Rotowire
Egbuka brought in one of three targets for eight yards in the Buccaneers' 16-14 win over the Panthers on Saturday. He finished the 2025 regular season with 63 receptions for 938 yards and six touchdowns on 127 targets and two rushes for nine yards over 17 games.
Egbuka was thrust into a significant role from Day 1 of his rookie season, as the Buccaneers began the campaign without Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan due to ankle and neck injuries, respectively. The Ohio State product looked like an instant star after posting a 25-445-5 line on 38 targets over his first five career games, but Egbuka topped 64 receiving yards just once in the remaining 12 contests despite Mike Evans and Godwin missing significant time, and McMillan not making his season debut until Week 15. Nevertheless, there isn't any doubt about Egbuka's talent after he still nearly eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in his first season, and he could be set for a similar elevated target share in 2026 if Godwin isn't retained this offseason.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Productive on four catches
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Egbuka brought in four of seven targets for 64 yards in the Buccaneers' 29-28 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night.
Egbuka tied for second in receptions while also checking in as the runner-up in receiving yards and targets to the returning Mike Evans. Thursday marked the first time the Buccaneers' top four receivers -- Evans, Egbuka, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan -- played together, but Egbuka's target tally took only a slight hit from that of his previous four contests, when he'd drawn between eight and nine looks from Baker Mayfield. Egbuka also recorded multiple catches of 20-plus yards (two) for the first time since Week 10, and he'll aim to continue capitalizing on the reduced defensive attention in a Week 16 road matchup against the Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 21.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: WRs to Start
Rotowire
I'm going to give Egbuka one more chance as a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in Week 15 against Atlanta, mostly because of the matchup. Mike Evans (collarbone) and Jalen McMillan (neck) are expected to play against the Falcons, so there could be a target crunch for Egbuka and Chris Godwin, which is something to keep in mind. And Egbuka has struggled of late with 9.0 PPR points or less in four games in a row despite getting at least eight targets in each outing. But the Falcons are No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers in the past five weeks. Over that span, the wide receivers from Indianapolis, Carolina, New Orleans, the Jets and Seattle have combined for 68 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns on 103 targets, and six receivers scored at least 16.0 PPR points. This could be a great week for Egbuka, who had four catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns on six targets against Atlanta in Week 1 in his NFL debut. I also like Evans and Godwin as No. 3 Fantasy receivers given the matchup, but Egbuka still has the most upside on Thursday night.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Inefficient numbers in Week 14 loss
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Egbuka secured two of nine targets for 15 yards in the Buccaneers' 24-20 loss to the Saints on Sunday.
Egbuka had arguably the worst game of his nascent career, producing new career lows in receptions and receiving yards. The rookie also dropped a sure touchdown with just under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, capping off an outlier of an afternoon overall for the Ohio State product. Egbuka won't have to wait long to atone, as the Falcons come calling for a Week 15 Thursday night matchup later in the week.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Held to 32 yards
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Egbuka recorded three catches on eight targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 34-7 loss to the Rams.
Egbuka was held to 40 or fewer yards for the third time in his last four games, though it's difficult to hold this showing against him as the entire Tampa Bay offense struggled. Egbuka's lone impactful play came early in the fourth quarter on a deep 32-yard reception on a pass delivered by Teddy Bridgewater. Egbuka should be in for a more favorable matchup in Week 13 against Arizona, though his outlook will depend heavily on Baker Mayfield's (shoulder) health.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Good to go
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Egbuka (illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Rams.
He returned to full practice participation Friday after being limited the previous two days. Egbuka thus is set to lead Tampa Bay's receiving corps, looking to end his cold streak in a road matchup with one of the NFL's better defenses. A potential return for Chris Godwin (questionable - fibula) would add competition for targets, but it would also give the Rams defense another pass catcher to worry about, in theory.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Still limited Thursday
Rotowire
Egbuka (illness) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Egbuka maintained his activity level from Wednesday's walkthrough, while the five other Buccaneers that were limited to begin Week 12 prep due to illnesses all got back to full, including QB Baker Mayfield. Fellow WR Chris Godwin (fibula) progressed to a full practice Thursday, but it remains to be seen if that means he's cleared to return for Sunday's game at the Rams. Friday's injury report will reveal if either Egbuka or Godwin enter the weekend with designations.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Paces pass catchers in loss
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Egbuka brought in six of 13 targets for 115 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 28-23 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
Egbuka reemerged as a force in the air attack after a quiet three-game stretch during which he topped out at four catches and 58 receiving yards in terms of single-game highs. The rookie first-round pick led the Bucs in both receiving yards and targets while checking in second in receptions to Cade Otton. The ongoing absences of Chris Godwin (fibula) and Mike Evans (IR, collarbone/concussion) continues to afford the Ohio State product the chance to serve as Baker Mayfield's top wide-receiver target, and even if Godwin manages to return for next Sunday's Week 11 matchup against the Bills, Egbuka figures to retain a sizeable role.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Gets back to limited Thursday
Rotowire
Egbuka (hamstring) was limited at Thursday's practice.
Egbuka currently is the Buccaneers' top available wide receiver with Mike Evans (concussion) set to miss most of the rest of the campaign due to a broken collarbone and Chris Godwin (fibula) effectively ruled out for Sunday's game at New Orleans. Having said that, Egbuka continues to deal with the hamstring injury that has inhibited him since getting hurt Week 6 against the 49ers. After sitting out Wednesday's walkthrough, he has made progress with some on-field work one day later, but Friday's practice report will unveil whether or not he enters the weekend with a designation ahead of Week 8 action.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: In line to play on MNF
Rotowire
Egbuka (hamstring) is expected to play Monday night against the Lions, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Bucs put Egbuka through a pregame workout routine, and the rookie wide receiver seemingly has received the green light to play Week 7. With Mike Evans (hamstring) also due back Monday night, Tampa Bay's wideout depth chart gets a major boost after Baker Mayfield willed the team to victory last Sunday without all of his top receivers. Egbuka can be trusted in fantasy lineups in what profiles as a projected shootout at Ford Field.
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Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka: Shaping up as game-time call Week 7
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Egbuka (hamstring) remains listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Lions but has "a real chance to play," sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles officially labeled Egbuka as a game-time decision following Saturday's practice, when the rookie wideout was surprisingly able to take the field for a limited session after sitting out workouts Thursday and Friday on account of the mild hamstring strain he sustained in a Week 6 win over the 49ers. Additionally, Bowles labeled Mike Evans (hamstring) as a game-time decision, though the veteran wideout appears likely to play for the first time since Week 3 after practicing Thursday and Saturday. Before deciding on Egbuka's status for the Week 7 contest, Egbuka will go through a pregame workout Monday. If Egbuka moves around well enough in his workout to gain clearance to play, the Buccaneers could still look to limit his snaps to some extent. That being said, even if Egbuka operates with some restrictions Monday, his presence along with the expected return of Evans would be a welcome development for a Tampa Bay offense that has already ruled out two other key playmakers in receiver Chris Godwin (fibula) and running back Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot).
