2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fantasy Preview
2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fantasy Preview Tampa Bay has reeled off four straight NFC South titles. And after a good offseason and a division filled with rebuilding opponents, the Buccanners are heavy favorites (+110) to win another division championship in 2025. GM Jason Licht focused on retaining core players and addressing defensive needs, particularly pass rush and secondary depth. Key moves included signing edge rusher Haason Reddick and adding a pair of corners and edge rushers in the draft. Tampa ranked third in offense and fourth in scoring (20.5 ppg) last season and appears poised to light up scoreboards again in 2025. It all starts with QB Baker Mayfield. The overall QB4, Mayfield threw for a career-best 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. Mayfield’s 7.8 percent big-time throw rate and a 2.5 percent turnover-worthy play rate showcased improved decision-making under pressure (68.5 percent completion rate under pressure ranked 2nd). He also ran for 378 yards after never topping 165 in his previous six seasons. With Liam Coen in Jacksonville, Josh Grizzard plans to keep the offense intact, which is good news for Mayfield’s fantasy prospects. Rachaad White had an RB4 finish in 2023, but this is now Bucky Irving’s backfield. Irving had a dynamite debut, compiling 1,513 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns. Irving was top-5 in yards per touch (6.0), yards created per touch (4.94) while posting top-10 weekly numbers in six of his final nine. Meanwhile, White maintained usable touches, especially in the red zone. White also hauled in 51 grabs, so there’s enough touches left over for him to be a solid handcuff or fantasy RB4. The Bucs boast a deep and talented group of pass-catching weapons. WR Mike Evans tied an NFL record with his 11th consecutive 1,000-plus yard season. Evans, who turns 32 in August, has shown no signs of slowing down. Teammate Chris Godwin was the WR3 in fantasy points per game before dislocating his ankle in Week 7. If recovered, Godwin will once again thrive from the slot. That gives Tampa one of the top duos in football, but the group was further boosted by the addition of first-rounder Emeka Egbuka from Ohio State. Egbuka is the Buckeyes’ all-time leading receiver with 205 receptions. Egbuka and Jaelen McMillian, who scored eight TDs in 2024, give Tampa one of the best receiving corps in the NFL. TE Cade Otton continues to improve each season. He finished as a high-end TE2. However, the additions of Egbuka and a healthy Godwin will cut into Otton’s 19 percent target share. Fantasy Grade: A- QB Mayfield, Baker, TB [QB1] Baker Mayfield’s 2024 season marked a career resurgence, as he led the NFC with 41 passing touchdowns and ranked third in the NFL with 4,500 passing yards. His 71.4 percent completion rate and 7.9 yards per attempt showcased his efficiency, and he tied Lamar Jackson for 2nd in TD strikes (41). Mayfield got even better after his breakout 2023 showing, and the Bucs invested a first-round pick on another pass-catching weapon. Interceptions remain an issue, but are part of the risk/reward of employing a gunslinger like Mayfield. As long as the value is right, Mayfield is a quality option in an elite offense. ADVICE: Likely peaked, but quality QB1. RB Irving, Bucky, TB [RB1] After being drafted in the fourth round by Tampa Bay, Bucky Irving broke out as a rookie, finishing with 1,121 rushing yards, 392 receiving yards, and eight total touchdowns over 17 games. Irving averaged 14.4 PPR points per game, ranking RB19 overall, and led all rookies in scrimmage yards (1,513). His 5.4 yards per carry and 91 missed tackles forced showcased elite efficiency. With Rachaad White moving into a complementary role, Irving is expected to remain Tampa Bay’s primary back in 2025. The Buccaneers’ high-scoring offense and Irving’s dual-threat ability make him a strong RB2 with RB1 upside in PPR formats. ADVICE: Irving finished as the RB19 last season and is poised to have a more prominent role in 2025. RB White, Rachaad, TB [RB2] Rachaad White enters the 2025 season with tempered expectations after a diminished role last season. In 2024, White recorded 144 rushing attempts for 613 yards (4.2 YPC) and three touchdowns, adding 44 receptions for 303 yards and four receiving touchdowns across 16 games. His touches dropped significantly (11.8 per game vs. 19.6 in 2023) as rookie Bucky Irving emerged, out-touching White in key games. White’s 91.4 percent catch rate remained elite, but a costly fumble and reduced carries (zero touches Week 18) hurt his value. For 2025, White projects as a high-end RB4, likely a backup to Irving. ADVICE: White’s pass-catching keeps him relevant in PPR leagues, but volume concerns cap his ceiling. RB Tucker, Sean, TB [RB3] ADVICE: Tucker had that Week 6 blow-up game in New Orleans with 31.2 fantasy points. Then, he averaged just 4.2 carries per game behind Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. With both still in Tampa, Tucker is little more than a depth target with flex appeal if there is an injury. WR Evans, Mike, TB [WR1] Mike Evans remains a dependable force in fantasy football, entering his 12th NFL season. With a more experienced quarterback and an offense designed to maximize vertical threats, Evans is a solid WR2 with upside. His red-zone dominance hasn’t wavered—expect double-digit touchdown potential and steady target volume. While age and minor injuries are considerations, his route-running and physicality keep him a reliable option, especially in standard and half-PPR leagues. Draft him confidently as a high-floor receiver with weekly scoring upside, particularly against weaker secondaries. Evans may not be flashy, but his consistency remains unmatched. ADVICE: High-floor WR2 marching toward a record 12th-straight 1,000-yard campaign. WR Godwin, Chris, TB [WR2] Countless first-place fantasy squads were devastated when Chris Godwin dislocated his ankle in the waning moments of a Week 7 loss. C’est la vie. Before that, Godwin was leading the NFL in receptions and was second in receiving yards. He thrived after being put back into the slot full-time. The
Sunday Playoff Preview
Sunday Playoff Preview The 6-game NFL Wild Card Weekend continues Sunday with a full day of games. FullTime Fantasy‘s Sunday Playoff Preview breaks down the slate from a fantasy football and sports betting perspective. And just because the fantasy regular season has ended doesn’t mean the fun is over. FFWC Playoff Fantasy Football is a great way to extend the fantasy fun and win amazing prizes! Denver Broncos (10-7) at Buffalo Bills (13-4) Time: 1:00 Eastern Line: Bills -8 Total: 47.5 Money Line: Denver +375, Buffalo -465 Broncos Offense Sean Payton’s offense made huge strides in 2024. Most of that can be attributed to landing Bo Nix in the 2024 NFL Draft. Nix proved to be the perfect fit in Payton’s short-passing attack. The results were the Broncos’ first post-season appearance in eight seasons. However, as eight-point dogs, the run could be brief. Per ESPN, rookie QBs are 0-5 in road playoff games over the last 10 seasons. Speaking of Bo Nix, the matchup is neutral. However, the atmosphere will be inhospitable. Buffalo allowed the 14th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, allowing 28 TD passes and an additional 263/2 on the ground. Nix has the athleticism to escape the pocket against a subpar pass rush, but questions remain about Denver’s supporting cast. Denver employs a full-on committee backfield that is fantasy-unfriendly. Our RDA* projections favor Jaleel McLaughlin to lead the way in touches. However, in a game where the Broncos are 8-point underdogs, McLaughlin and Javonte Williams will be involved as receivers. Rookie Audric Estime came on down the stretch and has a 34% chance of punching in a short-yardage score per our Week 19 rankings. The Bills excel at shutting down slot receivers and are vulnerable on the outside. That favors Courtland Sutton (17% slot rate) well. Sutton (81/1081/8) posted WR15 numbers this season and remains a solid Week 19 start in a game with a positive game script. Marvin Mims became a bigger factor in Denver’s offense as the season developed. Mims is Payton’s big-play threat who can make an impact downfield, out of the backfield, and as a returner. Our RDA* projections like Mims this week. However, slot receiver Devaughn Vele is a fade. Also, fantasy footballers should avoid Denver’s messy tight-end rotation. Payton will use Lucas Krull, Adam Trautman, and Nate Adkins indiscriminately. Additionally, Buffalo allowed just five touchdowns to opposing tight ends all season. Bills Offense Josh Allen is 4-1 in the Wild Card round. And as a sizable home favorite, Allen and the Bills were 6-2 against the spread at home this season. Although Denver’s defense ranks as a top-10 unit against opposing quarterbacks, they allowed an enemy QB to surpass 25 fantasy points in three of their final five games. Therefore, Allen remains the top signal-caller to target in Fantasy Playoff Drafts. RB James Cook was tied for the NFL lead with a Buffalo team-record 16 rushing scores. Conversely, Denver allowed 13 total scores to backs in 17 games. Our RDA* projections have Cook as the RB4 in this slate, with a 65-percent chance of finding the end zone. Ray Davis and Ty Johnson will fill in behind Cook. Johnson offers more pass-catching upside, while Davis will see 5-10 carries. Both have some DFS appeal. Khalil Shakir ran 75% of his routes out of the slot, so he’ll mostly avoid Denver CB Pat Surtain. However, Shakir still has a subpar matchup against Denver slot CB Ja’Quan McMillian. Surtain could potentially shadow Keon Coleman, seriously hampering the rookie’s appeal. Additionally, Amari Cooper has been a non-factor in multiple games and missed practice time due to personal reasons. If the Broncos can contain Buffalo’s wideouts, the tight ends stand to benefit. Dalton Kincaid is our No. 3 tight end in PPR scoring. Also, teammate Dawson Knox has some DFS appeal. I think Denver can hang around in this game, which will benefit the offense. Green Bay Packers (11-6) at Philadelphia (14-3) Time: 4:30 Eastern Line: Eagles -5 Total: 45.5 Money Line: Packers +200, Eagles -240 Packers Offense Game No. 2 is projected to be closer but lower scoring. This is a rematch of a Week 1 contest that Philadelphia won 34-29. The Eagles have won three straight against Green Bay, scoring over 30 points in each contest. There were some questions about the health of both quarterbacks. However, both signal-callers will start. Speaking of Jordan Love, his passing yardage prop is 222.5 yards, and a big lean (-149) on the UNDER 1.5 touchdown passes. Love threw for 260 with a pair of TD strikes in Week 1. However, this is a different Philly defense. The Eagles allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing passers, putting Love near the bottom of our Week 19 quarterbacks. Expect RB Josh Jacobs to get plenty of touches as a runner and receiver. Jacobs had 18 touches for 104 scrimmage yards versus Philly in Week 1. Our RDA* projections see a similar result with a roughly 70-percent shot at hitting pay dirt. Things are more difficult to project for the passing attack. Christian Watson tore his ACL last week and will miss the rest of this season. Subsequently, Jayden Reed is Green Bay’s unquestioned No. 1 wideout. Reed was huge in Week 1, snagging four balls for 138 yards and a score. However, he’s cooled off. Reed hasn’t surpassed 100 yards since Week 9 and has failed to score in his last five. Romeo Doubs is the next man up. Doubs scored nine fantasy points in the season-opening loss to Philadelphia. However, Doubs is a streaky player, with two touchdowns in two games and single-digit PPR points in eight others. Dontayvion Wicks will move up to the WR3 role, giving him some sleeper appeal. No team allowed fewer receiving yards to tight ends (591) than Philadelphia, so it’s a sub-optimal situation for Tucker Kraft. And our RDA* projections agree, projecting Kraft to score an innocuous 6.2 fantasy points. Eagles Offense Jalen Hurts cleared the NFL concussion protocol and practiced in
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 5
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 5 Last week’s NFC East showdown didn’t live up to the hype. However, our Best Bet of New York +6 hit, so we’re content. For Week 5, we move down to the NFC South where
In Week 3, the AFC East let us down with a non-competitive drubbing. This week, things have more potential with the Dallas Cowboys traveling to New Jersey to face the Giants. Hopefully, the second week in a row in this venue has more scoring. The FullTime Fantasy Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 4 looks at all the fantasy-relevant players to forecast the game.
It’s always entertaining to watch these two NFC East rivals square off. The Cowboys are reeling after dropping two straight home games. Conversely, they had won their previous 17 at AT&T Stadium. Therefore, they’re probably welcoming a change of scenery. And a game against a foe they’ve defeated in 11 of their last 12 matchups.
Conversely, the Giants are coming off of an upset win in Cleveland. New York’s offense has been more competent after their opener. With some momentum, they’re trying to get to 500 while simultaneously delivering a knockout punch to their hated rivals.
This game opened with Dallas favored by four. However, the line quickly jumped up to Dallas -6. The total stands at 45, up a meager half-point from its opening total.
Matchup
| TEAM | OFFENSE | PASS | RUSH | YDS/PLAY | POINTS |
| Dallas Cowboys | 9 | 1 | 30 | 16 | 6 |
| New York Giants | 22 | 21 | 19 | 25 | 29 |
The Dallas offensive ranks look good on paper. However, a big chunk of that production came in futile comeback attempts in their past two losses. The lack of balance and inability to run the ball has hurt the Cowboys.
Additionally, the Dallas defense has crumbled.
The Cowboys currently rank 28th in overall defense and have allowed the third-most points. Dallas ranks dead last against the run and has allowed 28-plus points in every game.
New York is surrendering 318 yards of offense per game, which is middle of the pack. However, only three teams have scored fewer points. Look for the Giants to try to slow things down and exploit that struggling defense.
On defense, the Giants rank 13th against the pass. They’re worst against the run (23rd) but don’t expect Dallas to be able to exploit that.
The real question here is can the Cowboys stop the bleeding to cool off Mike McCarthy’s hot seat?
Dallas Offense
Dak Prescott leads the league with 851 passing yards. However, touchdowns have been hard to come by. Prescott has only thrown…
How will Thursday’s Cowboys vs. Giants game go?
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2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fantasy Preview
2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fantasy Preview Tampa Bay entered the 2023 season with the fifth-lowest Super Bowl odds. However, Todd Bowles coached the Buccaneers to their second-consecutive NFC South title and an upset win in the playoffs in Philadelphia. After
Tampa Bay entered the 2023 season with the fifth-lowest Super Bowl odds. However, Todd Bowles coached the Buccaneers to their second-consecutive NFC South title and an upset win in the playoffs in Philadelphia. After re-signing Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans, the Bucs are running it back in 2024, which is great news for fantasy football fans.
Mayfield set career-high numbers in every notable passing category under the tutelage of Dave Canales. Canales parlayed that into a gig leading the division-rival Panthers. In his place, Bowles hired Liam Cohen from Kentucky. The change of play-callers is a major concern for Mayfield.
Another issue is relying on a player who posts career-best numbers in a contract year. Mayfield progressively got worse in his first five seasons before exploding in 2023. Rather than expecting a repeat of his QB11 finish, fantasy managers should view Mayfield as merely a modest QB2 to target in Superflex formats.
RB Rachaad White thrived in his second season. White posted overall RB4 numbers thanks to his receiving prowess. He ranked fourth among all running backs with 64 grabs and produced double-digit fantasy points in 15-of-19 games. The Bucs added Oregon RB Bucky Irving in the fourth round, which makes White’s volume share less certain.
Retaining Mike Evans was hugely important for Tampa. Evans (31 in August) posted his 10th-straight campaign with 1,000-plus receiving yards. His 13 touchdown grabs also tied for the league lead. Entering his 11th NFL season, Evans remains a consistent producer with an excellent rapport with his quarterback. View the veteran wideout as an excellent fantasy option in the third or fourth round.
Chris Godwin gave Tampa a pair of top-20 fantasy wide receivers. Godwin has topped 125 targets and 1,000 receiving yards in three consecutive seasons. Yet, the 28-year-old veteran continues to be overlooked on draft day. He should once again bring a positive return on investment in 2024.
Trey Palmer hauled in 39-of-68 targets during his rookie year but will have to compete with talented third-round rookie wideout Jalen McMillan for WR3 duties. 55.4% of Palmer’s 2023 routes came from the slot, an area that McMillian is projected to play.
Cade Otton led all tight ends with a massive 96.5% snap share. However, he ranked 21st with a 12.2% target share and scored fewer than 10 PPR points in Tampa’s final nine regular-season games. Unless Cohen makes drastic changes to Tampa’s offensive philosophy, Otton is merely a low-upside fantasy TE2.
There are a lot of questions about Tampa’s ability to carry over their surprising success from last season. However, the Bucs boast a pair of solid wideouts and a young running back worth prioritizing in the early rounds.
Quarterbacks
QB BAKER MAYFIELD – BYE WEEK FILL-IN
Everything clicked for Mayfield in Tampa, resulting in his finest pro season and a lucrative new $100 million contract. Tampa also re-signed Mike Evans, which does well for the club’s 2024 prospects. However, Dave Canales is now in Carolina, which leaves the Bucs’ offense in the hands of a first-time offensive coordinator. Even in his career-rejuvenating 2023 showing, Mayfield only ranked 18th in fantasy points per game. The Browns, Panthers, and Rams have all let Mayfield walk and he was never the top choice for the Bucs. Last season was a good story but it would not be a surprise to see Mayfield regress. ADVICE: Likely to be overdrafted QB2…
Division Round Playoff Preview: Sunday
By the time this slate is over, we will know which two teams will battle it out for their respective conference championships. Our Division Round Playoff Preview: Sunday looks at the Bucs vs. Lions and Chiefs at Bills contests from a fantasy football and sports betting lens. Using our RDA* projections, we can break down each game to find the statistical edge that can give us a leg up in playoff fantasy and daily fantasy lineups. Also, we can determine the best bets to make. Before you place those winning bets, our partner Edge Boost can help you double your entries and payouts! Click below to increase your winnings today. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-8) at Detroit Lions (13-5) Time: 3:00 Eastern Line: Lions -7 Total: 49.5 Money Line: Buccaneers +250, Lions -300 Tampa Bay Offense Few people projected the Buccaneers to be playing in Week 20 when Tampa was sitting at 5-7. However, behind a strong defense and the heady play of QB Baker Mayfield, the Bucs rallied to win six of their last seven games and earned their spot into the divisional round of the NFC postseason. Their reward is a trip to Detroit to take on the surging Lions. Detroit boasted the league’s No. 2 run defense in 2023. Meanwhile, Tampa ranked dead last in the NFL in rushing. Subsequently, don’t expect a big rushing performance out of RB Rachaad White. However, White ranked fourth among all running backs with 64 grabs, so he’s plenty capable of producing PPR points in a game with a solid over/under of 49.5 The matchup is much more appealing for the receivers. Mike Evans led the league with 13 touchdown grabs but went scoreless in Week 6 against this secondary. Chris Godwin fared better in that game, snagging 6-of-7 targets for 77 yards. Both are solid options in a game where Tampa is projected to score over 21 points. Our RDA* projections have Tampa’s dynamic duo as top-5 wideouts this week. WR3 Trey Palmer was out-snapped by David Moore last week against the Eagles. Both have some appeal as cheap DFS options against a defense that yielded the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers per FullTime Fantasy’s points-allowed tool. Tight end Cade Otton saw a career-high 11 targets last week. He won’t play that big of a role against a Detroit defense that is more credible defending tight ends. However, all four of Otton’s touchdowns this season came on the road, which gives him some appeal as a low-cost flex option in daily lineups. Detroit Offense We all know Jared Goff tends to play better at home. However, Goff’s season-high total of 353 passing yards came back in Week 6 against the Buccaneers. Except that game was in Florida. Our updated RDA* projections for Week 20 predict Goff to have the most passing yards (268) of any signal caller this weekend. This game should feature a fearsome battle in the trenches. Detroit ranked fifth in rushing. Meanwhile, the Bucs ranked fifth against the run. Regardless of the imposing matchup, we’re not shying away from inserting Jahmyr Gibbs into our lineups. Gibbs has produced seven touchdowns in Detroit’s last six games. Additionally, both of his 100-plus yard rushing efforts came in this building. David Montgomery is also a top-4 play in our RDA* projections. But, it should be noted that Montgomery did nothing against Tampa Bay in their previous meetings- a game where Gibbs didn’t play. Our No. 1 wide receiver this week in full PPR formats is Amon-Ra St. Brown. With 18-plus PPR points in five straight, St. Brown is on a heater. Also, he destroyed the Bucs back in Week 6, snagging 12-of-15 targets for 124 yards and a score. With Kalif Raymond ruled OUT, Josh Reynolds will act as Detroit’s safety valve. Jameson Williams also has appeal as the Lions’ big-play threat. TE Sam LaPorta is questionable but played just fine last week. Only Denver allowed more fantasy points to tight ends than Tampa this season, so LaPorta looks appealing once word breaks that he is good-to-go. Many of the defenders who helped the Buccaneers win a title just three years ago make up the core of a Bucs’ defense that allowed the seventh-fewest points in football this season. Tampa ranked fifth against the run and the Buccaneers were a sparkling 8-1 against the spread on the road. Subsequently, I think they can keep this to a one-score game. Bucs +7 Kansas City Chiefs (12-6) at Buffalo Bills (12-6) Time: 6:30 PM Eastern Line: Buffalo -3 Total: 45.5 Money Line: Chiefs +130, Bills -150 Kansas City Offense The 2023 Chiefs are a long way off from last year’s championship roster. While the defense has more than lived up to the billing, it’s surprisingly been the offense that has regressed. Kansas City fell to ninth in yards and 15th in scoring. QB Patrick Mahomes had his worst fantasy season and tossed a career-high 14 picks. Also, this will be the first road playoff game of his career and it comes against a red-hot Buffalo team eager to avenge recent postseason losses to Mahomes. RDA* projections expect a big game out of Isiah Pacheco. The sophomore sensation is projected to have the second-most rushing attempts this week and comes in as our No. 2 running back. Pacheco ranked 19th with 4.5 yards per carry and should be able to find plenty of running room against a Bills’ defense that was 27th in that category. As has been the case all season, the receiving corps is uncertain. Rashee Rice has been the only dependable option for Mahomes. Meanwhile, Buffalo ranked seventh against the pass. Rice is a solid option, but KC’s other wideout are all gambles with extremely low floors. Buffalo allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Plus, with Travis Kelce‘s struggles, it’s not the best matchup. Kelce’s DFS salary makes him a cost-prohibitive choice, even if he is one of the safest starts of the slate. Buffalo Offense Only three teams allowed fewer fantasy points to quarterbacks than Kansas City. However, Josh Allen has been matchup-proof. Particularly at home. Allen has scored
Monday Playoff Preview
What was originally scheduled to be one game is now a pair, due to inclement weather in Buffalo. Saturday’s slate brought a 2-0 start and Sunday featured a pair of intriguing NFC contests. After nailing both, I’m 4-0 to open Wild Card Weekend. FullTime Fantasy’s Monday Playoff preview breaks down the Pittsburgh at Buffalo and Philadelphia at Tampa Bay games. Using our RDA* projections, we can break down each game to find the statistical edge that can give us a leg up in playoff fantasy and daily fantasy lineups. Also, we can determine the best bets to make. Before you place those winning bets, our partner Edge Boost can help you double your entries and payouts! Click below to increase your winnings today. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at Buffalo Bills (11-6) Time: 4:30 Eastern Line: Buffalo -9.5 Total: 37.5 Money Line: Steelers +400, Bills -525 Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh dipped to 29th in offense, yet Mike Tomlin did another phenomenal job rallying his club above putrid quarterback play. Tomlin is sticking with the ‘hot hand’ in QB Mason Rudolph. However, expect the Steelers to feature both of their running backs heavily, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, against a suspect Buffalo run defense. Also, the Steelers won’t have their best defensive player in T.J. Watt. The Steelers have only garnered a single victory in the 11 games Watt has missed since debuting in 2017. The under has hit in 10 of Pittsburgh’s last 15 games and 7-of-8 when facing the Bills. Buffalo Bills The Bills are surging into the playoffs on a five-game winning streak. A change of offensive coordinators resulted in more emphasis on James Cook and the rushing attack. Of course, QB Josh Allen leads the club in rushing scores and is one of the top running QB threats in football. The Steelers ranked just 19th against the run this season. WR Stefon Diggs has not thrived since the scheme change. But Diggs remains a strong play against a modest secondary. This game was originally scheduled for Sunday and moved due to weather. The cold and snow could still factor in. Additionally, the under has hit in six of the last seven games played at Highmark Stadium. UNDER 39.5 LOSS Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) Time: 8:15 PM Eastern Line: Philadelphia -3 Total: 43.5 Money Line: Eagles -150, Buccaneers +130 Philadelphia Eagles The once-dominant Eagles are reeling. Philadephia enters the playoffs having lost five of their last six. That’s a terrible dynamic. In the Super Bowl era, the previous five teams that dropped 5-of-6 before entering the postseason are 0-5 in their playoff game. Additionally, the Eagles are beat up. QB Jalen Hurts has been contending with numerous ailments for a while and No. 1 WR A.J. Brown (knee) has been ruled out. Expect more targets to go to TE Dallas Goedert and WR DeVonta Smith, who is poised to have a big game. Also, it makes sense to project RB D’Andre Swift to have an expanded role. However, Tampa Bay ranked 5th against the run and Swift has only topped double-digit fantasy points once in his last six games. Philly’s chances rest with Hurts, as both a passer and runner. These two squads faced off in this stadium back in Week 3 and Hurts produced 305 yards of offense and two scores. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Meanwhile, Tampa is also dealing with injuries. QB Baker Mayfield was limited all week with ankle and rib injuries and is listed as questionable. Mayfield is tough and will play. But the matchup is a tough one. Particularly for a limited signal caller. In Week 3, the Eagles held Mayfield to 146 passing yards and one score at Raymond James. Despite the 25-11 loss to Philadelphia in September, this is a good matchup for Tampa’s skill-position group. The Eagles ranked 31st against the pass. Mike Evans scored seven touchdowns at home this season, including the team’s only TD in the previous matchup. Chris Godwin produced double-digit fantasy points in his final five outings of the regular season. Our RDA* projections love Godwin tonight. Also, RB Rachaad White can factor in as a dangerous receiving option if the Eagles’ No. 10 run defense factors in. With the Eagles struggling and Tampa winning five of their last six to win the NFC South, I like the Buccaneers to cover and might even consider the money line. Bucs +3 WIN Sign Up Before the NFL Playoffs & Double Your Bet Instantly With Edge Boost Offer is up for a limited time only! Special Offer For The FullTime Community: Users who sign up within the next 72 hours will start at $500 in advance limit from EDGE Boost (as opposed to $50). 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Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 8
Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 8 We are now halfway through the 2023 season and the stakes are getting higher. The Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 8 features a pair of contending teams coming off of disappointing losses. Subsequently, a
We are now halfway through the 2023 season and the stakes are getting higher. The Thursday Night Football Preview: Week 8 features a pair of contending teams coming off of disappointing losses. Subsequently, a win would go a long way toward improving the postseason hopes for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills.
Speaking of the Bills, sitting at a mediocre 4-3 is new territory for Sean McDermott’s squad. Despite being an AFC-best +80 in points differential, Buffalo’s defense has fallen off. Also, the Bills sit at 0-2 on the road against their AFC East rivals. Returning home to Highmark Stadium in primetime could be just what the doctor ordered.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have exceeded most expectations, even after a second consecutive home loss. The biggest problem for Todd Bowles’s team appears to be offense. After scoring 20-plus in three games to open the season 3-1, Tampa has one touchdown in their last two outings.
That’s not going to cut it against a Buffalo team that ranks third in the NFL in scoring.
Therefore, the Bills are favored by 8.5 points, and the total slipped by one point to 42.5.
Matchup
| TEAM | OFFENSE | PASS | RUSH | YDS/PLAY | POINTS |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 26 | 15 | 29 | 22 | 26 |
| Buffalo Bills | 5 | 6 | 14 | 4 | 3 |
Both teams are far better at passing than running. However, the Bills have a distinct advantage in scoring, big plays, and efficiency. It’s on the other side of the ball where these two are much more evenly matched.
Tampa Bay ranks 11th in defense and sixth in points allowed. Meanwhile, the Bills have slipped to 22nd in defense but rank fifth in points surrendered. That explains the modest total for this game.
For the Buccaneers to pull the upset, they’ll have to step up offensively. Tampa has mustered a -13.83 expected points differential during their current two-game slide. That’s not the way to challenge a powerful Buffalo team that has won 15 of their last 18 home games.
The Bills have lost two of their last three games. Turnovers have played a big part in that, with Buffalo having two giveaways in each of their last three contests. Cleaning the mistakes and special teams’ gaffs is paramount for McDermott and company to keep the Bills in AFC East contention.
However, it’s hard to see Tampa winning this game without forcing those errors.
Tampa Bay Offense
The Bucs got off to a 3-1 start thanks to Baker Mayfield completing 70% of his passes and…
How will Thursday’s Buccaneers vs. Bills game go?
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NFL Week 1 Buccaneers at Vikings: DFS & Fantasy Preview
NFL Week 1 Buccaneers at Vikings: DFS & Fantasy Preview Betting Line: Vikings – 6 Over/Under: 45.5 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waltz into Minnesota with a sharp decline in quarterback play after the retirement of Tom Brady. Baker Mayfield has
Betting Line: Vikings – 6
Over/Under: 45.5
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waltz into Minnesota with a sharp decline in quarterback play after the retirement of Tom Brady. Baker Mayfield has a 31-38 record while gaining only 6.8 yards per pass attempt in his career. Last year, Tampa threw the ball 751 times but allowed only 22 sacks. Brady’s ability to get rid of the ball quickly was the most significant factor, not the offensive line. The Bucs will throw the ball a lot less in 2023, with a spike in sacks and bad passing plays. Mike Evans hopes to extend his streak of at least 1,000 receiving yards to 10 seasons. Tampa hopes Rachaad White can make more explosive plays in his second year with the Bucs. Chirs Godwin capitalized on his time with Brady, leading to 202 catches for 2,126 yards and eight touchdowns over the past two years.
Minnesota had the best wide receiver (Justin Jefferson) in the land, based on fantasy ADPs all summer. The Vikings want to attack via the pass, and they added another dynamic wideout (Jordan Addison) in this draft class. The running back position is in transition, but Minnesota hopes Alexander Mattison can carry the RB1 load. T.J. Hockenson played the best ball of his career after arriving midseason to the Vikings. K.J. Osborn gives Kirk Cousins another dependable receiver to move the ball.
Note: The fantasy points per $1,000 are based on the early projections for Week 1.
The above grid shows the top players excepted to contribute in Week 1 in the fantasy games. I listed each player’s salary at DraftKings and FanDuel, plus their fantasy points expected per $1,000 of salary invested. In GPP (grand prize pools) events, the goal is to find players with a chance to score four times their salary at DraftKings ($50,000 salary cap and three times at FanDuel ($60,000 salary cap).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield
- Over his last 18 starts. Mayfield passed for more than 235 yards in one game (11/28/2021 – 247/1). He has 18 touchdowns over this span when starting, with 18 interceptions and 57 sacks (525 pass attempts – 10.9%). Tom Brady threw the ball 1,452 times in 2021 and 2022, but he only was sacked 44 times (2.9%). The bottom line with this rant is that the Vikings could be a gold mine in Week 1 despite their poor outlook.
- The Vikings had the fifth-worst pass defense (22.02 FPPG), with nine teams passing for 300 yards (333/1, 418/2, 326/3, 330/1, 301/2, 382/2, 369/0, 330/3, and 334/1). Their defense finished with 35 sacks.
- Compared to 2022, the Vikings’ defense should be better in the secondary if Lewis Cine seizes a starting job and one of their young cornerbacks steps up to handle a starting gig. I see a below-par defensive line with three assets on the first two levels of their defense – Marcus Davenport, Danielle Hunter, and Jordan Hicks.
- As much as I expect Mayfield to fail over the long haul in 2023, Tampa will chase on the scoreboard, and he does have two proven wide receivers and a pass-catching running back.
Rachaad White
- The Bucs’ running backs had 338 catches for 1,529 yards and 11 touchdowns on 286 targets over the past two seasons. Again, their success was tied to Brady dumping the ball off and the elite number of pass attempts by Tampa Bay.
- White ranked 35th in running back scoring (142.10) in PPR leagues, gaining 3.7 yards per rush and 5.8 yards per catch. He did secure 50 of his 58 targets.
- Running backs had 90 catches for 667 yards and four touchdowns on 115 targets against Minnesota in 2022.
- Game flow should favor him in the passing game, and his salary is low enough that a touchdown added to his expected…
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2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Outlook
2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Outlook The 2023 NFL season is right around the corner and that means fantasy football drafts are underway. Before you assemble your championship dynasty, redraft, or high-stakes squad, FullTime Fantasy members will have an in-depth, player-by-player
2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Outlook
The 2023 NFL season is right around the corner and that means fantasy football drafts are underway. Before you assemble your championship dynasty, redraft, or high-stakes squad, FullTime Fantasy members will have an in-depth, player-by-player preview of all 32 teams from football legend Shawn Childs.
Also, check out Jody Smith’s NFL offensive line rankings and exclusive 2023 Strength of Schedule analysis.
Up next in our extensive NFL and fantasy football preview series is Shawn’s deep dive into the 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Outlook.
— Quarterback —
Kyle Trask
The Bucs added their possible future quarterback in the second round in 2021. He brings an NFL arm with an excellent rhythm in his passes. His weakness comes in his pocket presence and reads at the line of scrimmage and in the secondary. Trask lacked the intangibles needed to start in the NFL early in his career. A couple of years of holding a clipboard behind Tom Brady should treat him well and possibly fill in the missing links to his game.
In his final year at Florida, Trask passed for 4,283 yards and 43 touchdowns with minimal value on the ground (64/50/3). He finished his college career with strength in his completion rate (67.9) and yards per pass attempt (9.1).
The Buccaneers have him 10 snaps in 2022 (3-for-9 with 23 yards).
Fantasy Outlook: I don’t expect Trask to get drafted in many formats in July and August, but he may offer QB2 value early in the year if Tampa gives him the starting job. His ceiling is unknown, while Baker Mayfield has five years of mediocrity on his resume. I’ll have Trask as the winning quarterback in this offense.
Baker Mayfield
Health clearly efforted the throwing ability of Mayfield in 2021. Despite his issues, he hasn’t been a winning quarterback (29-30) over his four seasons with Cleveland. His completion rate (61.6) came in well below his college career (68.5) while falling to be a difference-maker in touchdowns (92 over 60 games). Mayfield tossed three touchdowns or more in nine of his 59 starts – none over his late 18 games with the Browns). After 2021, Mayfield had surgery on his left shoulder in January to repair a torn labrum.
The switch to Carolina didn’t go well for Mayfield. Over his first five starts, he passed for 962 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions with a dismal completion rate (54.9). An ankle injury in mid-October led to two missed games. The Panthers had him on the field for two more matchups (155/2 and 196/0) over the next month before releasing him.
With Matthew Stafford out for the season, the Rams gave Mayfield five starts to end the year. Unfortunately, he made minimal strides (82-for-129 for 850 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions). Mayfield gained a career-low 6.5 yards per pass attempt on the year with 31 rushes for 89 yards and one touchdown. His value in the run game (189/660/6) has been minimal in his career.
Fantasy Outlook: Tampa has two veteran wideouts (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin) with a serviceable WR3 and tight end. Their offensive line has plenty of questions, and Mayfield won’t get the ball out as quickly as Tom Brady. The Bucs will let their quarterback battle play out over the summer. Either way, I don’t see a winning fantasy play by this below-par NFL quarterback. Tampa should start its rebuilding process by giving Kyle Trask the starting gig.
Other Options: John Wolford
— Running Backs —
The Buccaneers’ offensive failure last year is highlighted by their running backs gaining only 3.7 yards per rush (4.6 in 2021 and 4.5 in 2020). Their backs gained short yards per catch (6.4, 6.4, and 6.5) in all three years, with Tom Brady behind center. In addition, Tampa’s backs scored 13 fewer touchdowns last season than in 2021 (22). On the positive side, their poor pass blocking led to Brady using his running backs more in the passing game (128/831/5) last year. They finished with 2,142 combined yards, nine touchdowns, and 128 catches (23.31 FPPG in PPR formats).
Rachaad White
After a limited role in 2020 in college (571 combined yards with six catches and eight catches on 50 touches), White flashed three-down ability (182/1,006/15 with 43 catches for 456 yards and one touchdown) the following year. He gained 5.5 yards per rush and 10.6 yards per catch.
Other than some concern with his pass protection, White brings an exciting three-down skill set. He runs with eyes up with a combination of patience and shimmy, helping him create space at the first level of defenses. When given daylight, White has enough speed to make big plays. He sells his routes well with plus hands.
In his rookie season, Tampa gave White 179 touches over 17 games, but he struggled to make big plays (3.7 yards per rush and 5.8 yards per catch). White finished with 771 combined yards with three touchdowns and 50 catches, ranking him 35th in running back scoring (142.10) in PPR leagues. From Week 10 through the first week of the postseason (9 games), he scored double-digit fantasy points in six matchups (10.50, 19.90, 17.90, 11.70, 15.30, and 11.70).
Fantasy Outlook: With Leonard Fournette no longer on the roster, White projects as the Buccaneers starting running back. On the downside, they’ll have a downgrade in quarterback and throw the ball 200 times less than in 2022 (751). I’m not a fan of Tampa’s offensive line, but he should be a better player this year. White ranked 24th in late June at the running back position in the high-stakes market. My early thought is 1,150 combined yards with four to six touchdowns and 50 catches…
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OUT OF THE BUCCANEERS IN 2023?
To finish reading Shawn’s in-depth 2023 team outlook, with in-depth offseason reports, projections, and fantasy outlooks for all players
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Breaking Down Committee Backfields
In today’s NFL, it seems like there are fewer three-down feature backs than ever. More and more teams are employing a committee backfield and that makes things awfully difficult for fantasy football enthusiasts. It also can lead to an opportunity to exploit value for those that can stay ahead of predicting how these committee backfields will play out. Let’s look at some of the confusing backfields of 2021 and how fantasy football fans should approach them Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Bucs backfield has plenty of names Fantasy owners have become familiar with over the years, however, it’s tough to figure out who has the most value. With Ronald Jones, Leonard Fournette, Giovani Bernard, and even Keshawn Vaughn in the mix, I fully expect this backfield to frustrate fantasy owners weekly this season. The two big-name backs with the most upside to be a workhorse are Jones and Fournette. Jones appeared to have a stranglehold on the job last season before playoff Lenny showed up and dominated in the postseason. Now it’s anyone’s guess who will be the RB1 to start the season. Head coach Bruce Arians will bench either back on a whim after a missed block or fumble as well making this backfield all the more volatile. The most defined role in this backfield, although limited, is Bernard. While his lack of early-down work will surely cap his upside, he’s locked in as the pass-catching back. He could carve out a nice little role in this offense and have flex potential in PPR leagues. Behind all of these backs is Keshawn Vaughn, who when he got an opportunity last season in limited touches averaged more than four yards per carry and looked just as good if not better than the other backs. Nonetheless, he would need an injury to have any real fantasy value. Ronald Jones offers the most upside as an early-down back and should be the first Bucs’ back drafted. Fournette should be the second back off the board but is riskier than any back on this team. Gio is a nice late-round stash in PPR leagues. He has sneaky value and could emerge as a nice flex option in 12-team drafts. Look for him to be Tom Brady’s new James White in Tampa. Philadelphia Eagles The Eagles’ backfield is much easier to decipher for me. This committee is more smoke than fire. Fantasy owners are projecting rookie Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott to have significant roles this season. I doubt their roles are as significant as people think. Gainwell and Scott will have a role in this offense, but Miles Sanders will be the clear-cut RB1 and is a steal as he continues to fall in drafts. Lately, he’s being drafted as a low-end RB2 or in some cases even a flex option. He has league-winning upside going that late. While his floor does bring some risk it is currently baked into his ADP. Scott and Gainwell don’t need to be rostered in non-dynasty leagues unless you have deep rosters and one needs to stash a player. Sanders is the man here as long as he’s healthy. If he were to go down I expect Gainwell to be the next man up to lead the backfield. Houston Texans Houston’s backfield is looking like a three-headed nightmare comprised of David Johnson, Phillip Lindsay, and Mark Ingram with Rex Burkhead lurking as a darkhorse to further muddy the waters. Lindsay and Ingram are listed as co-starter while Johnson appears to be locked in as the pass-catching back according to all the reports we’ve heard out Houston this summer. This is an unpopular opinion, but Lindsay being drafted as the RB47 has huge upside. I expect him to lead this team in carries and he’s always been a productive fantasy producer when healthy. Mark Ingram is washed and a non-factor. Johnson will take the PPR value, nevertheless, this coaching staff wants to limit his carries. Lindsay is a low-risk option who could pleasantly surprise this season. He’s well worth the risk. Denver Broncos Unlike the other backfields in this article, the Broncos have a strong rushing attack and two good backs. Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams will both see plenty of work. As much as many owners want to project Williams into a larger role, Gordon isn’t going away and will likely lead this team in carries and goal-line touches. Williams’ role should grow as the season goes on, but Gordon’s role is secure as long as he’s healthy. If both backs were to stay healthy all season, Gordon would have a slight edge on Williams. As much as fantasy owners would like him to go away, he’s not and is the RB1 in this backfield until further notice. Where it gets interesting is if one of these two backs were to go down with an injury. If either Williams or Gordon was to get hurt, the back left standing has legitimate low-end RB1 upside. With Javonte Williams being drafted as the RB28 and Gordon as the RB30, they are potential game-changers this season. I like Gordons’ value this season more than Williams in redraft despite the excitement surrounding Williams. I’d be happy to have either player on my team as a high-upside flex option. New York Jets Back to the dumpster fire backfields. No matter how much fantasy owners want to will Michael Carter into being a lead back it’s not going to happen. He’s currently the third man in a three-back committee on a bad offense that will often be in a negative game script for running backs. Ty Johnson currently looks like the RB1 in New York with Tevin Coleman behind him. Johnson isn’t the sexy pick, but all reports out of camp say after looking good in camp, he’s the top guy in this backfield. He should be the first running back drafted off this roster. Despite being the RB2 on this roster, Coleman is less appealing than Carter. I