Emeka Egbuka

Baker Mayfield returned to practice this week after missing the last three weeks with a dislocated thumb. This is good news for Emeka Egbuka who averages 3.4 yards per target over the last 3 games, and Chris Godwin who averages 5.8. The Bucs offense currently ranks 30th in passing yards per game and 25th in points per game.

Mayfield has taken a step back in 2026 averaging 12 fantasy points per game compared to 16 last season. His adjusted yards per attempt has dropped from 6.0 to 4.6, ranking 28th in the NFL, and his EPA per dropback has fallen from 0.06 to -0.25. That -0.25 mark ranks dead last among quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks.

Tom Pelissero of The Ringer reports there is optimism for Bucs QB Baker Mayfield to return in Week 7 from his thumb injury. Week 6 will be his third missed game and initial reports said he’d miss a minimum of 3 games.

While Mayfield got off to a so-so start prior to getting hurt, his return will provide a big boost to all Buccaneers weapons. Rookie UDFA QB Jalon Daniels has filled in admirably, but at this stage does not work through his progressions which limits opportunities for the receivers, as evidenced by his 15 scrambles over the past 2 weeks. Hope abounds anew that Emeka Egbuka can return to his early 2025 form, Chris Godwin can get back to producing consistently and rookie WR Ted Hurst can make some noise. Fantasy football managers will need to monitor the practice reports next week to see if Mayfield will indeed be able to return next week.

Buccaneers 3rd-year WR Jalen McMillan reinjured his PCL and will be placed on IR and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, per Rick Stroud. This comes on the heels of QB Baker Mayfield being ruled out for at least 3 weeks with a dislocated thumb.

McMillan has shown some flashes, scoring 7 TD’s in the final 5 games of his rookie season in 2024, but between a neck injury that sidelined him for all but 4 games of the 2025 season and this year’s knee injury, he has been usurped on the depth chart due to his inability to stay healthy. This will hurt rookie QB Jalon Daniels as he prepares to start in Baker Mayfield’s absence, but rookie WR Ted Hurst should continue to see a healthy workload alongside Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin.

That’s not how turf toe works, Todd. While Emeka Egbuka has been dealing with turf-toe since August 12th and will be managing turf toe for at least the first half of the 2026 season, logging a full practice session is a positive signal for his Week 1 projection.

Recently paid and extended QB Baker Mayfield gets his 2nd year stud WR back.  Egbuka is currently ranked No. 22 on PlayerProfiler’s seasonal-redraft WR rankings, and rising.  Expectations have been high for Egbuka this year as his role was switched to the Z -WR this past offseason, but his seasonal-redraft ADP had dipped due to said health issue.  But those fantasy football gamers who drafted him at his deflated ADP may now be greatly rewarded with league-winning production. Egbuka’s Week 1 volume is now more secure as fellow WR Jalen McMillan is now doubtful. ~Jason Diaz

Baker Mayfield was set to be a free agent after the 2026 season but will now remain a Buccaneer through his age 34 season. Baker’s performance last year took a hit as he played through numerous nagging injuries, ranking 22nd with a 93.5 True Passer Rating. He is a year removed from ranking 5th with a 105.4 True Passer Rating, while throwing for 4500 yards and 41 touchdowns.

This is excellent news for Baker Mayfield, as well as the rest of the skill position players on the Buccaneers. Fantasy football managers no longer need to worry about what a post-Mayfield Buccaneers offense might look like. Mayfield was an early-season MVP favorite last year before a list of nagging injuries took their toll. He is ranked PlayerProfiler’s QB22 for redraft rankings but can easily climb the ranks if he returns to form in 2026.