The Buccaneers captured four consecutive NFC South titles from 2021 to 2024. A 6-2 start in 2025 sure made it seem like No. 5 was on the way, but Baker Mayfield and company struggled down the stretch, ultimately limping to an 8-9, second-place finish. This included a mediocre -31 point differential (9th in the NFC).

While there were flashes of high-end performance (remember those early-season Baker MVP chants?), this was most people's idea of a below-average squad by the end of the year.

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Buccaneers Team Preview For 2026 Fantasy Football

New year, new Bucs, and a number of big-time changes were made to *hopefully* get this team back to looking like a real contender:

• Head coach Todd Bowles is back leading the charge, but he'll have his fifth different offensive coordinator in as many seasons in the form of ex-Falcons OC Zac Robinson.
• The front seven was refortified in a major way, as the Bucs used their top-50 picks on stud Miami DE Rueben Bain (1.15) and Missouri LB Josiah Trotter. Yes, he is the son of Eagles great Jeremiah Trotter and brother of current Eagles LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
• Mr. 1k Mike Evans took his talents to San Francisco in free agency. Look for Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin to lead the passing game with guys like Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson and third-round pick Ted Hurst serving in complementary roles.
• There's at least some concern surrounding Bucky Irving's health entering 2026 (more on that in a bit), so 2025 Steelers team MVP (seriously) Kenneth Gainwell was brought in to replace Rachaad White.

What follows is a fantasy-focused team preview of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the 2026 season. Make sure to check out our fantasy football rankings for updated player ranks all year long.

As always: It's a great day to be great.

Can Baker Mayfield get back to partying like it's 2024 again?

• QB1: Baker Mayfield (QB19)
• QB2: Jake Browning

Let's take a quick trip down memory lane and remember Baker Mayfield's last five NFL seasons:

• 2021: Mayfield and the Browns fail to build upon their promising 2020, undoubtedly in part due to Baker tearing his left labrum in Week 2. The down season compelled the Browns to put their eggs in the Deshaun Watson basket, leading to Mayfield being traded to the Panthers for just a conditional fifth-round pick.
• 2022: Things didn't go any better in Carolina, as a more bad than good first five starts led to Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker instead starting under center. You've seen the scout team d-line picture. Good news (kinda) for Baker: He was claimed off waivers by the Rams, where he managed to lead the team to a fun, last-second Thursday night victory just two days after being signed.
• 2023: Baker gets a one-year deal worth up to $8.5 million to compete with Kyle Trask as Tom Brady's replacement. Not only does Mayfield win the job, but he sets career-high marks in passing yards (4,044) and touchdowns (28) on his way to leading Tampa Bay to a surprising NFC North crown and Wild Card victory over the Eagles.
• 2024: Mayfield and company soar even higher, as this time he racks up 4,500 yards and 41 scores under Liam Coen's direction. The Bucs offense ranks fourth in scoring and captured another NFC North title, but fell to the Commanders in the playoffs on a walk-off field goal.
• 2025: Arguably, nobody was playing the position better during the first month and a half, but then Mayfield fell off in a major way, looking like the pre-2023 version of himself for the first time in a minute. He set three-year lows in most meaningful passing metrics, although a Week 12 sprained AC joint in his left shoulder could've played a role.

In fact, that latter shoulder injury wasn't the only thing Mayfield was dealing with down the stretch of 2025. The full list is actually quite insane.

Will Baker Mayfield Bounce Back In 2026?

Can Bucky Irving be trusted as a top-20 fantasy RB?

• RB1: Bucky Irving (RB21)
• RB2: Kenneth Gainwell (RB37)
• RB3: Sean Tucker (RB60)

This didn't seem like much of a question entering last season. After all, Irving looked a lot like one of the league's best ball carriers throughout his rookie campaign, regularly dodging, ducking, dipping, diving, and dodging would-be tacklers on his way to racking up 1,514 total yards and eight touchdowns.

Unfortunately, Irving suffered a sprained foot and AC joint in Week 4, issues that would sideline him for six games and seemingly limit him for the rest of the season. The impact was VERY apparent:

The shoulder issue required offseason surgery that still has Irving sidelined. Head coach Todd Bowles said in late May that Irving is expected to return sometime, "during summer or fall." That could simply be a broad range, and we see Irving back in action to start training camp … but it's not great!

Should You Draft Bucky Irving In 2026?

Are both Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin priority fantasy targets?

• WR1: Emeka Egbuka (WR23)
• WR2: Chris Godwin (WR42)
• WR3: Jalen McMillan (WR71)
• WR4: Ted Hurst (WR89)
• WR5: Tez Johnson

Emeka Egbuka's rookie season started off quite nicely. In fact …

• He was the overall PPR WR3 in Weeks 1-5 behind only Puka Nacua and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
• Egbuka managed to score 102.4 PPR points during his first five games. The only other receivers to ever surpass that: Puka and Randy Moss.

Whether it was via silky smooth double-moves, taking the top off the defense with a deep post, or simply serving as a reliable underneath option, Egbuka looked the part of the next great Ohio State professional wide receiver for a good chunk of his rookie season.

Is Emeka Egbuka An Elite ADP Value In 2026?

Should fantasy managers care at all about Cade Otton?

• TE1: Cade Otton (TE27)
• TE2: Payne Durham

Well, as an actual human being, yes. Absolutely. Don't be a dick.

But as a fantasy pick? Nah. Not really. Credit to the 27-year-old veteran for averaging 51.8 receptions for 504.5 yards and 2.8 touchdowns in four career seasons, but the only time we've really seen Otton make a major difference was when both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were injured during a three-game stretch in 2024. And hey, Otton peeled off 8-100-0, 9-81-2 and 8-77-1 receiving lines in that action; just realize he went 21 long, cold games afterwards before finding the end zone again.

Now, maybe Otton does flirt with a higher touchdown tally without the team's longtime 6-foot-5 monster around anymore, but man …

2025 Target share with Egbuka, Godwin, and Otton on the field—and Evans off:

• Emeka Egbuka (26.4%)
• Chris Godwin (24.5%)
• Cade Otton (13.2%)

Otton is understandably priced as the bread of his TE25-TE12-TE26 sandwich of finishes from the last three seasons. Let's agree to just be friends, and hey, maybe we'll see each other again on the waiver wire one day.

Predictions For The 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Win total prediction: Tampa Bay has won 9, 10 and 8 games in three seasons with Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield leading the way. There's reason for optimism considering the potential for better health on offense, and the defense also has room for growth with some young talent littered in the front seven and secondary alike. It'd be funny if the division (again) all finishes under .500, but I think the Bucs look like the division's most complete squad. Give me just over 8.5 wins.

Bold fantasy call: Emeka Egbuka is one of four different Ohio State wide receivers to catch triple-digit passes. He finishes as a top-10 receiver in full-PPR scoring.

Last season predictions: OVER 9.5 wins (whoops), and Mike Evans telling Father Time to f*ck off for another season and turning in another 1,000-plus yard, double-digit TD campaign (damn you, Father Time).

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