Tampa Bay Buccaneers

According to the team, Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight ends Cade Otton (knee) and Payne Durham (quadriceps) upgraded to limited participation during Thursday's practice. This is a great sign for Otton, as he sat out during Wednesday's practice and has not seen game action since Week 15. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his status on Friday as he could carry an injury designation into the weekend. After seeing an impressive 9.8 targets per game during Weeks 7 through 10, Otton has taken a step back over his previous four contests, as he has seen an underwhelming 4.3 targets per game. If Otton can turn the corner in time for Sunday's tilt against the New Orleans Saints, he should be viewed as a low-end TE1 in PPR formats. If both Otton and Durham cannot play, rookie Devin Culp would see an elevated role.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie tight end Devin Culp (ribs) is on the team's Week 18 injury report and was listed as a limited participant in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Culp has only appeared in four games his rookie season, but his status is more important heading into the regular-season finale on Sunday versus the division-rival New Orleans Saints with both Cade Otton (knee) and Payne Durham (quadriceps) missing practice. The Bucs must win on Sunday to secure a playoff berth and the NFC South championship, so they won't be resting any players this weekend. Culp is probably only worth fantasy consideration as a DFS sleeper if both Otton and Durham are ruled out. The 24-year-old contributed for the first time all year in the Week 17 win over the division-rival Carolina Panthers, catching three of his four targets for 52 yards.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (hamstring) was listed as limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Shepard did not play in the Week 17 win over the division-rival Carolina Panthers due to foot and hamstring injuries, but a limited session on Wednesday means he could be on track to return in Week 18 in a must-win game against the division-rival New Orleans Saints this Sunday. The 31-year-old could be removed from the final injury report entirely by Friday if he's able to upgrade to a full practice. If Shepard returns to face the Saints, he'll be a touchdown-dependent WR4/5, at best, for fantasy managers. Due to the recent resurgence of rookie wideout Jalen McMillan, Shepard is Tampa's clear WR3 behind McMillan and veteran Mike Evans when he's healthy. Shepard has been outside the top-50 receivers in half-PPR points per game in 2024.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight ends Cade Otton (knee) and Payne Durham (quadriceps) both missed practice on Wednesday. Otton has missed the last two games due to a left-knee injury and is fully in danger of missing a third straight game in the Week 18 regular-season contest versus the division-rival New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Now that Durham is also on the injury report, the Bucs' TE room could be down to Devin Culp (ribs) this weekend. In a game that the Bucs need to win in order to clinch the NFC South and a playoff berth, their TE situation is worth monitoring for fantasy purposes. The 25-year-old Otton is the team's unquestioned top TE when he's healthy, but Culp could be an attractive low-cost DFS option if both Otton and Durham are ruled out. In the Week 17 win over the division-rival Carolina Panthers, Culp contributed for the first time all year, catching three of four targets for 52 yards.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (shin, shoulder) was listed as limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Although Irving is dealing with two injuries leading up to the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints, he should be fine to play this weekend. The 22-year-old has been playing through injuries all year and has been the team's most productive back, posting 1,033 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 188 carries while also adding 45 receptions and 397 yards through the air in his first 16 NFL games. The Buccaneers need to win to secure the NFC South title and a playoff berth, so none of their starters will be rested. Irving continues to split backfield touches with Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, but he will be a high-end RB1 for fantasy managers in Week 18.