Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan has been making a compelling case for the WR3 position, showing significant promise during training camp. Selected 92nd overall in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, McMillan, a former standout for the Washington Huskies, has garnered praise from quarterback Baker Mayfield, who noted, "What people don't realize, he was their (Washington's) leading guy in '22 before he got hurt. And so, for him to get back to true form -- he's a stud." Despite leading the Huskies in targets and catches in 2022, a knee injury in his final season limited him to 45 catches for 559 yards and five touchdowns, likely contributing to his fall to the third round. He led the Washington Huskies in targets and catches in 2022 despite playing with future 1st and 2nd round picks. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin ahead of him on the depth chart, McMillan may struggle to secure a substantial target share but could still deliver valuable fantasy weeks as a perimeter receiver. If he secures the WR3 role, he becomes a more intriguing option, particularly in best-ball leagues.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan continues to draw positive reviews out of training camp, this time coming directly from quarterback Baker Mayfield and head coach Todd Bowles. The third-round pick out of Washington saw his draft stock take a hit following a 559-yard season in 2023, but he has exceeded expectations early in his career. "He's a guy that runs so smooth," Mayfield said. "He does some things at the top of his routes -- he's so friendly to the ball -- that veterans do." Bowles, who doesn't go out of his way to sugarcoat statements, echoed these statements. "He's a good football player. Since he's come in, he's making plays since Day 1," said Bowles. "He wants to be good, he wants to learn, and the receiving group loves him." These quotes are a great sign for McMillan's potential role as a rookie, but he could still have trouble becoming a fantasy-relevant option in 2024 while competing with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for targets. Still, he's an intriguing best-ball option and late-round flier in deeper fantasy football setups.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving has been transitioning seamlessly into the team's offensive scheme so far in training camp. According to Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers, Irving's scheme familiarity with Oregon's offense has given him the leg up in getting acclimated to what the Bucs want to do this year. His versatility on the ground and through the air has allowed him to excel in many areas of the offense. Even though Rachaad White seems to be the number-one back, Irving looks like he could get plenty of snaps, especially in pass-catching situations.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White proved himself to be a reliable dual-threat option last season. He rushed for 990 yards while hauling in 70 receptions for 549 receiving yards in what was a successful year for the young back. It sounds like White could see different run packages under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. It's a new system that will feature a variety of packages such as mid-zone, wide-zone, tight-zone, duo and gap runs. This new scheme could help White find more open lanes to run, which was something that was problematic last season. The Bucs did add rookie back Bucky Irving, but his presence shouldn't hinder the fantasy value of White.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles expressed his confidence in quarterback Baker Mayfield. "Baker has the keys to the bus, and he's driving it, and he's comfortable," said Bowles. "We're comfortable with him. We're both in a great place right now. He has to run the offense. I think he's taken it upon his shoulders. He came back in great shape, and we expect him to do that." The 29-year-old entered the National Football League as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Browns. However, after some mediocre seasons in Cleveland, he played briefly for the Panthers and Rams before arriving in Tampa last season. But it appears Mayfield has found a home, and he is coming off the best season of his career, finishing the 2023-24 campaign by throwing for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Without question, Mayfield's rapport with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans continues to improve, meaning he could be in store for an even better year in 2024-25.