Team Profile
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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15.4% 6thOff DVOA
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31.9% 8thPassing DVOA
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8.9% 5thRushing DVOA
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1.5% 17thDef DVOA
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10.1% 17thDef Passing DVOA
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-11.8% 11thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For27.9 4th
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Points Against26.6 28th
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Yards Per Game362.0 8th
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Yards Allowed Per Game389.0 31st
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have said they plan to use wide receiver Chris Godwin more in the slot in 2024 after shifting him outside last year with an eye on avoiding injuries. It's the same role Cooper Kupp had with the Los Angeles Rams when Liam Coen was running the offense in LA. Godwin did manage to stay healthy last year, and in so doing he posted his third straight 1,000-yard season with 83 receptions on 130 targets, although he disappointed by scoring just two touchdowns in 17 starts. The 28-year-old has been more effective in his career while operating out of the slot and he'll have continuity at quarterback with Baker Mayfield re-signing this offseason. Injuries are always a concern when it comes to Godwin, but with a move back to the slot in 2024, he'll certainly be an attractive fantasy selection as a low-end WR3/high-end WR4/flex this fall.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles recognized tight end Cade Otton for his durability and willingness to learn multiple systems, according to Luke Easterling of Bucs Wire. "His durability has been outstanding," Bowles recently said. "We've called on him a lot as a rookie. It's hard to believe he's only a third-year guy coming up. His durability has been outstanding and he's had different coordinators each year, so his ability to adapt and learn, He's had different coaches, it's not like he's had the same position coach or had the same offensive coordinator. So, to learn different things and tweak his game to fit what we needed him to do is outstanding." The 25-year-old tight end is looking to build on a campaign in which he caught 47 passes for 455 yards and four touchdowns. He's the top tight end in Tampa Bay, and although he'll lose plenty of volume to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Rachaad White, he' still a mid-range TE2 for fantasy purposes.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield showed significant progress during mandatory minicamp as he learns new offensive coordinator Liam Coen's scheme. It helps that Mayfield has a good amount of continuity among the team's offensive personnel, from his supporting cast of skill-position players to most of the offensive line. "He has a lot more audibles on his plate than he did in the past and he's getting them down very [well]," head coach Todd Bowles said of Mayfield. The 29-year-old Mayfield had a career year under Dave Canales, now the head coach of the Panthers, in 2023. Mayfield has plenty of playmakers around him and is great at pushing the ball downfield, but his lack of rushing upside pushes him down to low-end QB2 territory in fantasy as he looks for an encore in Tampa in 2024.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected former Oregon running back Bucky Irving in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, just months after Rachaad White finished his breakout campaign that consisted of 1,539 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 336 touches. White was a rare workhorse in today's NFL, so Irving is likely to get work behind him in 2024. When speaking about Irving, White said the two could be a great one-two punch. "Bucky does a great job of, first thing, competing, and two, learning," White said. "They're all brilliant and they all want to understand the game more, and things like that. We talk a lot. We've got a good relationship. It's huge. I think he brings a playmaker [ability] and in this offense, the more playmakers, the better. It'll be huge. The one-two punch would be nice." It will be interesting to see how offensive coordinator Liam Cohen distributes the backfield touches, but White should remain the clear starter in Tampa Bay. Irving is a Day 3 rookie who had a disappointing pre-draft process, so expectations should be tempered.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and according to Bailey Adams of PewterReport, he's on track to be a Day 1 contributor. "McMillan may even have a chance to overtake [Trey] Palmer for the WR3 role, though Palmer is having a good offseason himself," Adams wrote. "In either case, the rookie looks like he'll help the Bucs from day one, whether he's WR3 or WR4." Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have the WR1 and WR2 roles locked down, so it will be interesting to see whether Palmer or McMillan sees more snaps early in the 2024 campaign. While sharing a field with Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk in 2022, McMillan posted 79 receptions for 1,098 yards and nine touchdowns. He regressed in his final season at Washington, but he was still productive considering the immense target competition. The 22-year-old likely has limited fantasy upside as a rookie if Evans and Godwin stay healthy, but if he flashes with limited targets, his fantasy stock could spike in dynasty and for the following season.