Team Profile
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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12.8% 7thOff DVOA
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34.5% 5thPassing DVOA
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2% 8thRushing DVOA
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1.2% 16thDef DVOA
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12.4% 23rdDef Passing DVOA
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-18.2% 6thDef Rushing DVOA
2024 Team Stats
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Points For29.5 4th
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Points Against22.6 16th
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Yards Per Game400.0 3rd
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Yards Allowed Per Game342.0 17th
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard on Monday, according to a source. The 31-year-old pass-catcher signed with Tampa with the hopes of rekindling his rapport with old teammate Baker Mayfield. It may still happen, though, as the Bucs are holding a practice spot for him. The former second-round pick by the New York Giants in 2016 out of Oklahoma had a career-high 872 receiving yards in 2018, but injuries pretty much derailed what was once a promising career. Shepard was unable to play in more than 12 games from 2019-22. In 15 games (two starts) last year in New York's terrible offense, he caught just 10 of 22 targets for 57 yards and one touchdown. An undisclosed injury also kept Shepard out of all three preseason games with the Buccaneers. If he re-signs with the team, he'll merely be providing depth at the position behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and others.
Green Bay Packers rookie quarterback Michael Pratt was solid in his final preseason outing against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday afternoon. Pratt was 8-of-12 for 80 yards with an 18-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to Bo Melton. He also threw an interception in the third quarter to Trenton Simpson, where Pratt recklessly came flying in to make the tackle and was shaken up on the play. In the post-game press conference, head coach Matt LaFleur said Pratt "lost his wind" when trying to make the post-interception tackle. Pratt is battling incumbent backup quarterback Sean Clifford to be the QB2 behind Jordan Love this season, but the race is too close to call yet. The Packers travel to Brazil and open their season on September 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
According to Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, running back Chase Edmonds (undisclosed) is expected to begin the season on the injured reserve list. No surprise here, considering the veteran back has been battling an unspecified ailment throughout training camp. Of course, the No. 1 spot on the depth chart is held by Rachaad White, who narrowly missed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in 2023-24. As a result, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker will be looking for scraps, although neither player should be viewed as anything more than an insurance policy.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan appears set to rank third on the depth chart behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. "It's a foregone conclusion among reporters he's won [the] WR3 job," tweeted Adam Levitan of Establish The Run. Jenna Laine of ESPN echoed this sentiment in a recent article, writing, "McMillan will line up opposite Evans with Godwin in the slot." The Buccaneers have been able to support three fantasy-relevant receivers before, albeit in the Tom Brady era, so there's a chance McMillan could have some appeal in deeper redraft leagues. Plus, even if he doesn't deliver steady production in the No. 3 role, he'd become an immediate FLEX option in most lineups if Evans or Godwin suffered an injury.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White got into some game action during Friday's preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins. White rushed four times for 16 yards and scored a touchdown in the win. He also hauled in his lone target for 17 yards through the air as he played all the first-team snaps during this game. The Bucs just wanted to shake off the rust a little bit before the regular season starts. White has little competition at his position and should be a workhorse back in Tampa Bay. He has proven to be an asset in both the receiving and rushing game. Fantasy managers should consider White a solid RB2 heading into the regular season.