Tampa Bay Buccaneers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (foot) practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday after he was listed as a DNP on Wednesday. Meanwhile, receiver Trey Palmer (illness) sat out of practice on Thursday due to an illness. Shepard didn't practice for the first time last week until Friday but still played in the Week 15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers and caught his only target for 16 yards. The 31-year-old hasn't been as intriguing as a flex play in fantasy with Mike Evans healthy, but Shepard could see more targets come his way this weekend against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night if tight end Cade Otton (knee) is unable to play. Even if Otton is out, Shepard will be an uninspiring WR4/5 in deeper leagues with a lot on the line in Week 16. Shepard has only scored one TD this year, and it came all the way back on Oct. 3. He also hasn't had more than five catches or 63 yards in a game in 2024.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) is trending in the wrong direction in Week 16 after missing his second straight practice of the week on Thursday. Otton has been wearing a brace on his knee this week after apparently injuring his knee in the Week 15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. If the 25-year-old can't return to practice on Friday, he'll be ruled out for Sunday night's contest against the Dallas Cowboys. In the event that happens, the Bucs are expected to roll with a committee approach at TE with Payne Durham, Ko Kieft and rookie seventh-rounder Devin Culp. Kieft is probably the best bet for sleeper production at the position against Dallas' defense, but fantasy managers should probably avoid the situation entirely. Otton was putting up high-end TE1 numbers when receiver Mike Evans missed a few games due to injury, but his production has fallen since Evans' return.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (back, hip) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Irving missed a few practices last week and was questionable to play, but he suited up in the Week 15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers and played 44 percent of the offensive snaps. He saw 15 carries and went over 100 yards rushing for the second time in the last three games. The 22-year-old basically proved that as long as he's active, he needs to be in starting fantasy lineups. He should be active again this Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys, but fantasy managers will want to check back on his status on Friday. Irving is averaging 19 touches and 124.2 scrimmage yards per game while scoring three times in the last five games as Tampa's most productive fantasy back in 2024.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) was seen wearing a knee brace and was not seen working on Thursday at the portion of practice open to the media. Otton is set to open Week 16 preparation with two DNPs, putting him firmly in danger of missing the game this Sunday night versus the Dallas Cowboys. Otton has one more day to get back on the practice field, but at this point, a questionable tag might be the best-case scenario. And if that's the case, he'll be one to avoid in fantasy lineups with the Bucs not playing until Sunday evening. The 25-year-old was quarterback Baker Mayfield's go-to target when receiver Mike Evans missed some time with a hamstring, but since Evans returned, Otton has seen his ceiling and floor drop drastically. He caught two of three targets in last week's win over the Chargers for 24 yards. Payne Durham and Ko Kieft could split TE duties if Otton is out this week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (knee) was practicing on Thursday during the portion open to the media. Mayfield was held out of the first practice of the week on Wednesday while tending to a knee issue, but the fact that he's back out there on Thursday means that he should be good to go for Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. The 29-year-old is having a second straight strong season in Tampa in 2024 and is on pace for his second straight 4,000-yard season. He has already thrown a career-high 32 touchdown passes after going for four scores against a stout Los Angeles Chargers defense in the Week 15 win. Mayfield will be facing a Cowboys defense that has found their footing a bit of late after being decimated by injuries this year, but they've still allowed the third-most fantasy points to the position in the last five weeks. Mayfield is locked in as a top-10 fantasy QB.