Tampa Bay Buccaneers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White took over as the lead back after Bucky Irving (back, hip) was forced to exit early last week. White took advantage of the extra snaps as he rushed 17 times for 90 yards and scored a touchdown on the ground. He also hauled in two of his three targets for 19 yards and an additional score through the air. White has now rushed for over 75 yards in each of the last two games, which is great to see after his sluggish start to the season. The Bucs are uncertain if Irving is going to play against the Los Angeles Chargers this weekend. If he sits, White would end up as the lead back and would move into the RB2 conversation for Week 15. Otherwise, White would fall into flex territory if Irving is able to suit up against the Chargers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield needs to limit the turnovers in order to have success in Week 15. Mayfield has thrown four interceptions over the last two games, but his four touchdowns during that span have helped save his fantasy value. Mayfield played two of the weaker secondaries in the league over the last two games, but has a tougher matchup this weekend. He'll be tasked with passing against the Los Angeles Chargers defense in Week 15. Mayfield has been one of the better options in fantasy at the quarterback spot all season long. Fantasy managers should continue to ride with him, but lower their expectations to a low-end QB1 for this weekend.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that rookie running back Bucky Irving (back, hip) will be questionable for the Week 15 game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Irving missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday and wasn't seen on the field in the portion of Friday's practice open to the media, but he must have later returned to the field to draw the questionable tag. The 22-year-old played through a questionable tag in the Week 14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders but made it only 10 offensive snaps before leaving. The fact that Irving barely played last weekend and hardly practiced at all in the lead-up to Sunday's game against the Bolts makes him a pretty risky RB3/flex in fantasy, even though he's been the team's most productive back in 2024. If Irving is ruled out entirely, Rachaad White, who had two TDs last week, will become a plug-and-play RB2.UPDATE: Irving will be worked out before Sunday's game to see if he can go.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (back, hip) was working with a trainer at the start of Friday's practice and then went inside in the portion that was open to the media. It's entirely possible that Irving returned to practice after the media left, but after two straight DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday, the 22-year-old is firmly in danger of missing the Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Irving was played through a questionable tag in last Sunday's victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, but he made it only 10 offense snaps before leaving the contest and never returning. Rachaad White benefitted with more work out of the backfield and scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving). If Irving ends up being active against LA, he could have a reduced workload, making him a risky RB3/flex in a bad matchup in Week 15. Check back for his final status on Friday.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) was seen working on the field at the portion of practice open to the media on Friday after sitting out of practice the two previous days. The Bucs are taking it easy on the 31-year-old veteran late in the year after he previously missed several games due to a hamstring injury in the middle of the season. He also missed two practices last week before suiting up for the Week 14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Evans played 85 percent of the offensive snaps in that game and hauled in four of his five targets for 69 yards. The matchup against the Bolts won't be as easy, but Evans will continue to be quarterback Baker Mayfield's top target, and he deserves a starting lineup spot in Week 15. Since returning from his hammy injury in Week 12, Evans has 17 catches for 255 yards and a touchdown on 23 targets.