Tampa Bay Buccaneers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (toe) is officially active for Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs. Irving has been playing through a toe injury that he's going to have to manage for the rest of the season, but despite his questionable tag in Week 9, the 22-year-old was expected to play as part of Tampa's ongoing three-man committee backfield that also involves Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. Irving has been the team's most explosive ball-carrier this year and had 18 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown while adding 10 receptions for 94 yards in the last two games. His fantasy ceiling will remain capped because of the presence of White and Tucker, but he's proven to be an intriguing RB3/flex in fantasy lineups as the Bucs' most effective backfield weapon this year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard (hamstring) is active for the Monday night game against the Kansas City Chiefs, while Jalen McMillan (hamstring) has been ruled out. Both wideouts came into the Week 9 game listed as questionable to play. With Mike Evans (hamstring) previously ruled out and with Chris Godwin (ankle) out for the year, Tampa's receiving corps is much thinner for this matchup against the reigning two-time Super Bowl-champion Chiefs. McMillan tested his hammy during pre-game workouts and wasn't feeling great. On Monday night, Shepard and Trey Palmer are expected to be quarterback Baker Mayfield's top targets, as well as tight end Cade Otton, who could easily lead the Bucs in targets. Additionally, Ryan Miller, Rakim Jarrett and Marquez Callaway could have bigger roles against KC.

FOX Sports' Greg Auman reports that Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (toe) is expected to play on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs and could play well despite dealing with a toe injury that he's been playing through. The Buccaneers will continue to manage the injury, and apparently nothing has changed since last week. Tampa listed Irving as questionable to play on Saturday for Week 9 against the Chiefs, though. The 22-year-old will have to manage his toe issue for the rest of the season. In the Week 8 loss to the division-rival Atlanta Falcons, Irving had nine carries for the second straight week and produced 44 rushing yards while adding a season-high seven catches for 40 yards. Irving has been the team's most impressive ball-carrier in 2024, but his injury and the presence of Rachaad White will keep him as an upside RB3/flex play on a weekly basis in fantasy.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton has seen his usage skyrocket lately. The 25-year-old has 17 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns over his last two games. The Bucs are banged up at wide receiver with Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) both sidelined. They've also got Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and Jalen McMillan (hamstring) on the injury report ahead of Monday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. That being said, Otton could end up seeing a ton of targets with the Bucs limited on options. Fantasy managers should continue to lean on him as a TE1 for Week 9. Otton has been an elite option over the last two games, so fantasy managers should ride the wave.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Rakim Jarrett made his season debut against the Atlanta Falcons last week. Jarrett hauled in all three of his targets for 58 yards in the loss. Normally, Jarrett would serve as depth, but the Bucs are extremely banged up at wideout. Both Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) are unavailable for Week 9. Also, Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and Jalen McMillan (hamstring) are listed on the injury report ahead of Monday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. That means, Jarrett and Trey Palmer could end up being the top wideouts for the Bucs this week. Jarrett only saw 27 percent of the snaps last week and still played fairly well. Fantasy managers who plan to start Shepard or McMillan might want to snag Jarrett just in case they sit out.