Emeka Egbuka: Everything you need to know

Egbuka brought in one of three targets for eight yards in the Buccaneers' 16-14 win over the Panthers on Saturday. He finished the 2025 regular season with 63 receptions for 938 yards and six touchdowns on 127 targets and two rushes for nine yards over 17 games. Egbuka was thrust into a significant role from Day 1 of his rookie season, as the Buccaneers began the campaign without Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan due to ankle and neck injuries, respectively. The Ohio State product looked like an instant star after posting a 25-445-5 line on 38 targets over his first five career games, but Egbuka topped 64 receiving yards just once in the remaining 12 contests despite Mike Evans and Godwin missing significant time, and McMillan not making his season debut until Week 15. Nevertheless, there isn't any doubt about Egbuka's talent after he still nearly eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in his first season, and he could be set for a similar elevated target share in 2026 if Godwin isn't retained this offseason.

Egbuka caught three of five targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Dolphins. Egbuka was held out of the end zone for the seventh straight game, failing to exceed 64 receiving yards in each of those contests. The wide receiver finished fourth at his position in targets behind Jalen McMillan (nine), Chris Godwin (eight) and Mike Evans (seven), which doesn't inspire much confidence for Week 18 against the Panthers.

Egbuka brought in one of two targets for 40 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday. Egbuka needed just his one catch to secure the team lead in receiving yards on a day when Baker Mayfield was under the 200-yard mark for the third time in four games. Despite the splash play, fantasy managers have to be disappointed with Egbuka's stretch-run swoon, considering he's been at 42 receiving yards or fewer in five of the last six contests. Egbuka will be a relatively risky option on championship week for many fantasy leagues despite his favorable matchup against the Dolphins on the road next Sunday.