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Is Chris Godwin injured or healthy? Should you draft Emeka Egbuka or Jalen McMillan in fantasy football in 2025? Joey's expert draft analysis for these Buccaneers WRs.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the most intriguing wide receiver rooms in the NFL. Mike Evans showed no signs of slowing down last season after another 1,000-yard campaign, Chris Godwin was Baker Mayfield's favorite target before suffering a season-ending injury, and Jalen McMillan stepped up in Godwin's place as the WR2 in this offense.
The team then decided to select Emeka Egbuka in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Egbuka was the third wide receiver selected in the draft, only behind Travis Hunter and Tetairoa McMillan. That means the Buccaneers will enter the 2025-26 NFL season with Evans, Godwin, McMillan, and Egbuka as their top four playmakers.
But how will this Tampa Bay wide receiver room shake out? Is Godwin currently injured or healthy? Should you draft Egbuka or McMillan in fantasy drafts? Let's dive in and find out.
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Is Chris Godwin Injured or Healthy?
Godwin was one of the best fantasy wide receivers to begin the 2024 season. He averaged 19.7 PPR fantasy points per game through the first seven weeks and totaled at least six catches in six of his first seven contests. However, the Buccaneers playmaker suffered a gruesome ankle injury in garbage time in a Week 7 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
To no surprise, Godwin missed the remainder of the season due to a dislocated ankle. The good news is that head coach Todd Bowles said a few weeks ago that the wideout is "on track." While we don't know what that exactly means for his timeline, Tampa Bay is reportedly impressed with his recovery.
Unfortunately, there is a strong possibility that Godwin will not be ready to go for Week 1. He is still on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, and the longer he remains on it, the more likely he is to miss Week 1. It's also important to note that the 29-year-old had a clean-up procedure on his ankle in the spring.
Update on Chris Godwin (dislocated ankle) from @DanGrazianoESPN.
Also, noting #Buccaneers were in 3-WR on 71% of their snaps last season, tied for 8th-most in NFL. Some room to rise there, ATL led at 88%. pic.twitter.com/AIDcmx8VV0
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) August 4, 2025
With all this in mind, Godwin might not be the best target in drafts this season. With no timetable set for a return, it's hard to pinpoint when we could expect the former Pro Bowler to make his way onto the field. Even if he is good to go by Week 1, the Buccaneers will probably limit his snaps early on. Drafting players who are already injured is super risky in fantasy.
Emeka Egbuka Fantasy Football Outlook
It came as a shock to some when the Buccaneers selected Egbuka with the 19th overall pick. The Buccaneers offense already featured three solid playmakers, and wide receiver wasn't exactly a need for this football team. However, Egbuka brings more speed, more athleticism, and another big-time weapon for Mayfield.
The 6-foot-1 wide receiver is coming off a strong final college season at Ohio State, where he caught 81 passes for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns across 16 games for the Buckeyes. That wasn't even Egbuka's best college season, as he totaled 1,151 receiving yards as a true sophomore in 2022. Now, he'll look to make an immediate impact in the NFL.
Egbuka is no stranger to being a part of a strong wide receiver room, considering he played with playmakers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Marvin Harrison Jr. at Ohio State. However, the rookie might not necessarily be a consistent fantasy option for managers throughout 2025.
We have seen what rookie wide receivers have done in crowded wide receiver rooms in each of the past two seasons with Smith-Njigba and Rome Odunze. Smith-Njigba had to compete with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf and finished as the WR48 in PPR formats in 2023, while Odunze had to battle with Keenan Allen and DJ Moore and finished as the WR49 in PPR formats last year.
This year could be different, though, especially if Godwin misses the start of the season. Egbuka would be the team's WR2 to begin the year, and that could make him a solid fantasy WR2/WR3 across the first few weeks. Given Godwin's injury, the potential is there for the Ohio State product to be involved throughout his rookie campaign.
Baker ✖️ Emeka is going to be a dangerous combination 🔥
📽️: @SonyElectronics | #ShotOnSony FX3 pic.twitter.com/bGvxgkFzb0
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) June 11, 2025
The key will be how effective Godwin is in his first season back from injury. If he returns to his 2024 form, Egbuka will have a hard time seeing many opportunities as the WR3. But it wouldn't be surprising if Godwin misses a few weeks, is limited once he gets onto the field, and isn't at full strength until later in the season.
That means Egbuka could emerge as a solid WR3 option for fantasy managers in 2025. The talent in this Mayfield-led offense gives the rookie some upside in the later rounds.
Jalen McMillan Fantasy Football Outlook
After a strong end to his rookie season, McMillan was almost guaranteed to be locked in as the team's WR3. The 23-year-old caught 24 passes for 316 yards and seven touchdowns over the final five weeks of the season. The Washington product totaled at least 50 yards and one touchdown in each of those five contests.
As a result, McMillan had the chance to be a sneaky fantasy option in the later rounds. The Buccaneers just invested a third-round pick on him in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he was only going to get better in Year 2. However, the addition of Egbuka will limit his fantasy ceiling in 2025.
Even if Godwin misses the first few weeks, McMillan will probably operate as the team's WR3 in this Tampa Bay offense. In that role last year, the 23-year-old averaged just 4.1 PPR fantasy points through the first seven weeks. While he will be a much better fantasy option than that, it would be hard to start him in most formats.
#Bucs WR Mike Evans says this might be the best receiving room he’s been part of in his 11-year NFL career.
Tampa’s WRs include Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson, Sterling Shepard, Trey Palmer — among others. pic.twitter.com/20myExduDE
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 16, 2025
Then, when Godwin is eventually fully healthy, McMillan will almost certainly fall to the WR4 in this offense. With Evans, Godwin, and Egbuka, there isn't a clear path for targets or playing time for the sophomore wide receiver. He will take a backseat when all three wide receivers are fully healthy.
So, McMillan isn't worth drafting in most leagues. He faces tough target competition, and Evans, Godwin, and Egbuka should all see more opportunities in Tampa Bay this season. The California native will likely only emerge as a solid fantasy option if multiple wide receivers in this offense were to miss time.
Should I Draft Emeka Egbuka or Jalen McMillan in Fantasy Football?
Both Egbuka and McMillan will face some wide receiver competition this season. Evans is the unquestioned WR1 in this offense, and Godwin will operate as the slot receiver whenever he plays. That leaves Egbuka and McMillan on the outside looking in in most two-wide receiver sets. Nonetheless, the rookie is the better fantasy pick in most leagues this year.
Egbuka was drafted in the first round for a reason, meaning the Buccaneers aren't going to let their young playmaker just sit on the bench. He is currently tearing it up in training camp, and Mayfield has called him the "real deal." It's fair to say that their connection will only grow as they get more reps together in camp.
Emeka Egbuka, the real deal. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/RVsJ6GBo5Z
— Fantasy Life (@MBFantasyLife) July 31, 2025
With a higher ceiling in mind, fantasy managers should be taking Egbuka over McMillan in every fantasy league. The Buccaneers have been praising the rookie all offseason, and there is a path for him to be a main piece of this offense by the second half. That makes him a potential value pick at his generous 108 ADP on Sleeper.
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