2026 Team Outlook: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
RB Kenneth Gainwell, TB - Sleeper (undervalued)
Gainwell's rookie season was marked by inconsistent playing time from week to week. When he did get volume, he delivered, putting together starting-caliber fantasy outings in six games (12.30, 20.90, 15.10, 19.70, 18.70, and 16.50 PPR points). But across his other 12 games, he managed just 27 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown, along with 12 catches for 115 yards. His full-season totals came to 544 combined yards, six touchdowns, and 33 receptions. Philadelphia largely phased running backs out of the passing game in 2022, and Gainwell's numbers reflected it (409 combined yards, four touchdowns, and 23 catches) for the year. His lone fantasy-relevant performance (12 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown, plus one catch for nine yards) came in the team's playoff opener. 2023 brought a career-high workload of 114 touches, but the production didn't follow, just 547 combined yards, two touchdowns, and 30 catches on the season, with only two games topping the 10-point fantasy threshold (11.40 and 10.90). His role shrank further in 2024, hitting career lows in both touches (91) and yards per carry (3.9). Across his entire career, Gainwell has broken off a 20-yard play just five times, and 2024 ended without a single usable fantasy performance. The switch to the Steelers' offense led to Gainwell becoming a fantasy football asset for the first time in his career last season. He flashed in a start in London (19/99/2 with six catches for 35 yards) in Week 4, giving Pittsburgh more confidence to give him the ball at a higher rate across their final nine games (68/337/2 – 5.0 yards per carry with 48 catches for 389 yards and three more scores). From Week 11 to Week 16, Gainwell produced five playable outcomes (29.50, 18.20, 16.20, 19.60, 23.80 in PPR fantasy scoring).
Fantasy Outlook: Gainwell signed a two-year deal with Tampa in March for $14 million after finishing 16th in PPR running back scoring (222.40). He replaces Rachaad White in the Bucs' running back rotation while also adding insurance if Bucky Irving is ready early in the year. In the early draft season in the high-stakes market, Gainwell ranks 27th at running back with a late seventh-round ADP (82). Possible 150 touches, leading to 850 combined yards and a handful of touchdowns.
RB Sean Tucker, TB - Fantasy Handcuff
Tucker's rookie year was largely uneventful (just 15 carries for 23 yards and two catches for nine yards), but he showed a glimpse of his upside in Week 6, exploding for 136 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries while adding three catches for 56 yards and another score. That single game accounted for roughly half (34.20) of his entire season's fantasy point total (68.70), and he never produced another usable outing the rest of the year. His college tape tells a more encouraging story: over his final two seasons at Syracuse, Tucker piled up 3,065 combined yards, 27 touchdowns, and 56 catches across 508 touches, averaging a strong 5.7 yards per carry and 9.1 yards per catch. Last year, Tucker grinded his way to 354 combined yards with eight touchdowns and eight catches over his career-high 94 touches. For the second consecutive year, one game (19/106/2 with two catches for 34 yards and one score) defined his fantasy season (34.00 PPR fantasy points – 92.40 for the year). Fantasy Outlook: Tucker offers early running back insurance, who should play better at the goal line than in the passing game. His ADP (157) in the National Fantasy Football Championship ranks him as the 51st running back drafted. Possible sneaky handcuff to Bucky Irving.
WR Jalen McMillan, TB - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential)
McMillian broke out at Washington in 2022, posting 79 catches for 1,098 yards and nine touchdowns, but a knee injury limited him in 2023, and he wasn't quite the same player, finishing with just 45 catches for 589 yards and six touchdowns. The Huskies primarily deployed him out of the slot over his final two seasons. His game takes a couple of steps to get going after the snap. McMillian is a willing and effective blocker who helps spring the run game, but his release against physical, tight-man coverage at the line projects as an early-career hurdle. His rookie season started slowly. Over his first 13 weeks, McMillian managed just 13 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown on 27 targets, while also missing four games due to a pair of hamstring injuries. Everything changed when a Chris Godwin injury opened the door: over Tampa Bay's final five games, McMillian caught fire, scoring seven touchdowns and adding 24 catches for 331 yards, good for 99.10 fantasy points in PPR formats. He held WR3-or-better snap counts in 13 of his 17 games on the season. A neck injury in 2025 led to McMillian standing on the Bucs' sidelines for 13 games. He flashed in Week 17 (7/114 on nine targets) while being a non-factor in his other three games (2/38, 2/15, and 1/11 with six targets). Fantasy Outlook: Tampa's wide receiver depth chart has talent and potential upside, leaving McMillian in a dogfight to secure WR3 snaps and targets. His success in his rookie season should push Emeka Egbuka into deep pass routes, opening up crossing and underneath opportunities for McMillian. His ADP (130) in mid-June ranks him 57th at wide receiver in the high-stakes market. His rookie success paints a 50/600/5 player if his snap count plays out as expected.
WR Tez Johnson, TB - Low Potential
Johnson flew under the fantasy radar in 2025 after Tampa drafted him in the seventh round. Over five seasons at Troy State and Oregon, he caught 310 passes for 3,889 yards and 28 touchdowns on 419 targets. His opportunity was much higher over his two years with the Ducks
(86/1,182/10 and 83/898/10), highlighted by seven impact games (12/180/2, 11/137, 11/172/1, 11/121/2, 6/102/1, and 11/181/1). At the 2025 NFL Combine, Johnson ran a 4.51 40-yard dash while coming to the NFL as an undersized wideout (5'10" and 155 lbs.). He had a good feel for his route running, with the vision to win after the catch. His slot profile helped his fantasy floor, and Johnson's initial speed and quickness also created some splash plays in the deep passing game. His NFL ceiling is tied to his ability to add bulk and strength. Injuries at wide receiver for Tampa Bay last year gave Johnson a better- than-expected rookie opportunity. He helped the Bucs from Week 5 to Week 10 (4/61, 1/45/1, 4/58/1, 5/43, and 4/42/2) before getting minimal snaps late in the year. Over his final eight matchups, Johnson only had nine catches for 67 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Fantasy Outlook: Johnson comes into 2026 with a WR5 ranking on the Bucs' depth chart. He'll go undrafted in most 12-team leagues while potentially offering Tampa Bay stack value in BestBall formats.
WR Ted Hurst, TB - Deep-league Only
Before transferring to Georgia State, Hurst put together a solid run at Valdosta State, catching 60 passes for 1,027 yards and 10 touchdowns over 25 games. He carried that momentum into his time with the Panthers, starting 24 games and producing strong numbers in both 2024 (56/961/9) and 2025 (71/1,004/6). His college career was defined by explosiveness, averaging 15.5 yards per catch, with eight standout games along the way (7/128/2, 4/112/1, 9/173/1, 8/131, 10/172/2, 9/105, 5/110/5, and 10/165/1). Last season, he was remarkably consistent, posting at least five catches in nine of his starts. Hurst pairs an NFL-ready frame (6'4", 206 pounds) with legitimate speed, clocking a 4.42 at the 2026 Combine. He's capable of beating tight coverage right off the snap, shows better quickness than his size might suggest, and offers a solid baseline as a route runner. One area to watch is how his hands hold up against the increased velocity Hurst will see on NFL throws. He also does a nice job varying his release to create space against defenders at both the first and second levels. Added strength could push his ceiling even higher. Fantasy Outlook: Based on the wide receiver structure for Tampa in 2026, Hurst fills a much-needed void created by the loss of Mike Evans. He will test defenses in the deep passing game while adding scoring potential at the goal line. His role and targets should be minimal in his rookie season, putting Hurst in the follow category for fantasy game managers.
