Emeka Egbuka (toe) practicing fully for Week 1

The Buccaneers’ No. 1 wide receiver is now firmly on the wrong side of questionable. It is a huge bummer, particularly after Egbuka earned 16 targets last week. Chris Godwin and rookie Ted Hurst earned targets most effectively behind him, though they are likely best viewed as FLEX starters at this time.

Egbuka finished the Bucs’ overtime loss to the Steelers, so his concussion symptoms likely arose in the hours or days after the game. He will now need to pass through the league’s concussion protocol to be cleared for Week 7. Players typically miss one game while in the protocol, and we don’t know the severity of his foot injury. Fantasy managers should prepare to be without him for at least a week. His absence would free up more looks for Chris Godwin and rookie Ted Hurst, both of whom would be in the WR4 mix if Egbuka can’t go.

Fantasy managers can’t complain about 17.8 PPR points, but this should have been an explosion spot for the second-year wideout. Jalon Daniels routinely missed him on routine throws, the most painful of which was a long would-be touchdown that grazed Egbuka’s hands as it sailed past him. There were several other throws that were behind, low, or simply too late. A short, two-yard score at the top of the second quarter will have to suffice. Egbuka is pulling away as the Bucs’ alpha receiver, pushing him back into the WR2 ranks for the team’s Week 7 date with the Panthers.

Egbuka’s nine targets handily led the team on a night undrafted free agent rookie Jalon Daniels attempted only 25 passes. The team also demonstrated an active desire to get Egbuka more involved following a four-target game against the Packers a week ago, feeding him a red zone carry on a jet sweep for his touchdown score. Egbuka remains at the mercy of the team’s lackluster quarterback situation for at least another week, pending Baker Mayfield’s injury. He’ll be a shaky WR3 against the Steelers in Week 6.

Egbuka had been operating as the Bucs’ No. 1 receiver until this game. With Jalon Daniels struggling to get the deep ball going, he opted for easy completions to Cade Otton and Chris Godwin, who combined for 10 catches. Egbuka, in turn, was hung out to dry. He almost saved the day with a touchdown catch, but the throw was low and behind him. Egbuka still had a chance to bring in the pass but couldn’t corral it with a Green Bay defender smothering him in coverage. Egbuka hasn’t topped 64 yards in a game since Week 10 of last year. With Daniles under center for a few more weeks, it may be a while before Egbuka hits triple digits again. He is barely a WR3 for his Week 5 date with the Cowboys.

Egbuka once again led the Tampa offense in targets and receptions but did not seem to be on the same page with Baker Mayfield. It’s a recurring theme in the early season that might not be worked out any time soon if Mayfield misses time with a hand injury he sustained in the fourth quarter against Minnesota. Egbuka should remain in lineups even if Jadon Daniels gets a start for the Bucs in Week 4 against Miami. He has 141 receiving yards through three games in the dysfunctional Tampa offense.

Egbuka was oh-so-close to a big game but Baker Mayfield remained wildly inaccurate in this one. Mayfield connected with Egbuka for a short score in the first half — the only positive play in the pass game for the struggling Tampa offense. While Cade Otton led the Bucs with six targets, Egbuka remains the team’s clear No. 1 target and should bounce back sooner rather than later. He should remain in all lineups next week against the Vikings.

Bizarrely, Egbuka was not targeted after the break in a game the Bucs trailed 24-10 at the half and 27-10 early in the third. He nevertheless led the Bucs’ wideouts and tight ends in looks, though Bucky Irving led the team with seven. The Bucs were all out of sorts thanks to four lost fumbles, setting up short fields for the Bengals and limiting the Bucs’ overall play volume. The good news is, Egbuka looked healthy and springy. The downtrodden Browns are on tap for Week 2.

Egbuka has been trending in the right direction all week after logging full practices on both Wednesday and Thursday. The second-year receiver gets a juicy Week 1 matchup against a Bengals team that was among the worst against the pass last season. While Cincinnati hopes some additions they’ve made on the defensive side of the ball should help turn things around this season, Egbuka will be a solid WR2 this week in what should be a high-scoring game.

Egbuka was seen practicing Wednesday ahead of the Bucs’ season opener against the Bengals and Stroud said there were no signs of injury for the second-year receiver, who has battled a toe injury in recent weeks. Barring any sort of setback, Egbuka should be in all fantasy lineups this week against the Bengals in what could be a high-scoring back-and-forth affair with Joe Burrow and company.