Fantasy Football Week 15 Start Decisions Involving Buccaneers: Emeka Egbuka, Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and More

We just went over Falcons in trending fantasy football decisions, and now are going to do the same with Buccaneers, who are the other half of the Thursday night game.

Be sure to check back in a bit for a DFS lineup for the contest!

Having trouble deciding who to start? Let the FantasySP start/sit tool help you make a decision.

Emeka Egbuka Start Decisions

Egbuka is the most popular Tampa Bay player in the start/sit tool here at FantasySP. He is part of decisions with Green Bay's Christian Watson, Denver's Courtland Sutton, Minnesota's Jordan Addison, Carolina's Tetairoa McMillan, teammates Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, San Francisco's Deebo Samuel Sr., Arizona's Michael Wilson and Jacksonville's Jakobi Meyers.

The matchup for Egbuka (and his wideout teammates) against the Falcons is just above average. The possible return of Evans and Jalen McMillan, plus Godwin's presence, definitely makes Egbuka's outlook tonight murky though. If Evans and McMillan both play, there's a chance Egbuka struggles - the rookie has actually probably delivered better when everyone has been healthy, so that's a reason to start him still.

For the first time in a long time, I did not have Egbuka in my top-30 fantasy wide receivers. Actually, no Buccaneer wideouts made my top-30 list, and that was with guessing that Evans and McMillan would return. I see a balanced offensive attack for the Bucs' tonight, which will leave each fantasy wideout as an average-or-worse fantasy finisher.

Fantasy owners still like Egbuka as the top Tampa Bay wideout, so let's run through the decisions.

Owners are starting Egbuka over Watson, and starting both guys 51% of the time. I do not have Watson ranked in my top 30, and he's in a similar situation to Egbuka, serving as WR1, but on a team with several options. Watson's matchup is very tough, so I'd take Egbuka over him as well.

Egbuka is the favorite over Sutton, with both starting in 51% of leagues again. Sutton is ranked 24th for me, and despite a tougher matchup, I like his situation and outlook better, so give me Sutton.

Egbuka is the heavy favorite over Addison, with both starting 25% of the time. Addison ranks 28th for me, so while it's a closer decision, I like him in a superb matchup against the Cowboys.

McMillan is starting over Egbuka, with both wideouts starting 35% of the time. McMillan ranks 21st for me this week, so I like him comfortably over Egbuka, even though McMillan has a tougher test ahead.

Fantasy owners like Egbuka over Evans, and are starting both just 6% of the time. While Evans isn't ranked and is coming off a lengthy absence, he and Egbuka are close. I do prefer Egbuka over him, but it also wouldn't surprise me if Evans was the better fantasy asset tonight.

Egbuka is a heavy favorite over Godwin, with both starting 27% of the time. I like Egbuka over Godwin, but both could be solid deep-league options. Egbuka just has a higher fantasy ceiling to me.

Egbuka is the preferred starter over Samuel as well, with both starting 57% of the time. Samuel ranks 25th for me this week going into a great matchup, so that's why he gets the edge over Egbuka.

Wilson is starting over Egbuka barely, with both starting in 43% of leagues. Wilson is only a better starting option if Marvin Harrison is out, and we likely won't know that until later this week. For that reason, I think you have to start Egbuka over him, then maybe utilize Wilson in a flex spot later in the week.

Egbuka is a heavy favorite over Meyers, with both starting in 35% of leagues. Meyers was my No. 30 fantasy wideout this week, so I prefer him more, even though Meyers has a tougher matchup ahead.

Baker Mayfield Start Decisions

Mayfield is another pretty popular Buc in the start/sit tool right now. He's in decisions with Detroit's Jared Goff, New York Giants' Jaxson Dart, New England's Drake Maye, Green Bay's Jordan Love, Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert and Seattle's Sam Darnold.

Mayfield has a pretty average matchup tonight against the Falcons, but it's technically just above average. He ranks 12th for me among starting quarterbacks for week 15.

Goff is preferred over Mayfield by a wide margin. I have Goff down at No. 16 because of a below-average matchup ahead. I see Mayfield faring better, especially if he gets Evans and/or McMillan back tonight.

Dart and Mayfield are as tight of a decision as you can get, starting the same amount of times right now. Dart ranks seventh for me heading into a super favorable test against the Commanders. For that reason, give me the rookie QB over Mayfield.

Maye is preferred over Mayfield, but it's a pretty close decision. Maye ranks fifth for me this week going into a very tough matchup, so I think that's why fantasy owners are torn between these QBs. I just trust Maye more right now, so he gets the nod.

Mayfield is the heavy favorite over Love. It's a coin flip in my eyes, as Love ranks 13th for me. I gave Mayfield the edge in the better matchup.

Mayfield is also preferred over Herbert by a pretty wide margin. Herbert sits 17th for me heading into a below-average matchup, so it's close, but I like Mayfield more. 

Finally, fantasy owners like Mayfield over Darnold. The Seattle QB is ranked 19th for me going into a below-average matchup, so Mayfield again gets the nod between the two QBs.

Mike Evans Start Decisions

Along with his decision with Egbuka, Evans is in a trending decision against Houston's Jayden Higgins.

Higgins isn't in my top 30 either going into an average test against the Cardinals. 

Fantasy owners have Evans over Higgins this week, but it's close. I also would lean that way, with the slightly better matchup helping Evans.

I get it if you don't trust Evans after a longer layoff, but at full health, he's the easy choice here, so I think you have to trust the veteran.

Other Starting Options

We've discussed Egbuka and Mayfield at length, but let's go over some other fantasy options on offense for the Bucs.

Bucky Irving is the lone Tampa Bay back in my top-30 running back rankings. He's been the workhorse since returning to the field two weeks ago, and in a slightly above-average test tonight, I see him thriving.

Rachaad White is an option in deeper leagues, but only if you are desperate for another running back. You'd have to be really desperate to play Sean Tucker tonight. This game could get lopsided, so that's the only thing that could really slow Irving, while giving White and Tucker fantasy boosts.

While I don't see any Tampa Bay wideout being a very good standard league option, they are all good deep-league options in my eyes.

I'd take Egbuka first, then Evans, followed by Godwin and then McMillan. Sterling Shepard and Tez Johnson could also be involved as Evans and McMillan ease their way back.

Egbuka, Evans and Godwin are the really good deep-league options, at least in my eyes. McMillan is more a flex-level option in those leagues, while Shepard and Johnson are more lottery tickets.

In a solid matchup, and with no legit tight end probably playing, several wideouts could deliver, especially if the game is closer than I expect.

No Tampa Bay tight end made my top-25 list. Top tight end Cade Otton is doubtful to play with a knee injury, so that played a big role in that, even though I more kept Otton out of the rankings thinking Evans and McMillan would return.

If Otton is out, Payne Durham and Devin Culp will help fill the void. The tight ends have a brutal test ahead, so I'm avoiding them at all costs.