Running back Bucky Irving is expected to play this week while Jalen McMillan is trending towards not playing.
The pair of rookies have divergent expectations for this week as Bucky Iriving is trending towards playing while Jalen McMillan is looking doubtful for the week. The Buccaneers play the Philadelphia Eagles at home in week 4.
Bucky Irving has gained plenty of steam in redraft and dynasty leagues as he has been cutting into Rachaad White’s opportunity share in the Buccaneers backfield. Irving has an impressive 5.6 true yards per carry and 6.1 yards per touch which ranks No. 5 at the running back position. Irving’s 80.4 run blocking rating is 4th at the position which is helping eat into White’s workload.
Jalen McMillan, who had an impressive touchdown reception in week 1 has had a meager target share. Use this opportunity to include Jalen McMillin as a throw-in to a deal in dynasty leagues. Between an aging Mike Evans and growth for McMillan, expect there to be more maturation for the Buccaneers rookie wide receiver.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan has...
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan is likely...
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan was able ...
The Buccaneers are going to need more cannons after defeating the Commanders 37-20.
Baker Mayfield thrived week 1 versus the Washington Commanders. With new offensive coordinator Liam Coen in town, questions arose in the offseason about whether or not there would be a dropoff for the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Finalist.
Baker cooked up 289 passing yards and 4 touchdown passes against the Commanders weak secondary. Mike Evans rose to the occasion with 5 receptions, 61 receiving yards, and 2 touchdowns. Chris Godwin and rookie Jalen McMillan also had a receiving touchdown each.
The Buccaneers will travel to Detroit for what will present prime conditions for an offensive shootout. Expect Baker Mayfield to pick up where he left off in week 1, making Buccaneers wideouts viable in all formats.
Jalen McMillan will start alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for Tampa Bay.
Bucs rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan has flashed time and again since being drafted in the 5th round of the 2024 draft. He’s consistently shown chemistry with Baker Mayfield since OTAs, and now he has earned a starting spot along side Bucs longtime starters Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.
McMillan is a very talented player who slipped due to an injury history in the draft. He has earned the opportunity to play most of the snaps lined up outside, with Chris Godwin in the slot. The role previously held by Trey Palmer only yielded 68 targets 39 receptions for 385 yards in 2023. McMillan remains off of the radar for redraft, but dynasty owners should be checking their waivers in the event he was dropped.
The Buccaneers rookie wide receiver is getting encouraging usage both in practice and in preseason action.
Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan is an excellent late round pick on UnderDog fantasy for best ball, going in round 15. Ian Hartitz on X posted that McMillan lined up out wide for 7 out 10 snaps he played against the Bengals in his first preseason game.
The competition for the Buccaneers third wide receiver spot is something to monitor as Chris Godwin and Mike Evans roles are set in stone set aside an injury occurring. Jalen McMillan is battling second year wideout Trey Palmer. Trey Palmer ran 53.4% of his snaps in the slot last year. The expectation is that Chris Godwin will move primarily into the slot.
With Godwin playing in the slot, this opens up an opportunity for Jalen McMillan to battle for time in 11 personnel packages. Jalen McMillan runs a 4.47 40-yard dash and comes from the Washington Huskies offense that was crowded with NFL talent in Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze and Patriots wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk. Jalen McMillan can certainly hold his own and is a sneaky player to acquire in a larger trade where he is thrown into the deal.
Rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan is getting ALL of the training camp hype in Tampa Bay.
With the training camp drumbeats getting louder since teams put the pads on, loads of players are getting their Summer hype. Tampa Bay rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan is getting huge press, at the moment. Daily reports with video of great catches are hitting Twitter. Just about every Buccaneers beat writer is focused on him. His coaches and teammates are praising him, and it seems he has officially arrived.
McMillan is currently listed with the 2nd team wide receivers, but that could change, as he’s being discussed as the team’s WR3 behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Todd Bowles has expressed his satisfaction with McMillan’s progress and Baker Mayfield called him a “stud”. It’s not surprising, given that McMillan came out of a highly productive University of Washington program. In 2022 McMillan caught 79 passes for 1,098 yards and nine TD’s. He led the Huskies in receptions and receiving touchdowns, in a WR room that included the Bears’ 9th overall pick Rome Odunze and Patriots 2nd rounder J’Lynn Polk. His 2023 season was lost due to injury, causing Polk to rise up draft boards and McMillan to fall. That creates a huge value opportunity for a very productive college receiver in fantasy.
McMillan is currently ranked as Player Profiler’s Rookie WR18, and his Underdog ADP is 186. McMillan absolutely has the talent to outplay his 15th round status and should be targeted in all formats.
Tampa Bay rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan is showing early signs of production.
Jalen McMillan was supposed to have a huge season at the University of Washington in 2023, alongside top 10 pick Rome Odunze. A leg injury managed to snuff out the McMillan hype and allow teammate Ja’Lyn Polk time to shine, but it also allowed the Buccaneers to snag a good WR at good value. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles is duly impressed.
“He’s a good route runner, he’s a competitor, he’s very intelligent – that impressed me the most. I can’t wait to see him in pads,” Bowles said. McMillan made a ton of plays during the offseason sessions, began to develop good rapport with QB Baker Mayfield, and is in position to begin the season as the WR3 behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. One of McMillan’s better assets in college was his versatility. He was effective both outside and in the slot. That type of route tree only helps when learning a new system.
McMillan is currently being drafted in the 16th round on Underdog and should easily outplay that draft position. He is a value target in Dynasty rookie drafts and startups.
