WR Emeka Egbuka, TB (5 Viewers)

[kface]

It would be monumentally stupid if the Bucs start him. They're 5-1, can beat the Saints without him, then they're on bye. I'm not holding out for him and I hope cooler heads prevail in Tampa.

Counterpoint, what if he just really did suffer as minor a hamstring injury as you can? Like, if he's healthy, why sit him?

Then you're ultra conservative and probably no worse than 6-2 anyway with a definitely healthy Egbuka instead of a marginally greater chance of being 7-1 and risking the health of your new #1 wr that would actually impact the rest of your season.

This is a potential tie breaker in the NFC. If guys can play they should play.

You can’t just throw away games in this league.

This is literally for home field advantage in the playoffs. If your stars are healthy you 100% play them.

 

[ghostguy123]

Id sit him if Im the Bucs. Hammys are tricky. One week isnt worth decent potential for a month or two with full season lingering issues.

 

[MAC_32]

It would be monumentally stupid if the Bucs start him. They're 5-1, can beat the Saints without him, then they're on bye. I'm not holding out for him and I hope cooler heads prevail in Tampa.

Counterpoint, what if he just really did suffer as minor a hamstring injury as you can? Like, if he's healthy, why sit him?

Then you're ultra conservative and probably no worse than 6-2 anyway with a definitely healthy Egbuka instead of a marginally greater chance of being 7-1 and risking the health of your new #1 wr that would actually impact the rest of your season.

This is a potential tie breaker in the NFC. If guys can play they should play.

You can’t just throw away games in this league.

This is literally for home field advantage in the playoffs. If your stars are healthy you 100% play them.

He's not healthy. That's the point.

 

[kface]

It would be monumentally stupid if the Bucs start him. They're 5-1, can beat the Saints without him, then they're on bye. I'm not holding out for him and I hope cooler heads prevail in Tampa.

Counterpoint, what if he just really did suffer as minor a hamstring injury as you can? Like, if he's healthy, why sit him?

Then you're ultra conservative and probably no worse than 6-2 anyway with a definitely healthy Egbuka instead of a marginally greater chance of being 7-1 and risking the health of your new #1 wr that would actually impact the rest of your season.

This is a potential tie breaker in the NFC. If guys can play they should play.

You can’t just throw away games in this league.

This is literally for home field advantage in the playoffs. If your stars are healthy you 100% play them.

He's not healthy. That's the point.

Then he can be a decoy...this is the biggest game of the season. You don't 'save' someone

 

[MAC_32]

It would be monumentally stupid if the Bucs start him. They're 5-1, can beat the Saints without him, then they're on bye. I'm not holding out for him and I hope cooler heads prevail in Tampa.

Counterpoint, what if he just really did suffer as minor a hamstring injury as you can? Like, if he's healthy, why sit him?

Then you're ultra conservative and probably no worse than 6-2 anyway with a definitely healthy Egbuka instead of a marginally greater chance of being 7-1 and risking the health of your new #1 wr that would actually impact the rest of your season.

This is a potential tie breaker in the NFC. If guys can play they should play.

You can’t just throw away games in this league.

This is literally for home field advantage in the playoffs. If your stars are healthy you 100% play them.

He's not healthy. That's the point.

Then he can be a decoy...this is the biggest game of the season. You don't 'save' someone

It's October. This is not the biggest game of the season.

 

[kface]

It would be monumentally stupid if the Bucs start him. They're 5-1, can beat the Saints without him, then they're on bye. I'm not holding out for him and I hope cooler heads prevail in Tampa.

Counterpoint, what if he just really did suffer as minor a hamstring injury as you can? Like, if he's healthy, why sit him?

Then you're ultra conservative and probably no worse than 6-2 anyway with a definitely healthy Egbuka instead of a marginally greater chance of being 7-1 and risking the health of your new #1 wr that would actually impact the rest of your season.

This is a potential tie breaker in the NFC. If guys can play they should play.

You can’t just throw away games in this league.

This is literally for home field advantage in the playoffs. If your stars are healthy you 100% play them.

He's not healthy. That's the point.

Then he can be a decoy...this is the biggest game of the season. You don't 'save' someone

It's October. This is not the biggest game of the season.

It 100% is...the two best teams in the nfc. You don't get this game back

 

[Joe Bryant]

As others have said, it's a huge and important game. And he's an absolute difference maker. Playoffs are a long ways off but home field is huge and this could potentially be part of that equation.

The flip side is they need him for more than this one game.

This is what we said in the Footballguys Email Update last night.

If you do go with him, make sure you have a pivot plan.

Our view: A game-time decision for a Monday night game creates quite the conundrum for Fantasy GMs out there. If the rookie phenom can play, everyone will be happy to start him. Buccaneers versus Lions is the earlier of the two games, so you will have a few options if Egbuka can't play. Tez Johnson would do more for the Buccaneers if Egbuka's hamstring isn't right before the game. Other options from Monday night could likely include guys like Seahawks' WRs Tory Horton and Cooper Kupp, or Texans WRs Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson. Stay tuned and be ready to adjust your lineup depending on Egbuka's status.

Our Jeff Bell offers this sharp two-step pivot strategy if you're thinking about starting Egbuka on Monday Night:

1. If you’ve got Egbuka, roster Sterling Shepard — or Tez Johnson if he’s in at WR, or Cade Otton if you can flex Egbuka.
2. If all those options are gone, grab Isaac TeSlaa or Kameron Johnson as your absolute worst-case fallback.

 

[Grahamburn]

It would be monumentally stupid if the Bucs start him. They're 5-1, can beat the Saints without him, then they're on bye. I'm not holding out for him and I hope cooler heads prevail in Tampa.

Counterpoint, what if he just really did suffer as minor a hamstring injury as you can? Like, if he's healthy, why sit him?

Then you're ultra conservative and probably no worse than 6-2 anyway with a definitely healthy Egbuka instead of a marginally greater chance of being 7-1 and risking the health of your new #1 wr that would actually impact the rest of your season.

This is a potential tie breaker in the NFC. If guys can play they should play.

You can’t just throw away games in this league.

This is literally for home field advantage in the playoffs. If your stars are healthy you 100% play them.

He's not healthy. That's the point.

Then he can be a decoy...this is the biggest game of the season. You don't 'save' someone

It's October. This is not the biggest game of the season.

It 100% is...the two best teams in the nfc. You don't get this game back

He’s a Browns’ fan. He wouldn’t understand. They start tanking in week 5.

 

[MAC_32]

It would be monumentally stupid if the Bucs start him. They're 5-1, can beat the Saints without him, then they're on bye. I'm not holding out for him and I hope cooler heads prevail in Tampa.

Counterpoint, what if he just really did suffer as minor a hamstring injury as you can? Like, if he's healthy, why sit him?

Then you're ultra conservative and probably no worse than 6-2 anyway with a definitely healthy Egbuka instead of a marginally greater chance of being 7-1 and risking the health of your new #1 wr that would actually impact the rest of your season.

This is a potential tie breaker in the NFC. If guys can play they should play.

You can’t just throw away games in this league.

This is literally for home field advantage in the playoffs. If your stars are healthy you 100% play them.

He's not healthy. That's the point.

Then he can be a decoy...this is the biggest game of the season. You don't 'save' someone

It's October. This is not the biggest game of the season.

It 100% is...the two best teams in the nfc. You don't get this game back

He’s a Browns’ fan. He wouldn’t understand. They start tanking in week 5.

Fair argument this franchise was set back a decade by allowing a core player to play through an injury.

The season doesn't start until after Thanksgiving. No matter the outcome, Booka playing would be stupid, no hindsight sight needed. There is no such thing as an 8 day recovery for even a grade 1 hamstring, especially at wide receiver.

 

[Joe Bryant]

#1. There's a wide range of injury designations. Grade 1 for one player, much less one team might not be the same for another.
#2. Games absolutely matter before Thanksgiving. A ton. When it's time for determining playoffs, they look at the Wins and Losses. Doesn't matter when they happened.

I can make a case for resting him. I can also make a case for playing him in a crucially important game.

Neither are stupid in my opinion.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Schefter:

https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1979926693528646028

Despite both wide receivers being listed as questionable for Monday night’s game at Detroit, Mike Evans is likely to play and Emeka Egbuka has “a real chance to play” despite suffering a low-grade hamstring strain last Sunday, per sources. Bucs will not decide on Egbuka’s status until pre-game warmups.

 

[MAC_32]

There's a wide range of injury designations. Grade 1 for one player, much less one team might not be the same for another.

He was unable to finish a similarly important game against a 4-1 opponent that was in doubt deep into the 4th quarter - 0% chance that's healed within 8 days.

 

[eighsse2]

There's a wide range of injury designations. Grade 1 for one player, much less one team might not be the same for another.

He was unable to finish a similarly important game against a 4-1 opponent that was in doubt deep into the 4th quarter - 0% chance that's healed within 8 days.

Don't understand that. An 8-day span can never make the difference between unable to play and able to play? Wouldn't that mean no one can come back from any injury, ever?

 

[MAC_32]

There's a wide range of injury designations. Grade 1 for one player, much less one team might not be the same for another.

He was unable to finish a similarly important game against a 4-1 opponent that was in doubt deep into the 4th quarter - 0% chance that's healed within 8 days.

Don't understand that. An 8-day span can never make the difference between unable to play and able to play? Wouldn't that mean no one can come back from any injury, ever?

Gonna give you the benefit of the doubt, so I'll just say if you're going to be a smart *** then expect smart *** replies.

Anyway, every injury is different and its impact from one position to the other varies. It is not possible for a minimum grade 1 hamstring to be healed in 8 days, which is a very impactful injury for a WR. Feel free to prove that wrong.

 

[Joe Bryant]

There's a wide range of injury designations. Grade 1 for one player, much less one team might not be the same for another.

He was unable to finish a similarly important game against a 4-1 opponent that was in doubt deep into the 4th quarter - 0% chance that's healed within 8 days.

No worries. Without being in the medical meetings or training room or practice field, I'm less confident in making a "0% chance" declaration. We can disagree there.

For Ebuka, as I've said, I can see Tampa Bay going either way. And I don't think either are stupid.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Zero interest in debating what's "stupid " or not.

I only care about us playing Fantasy Football. For that, if you roll the dice with Ebuka for Monday, make sure you have a viable pivot plan.

 

[eighsse2]

There's a wide range of injury designations. Grade 1 for one player, much less one team might not be the same for another.

He was unable to finish a similarly important game against a 4-1 opponent that was in doubt deep into the 4th quarter - 0% chance that's healed within 8 days.

Don't understand that. An 8-day span can never make the difference between unable to play and able to play? Wouldn't that mean no one can come back from any injury, ever?

Gonna give you the benefit of the doubt, so I'll just say if you're going to be a smart *** then expect smart *** replies.

Anyway, every injury is different and its impact from one position to the other varies. It is not possible for a minimum grade 1 hamstring to be healed in 8 days, which is a very impactful injury for a WR. Feel free to prove that wrong.

Okay, I get you. I don't really know anything about specific injuries and recovery timelines. Was taking your comment in a vacuum, and it sounded like very strange reasoning. But that makes sense if you're referring to when the injury occurred and what the injury was.

 

[Smack Tripper]

I'm rolling him, BTJ's stinker here killing me and I need the ceiling

 

[Joe Bryant]

I'm rolling him, BTJ's stinker here killing me and I need the ceiling

That's also a factor too. How the day is going can be a factor too.

 

[Zeppelin]

Hamstring injuries are very susceptible to being reinjured or aggravated. It's definitely risky to play him.

 

[WaltonGoggins]

He wasn't 100% a few games back so I sat him. I won't do that again unless I have a clear cut better option.

 

[Grahamburn]

Hamstring injuries are very susceptible to being reinjured or aggravated. It's definitely risky to play him.

Lions fan?

 

[Zeppelin]

Hamstring injuries are very susceptible to being reinjured or aggravated. It's definitely risky to play him.

Lions fan?

Yes but that has nothing to do with my opinion.

 

[Grahamburn]

Hamstring injuries are very susceptible to being reinjured or aggravated. It's definitely risky to play him.

Lions fan?

Yes but that has nothing to do with my opinion.

Well I hope they rest Hutch.

 

[Zeppelin]

Hamstring injuries are very susceptible to being reinjured or aggravated. It's definitely risky to play him.

Lions fan?

Yes but that has nothing to do with my opinion.

Well I hope they rest Hutch.

I'd equate this to the Lions starting Kerby Joseph against the Chiefs and he aggravated his knee injury and now is out this week. That's the kind of risk I was talking about.

 

[MAC_32]

Hamstring injuries are very susceptible to being reinjured or aggravated. It's definitely risky to play him.

Lions fan?

Yes but that has nothing to do with my opinion.

Well I hope they rest Hutch.

I'd equate this to the Lions starting Kerby Joseph against the Chiefs and he aggravated his knee injury and now is out this week. That's the kind of risk I was talking about.

Or Tyrese Haliburton playing on a strained calf and tearing his achilles. The difference being that's the finals, not a game in December.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Hamstring injuries are very susceptible to being reinjured or aggravated. It's definitely risky to play him.

Lions fan?

Yes but that has nothing to do with my opinion.

Well I hope they rest Hutch.

I'd equate this to the Lions starting Kerby Joseph against the Chiefs and he aggravated his knee injury and now is out this week. That's the kind of risk I was talking about.

Or Tyrese Haliburton playing on a strained calf and tearing his achilles. The difference being that's the finals, not a game in December.

October?

October games are hugely important in December.

 

[kinghill]

Really hope they let him rest tonight and heal up for next week.

 

[Gally]

Him or Jame-O on Monday. Nice problem to have. Hope he sits.

I am in this exact situation. I have a lead (but not a big lead) but the other guy has a lot of players left. I don't need ceiling but I it will also hurt if Egbuka plays half a game and re-injures. I have no idea what to do if Egbuka is active.

 

[Grahamburn]

Him or Jame-O on Monday. Nice problem to have. Hope he sits.

I am in this exact situation. I have a lead (but not a big lead) but the other guy has a lot of players left. I don't need ceiling but I it will also hurt if Egbuka plays half a game and re-injures. I have no idea what to do if Egbuka is active.

You start him with the utmost confidence and win your matchup. That's what you do.

 

[Mookie]

Him or Jame-O on Monday. Nice problem to have. Hope he sits.

I am in this exact situation. I have a lead (but not a big lead) but the other guy has a lot of players left. I don't need ceiling but I it will also hurt if Egbuka plays half a game and re-injures. I have no idea what to do if Egbuka is active.

Me too. I'm leaning towards starting EE if he's active as Jame-O could be blocking and running clear out routes all night long. At least EE gives you production for that half a game.

 

[ponchsox]

Him or Jame-O on Monday. Nice problem to have. Hope he sits.

I am in this exact situation. I have a lead (but not a big lead) but the other guy has a lot of players left. I don't need ceiling but I it will also hurt if Egbuka plays half a game and re-injures. I have no idea what to do if Egbuka is active.

I also have Egbuka and JaMo. If EE is active, you play him. Don’t overthink it.

 

[calcinorjones]

I also have EE and Jamo but to complicate things - Evans. Need 12 to win so its a bit of a conundrum

 

[travdogg]

I also have EE and Jamo but to complicate things - Evans. Need 12 to win so its a bit of a conundrum

I think Evans is the play if choosing between those 3.

 

[calcinorjones]

I also have EE and Jamo but to complicate things - Evans. Need 12 to win so its a bit of a conundrum

I think Evans is the play if choosing between those 3.

Yes I agree

 

[Grahamburn]

Evans scores at least once tonight.

 

[Payne]

I also have EE and Jamo but to complicate things - Evans. Need 12 to win so its a bit of a conundrum

Evans and it's not even close. Nobody on Detroit can cover him right now.

 

[Joe Bryant]

@elitzer do you have a link for what you're saying about Egbuka?

 

[RaidersAreOne]

@RapSheet

#Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka will play tonight, despite a hamstring injury. Early last week, this appeared to be a long-shot. But a pregame workout went well, and now he’ll play.

 

[Capella]

@elitzer do you have a link for what you're saying about Egbuka?

Bucs beat guy Rick Stroud has it.

 

[Dez]

Hope he doesn't reinjury it. I am playing him in some and already sat him in some.

In 1 league I have both Evans and Egbuka and now have to make the call along with picking between Baker and Goff

 

[Mookie]

Crazy. I thought there was no chance, especially with a week 9 bye looming.

 

[Dez]

Crazy. I thought there was no chance, especially with a week 9 bye looming.

Except it is week 7 not 8

 

[Grahamburn]

Crazy. I thought there was no chance, especially with a week 9 bye looming.

They might have been a little too cautious last week? I think he did it before halftime so maybe they didn’t want to heat him back up afterward.

Anyway. Have to trust them. Team has been snakebit with Mike though.

 

[travdogg]

Crazy. I thought there was no chance, especially with a week 9 bye looming.

They might have been a little too cautious last week? I think he did it before halftime so maybe they didn’t want to heat him back up afterward.

Anyway. Have to trust them. Team has been snakebit with Mike though.

Possibly. I think the takeaway here, is that no 2 injuries are exactly the same, and Egbuka clearly had a minor injury. It was telling last week that he never took his uniform off.

Egbuka is smaller and a decade younger than Evans. It would make sense that he'd heal faster even if they had the same level of injury, which its never seemed like they did.

 

[FarFromHome]

Just my uneducated and humble opinion, but I think he is a decoy up until game time. Then he is inactive. This is the way.

Color me surprised that it appears he will be active. Youth wins.

 

[elitzer]

@elitzer do you have a link for what you're saying about Egbuka?

no that is why i said there was no news but there also was no betting props on underdog for him but there was for all the other players.
now i see that he may go in warmups but now i cannot get back onto underdog to look at projections for some reason. states network problem

 

[Stat Correction]

Grab a helmet EE.....and please don't pull a Kittle on us!

 

[WaltonGoggins]

ugh he or Evans

 

[Joe Bryant]

A good example of how these things are hard to predict.

And that I think our best plan is always try to have a pivot so you don't get locked out.