Falcons
Tampa Bay beat Carolina 43-13 on Sunday and ran the ball 49 times for 258 yards, according to ESPN. Baker Mayfield returned from his thumb injury and threw only 11 passes. The more useful change for waiver purposes was who was missing: Emeka Egbuka sat out with a concussion and a foot injury, which pushed Tez Johnson and Ted Hurst III into bigger roles.
Key facts
- Tampa Bay beat Carolina 43-13 on October 25, 2026, rushing 49 times for 258 yards and three touchdowns.
- Emeka Egbuka missed the game with a concussion and a foot injury and is questionable for Week 8.
- Tez Johnson played 65% of the offensive snaps, up from 25 snaps a week earlier, and caught both of his targets for 33 yards and a touchdown.
- Ted Hurst III played 56% of the offensive snaps but was targeted once and did not catch a pass.
- Tampa Bay hosts Atlanta on Sunday, November 1, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (6:00 p.m. CET), favored by 1.5 points.
This is a thin week. Nobody on the roster is a must-add, and the best case for any one player rests on a single game that was decided by halftime (Tampa Bay led 33-6, per Yahoo Sports). Rostership figures below come from Yahoo's Week 8 waiver column and reflect Yahoo leagues only, so check your own free-agent pool before spending a claim.
The one real add
Tez Johnson, WR, PPR and deeper leagues. Johnson started in Egbuka's place and played 65% of the offensive snaps, per Pewter Report, which Yahoo Sports puts at 41 snaps, up from 25 the week before. He caught both of his targets for 33 yards and a touchdown, and ESPN also credits him with a 14-yard run and a 22-yard punt return. Yahoo lists him at 0% rostered and calls him a dart-throw flex if a starter is out.
The catch is the word "if." Johnson's snaps were a product of Egbuka's absence and a blowout, and two targets is not a volume to build on. Egbuka is questionable for Week 8, according to RotoBaller and Athlon Sports, and head coach Todd Bowles said the team would watch Wednesday and Thursday practice before deciding. If Egbuka returns, Johnson goes back to a smaller role. Add him in 12-team PPR leagues and deeper as a stash, and check the Friday injury report before you start him.
Deep stashes only
Ted Hurst III, WR, 14-team leagues and deeper. Hurst played 56% of the offensive snaps, per Pewter Report, and Yahoo lists him at 7% rostered. But ESPN shows one target and no catch. He drew a 21-yard pass interference penalty on a deep ball, according to a snap-count recap on Yahoo Sports, which is not a fantasy stat. His snap share has now been in the 40s and 50s for weeks, but the targets have not followed. [CHECK: the 21-yard penalty came from a single recap.] We would treat him as a bye-week fill-in at best.
Sean Tucker, RB, handcuff only. Tucker ran 7 times for 52 yards and a 46-yard touchdown, ESPN's box score shows, on 14% of the snaps according to Pewter Report. Yahoo lists him at 1% rostered as a deep stash. One long run is not a role. He is worth a roster spot only if you own Bucky Irving and have an open bench slot.
Kenny Gainwell, RB, check before you add. Yahoo has him at 43% rostered, so he may already be taken in your league. He had his best game of the season, 14 carries for 88 yards on 30% of the snaps, per ESPN and Pewter Report. That is a blowout carry total, though. Pewter Report and Yahoo Sports both pointed to Irving taking Gainwell's passing-down snaps in Week 6, and Irving's 24 carries on Sunday show who leads this backfield. Gainwell is a flex option only if Irving misses time.
Who to leave alone
Cade Otton and Bauer Sharp, TE. Otton had one target and no catch, per ESPN, and Pewter Report notes his workload shrank in the blowout. Sharp played 16 snaps, a career high, but 16 snaps in a rout is not a role.
Jalon Daniels, QB. Daniels had two carries for minus 3 yards in garbage time. With Mayfield back, he has no fantasy value in one-quarterback leagues.
Next week: Falcons at Tampa Bay
Atlanta visits Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, November 1, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (6:00 p.m. CET), on FOX. Football Nation USA, citing a FanDuel snapshot, has Tampa Bay a 1.5-point favorite with a total of 45.5. That is a close game with modest scoring expected, and Egbuka's status plus Mayfield's practice participation are the two things to track. Atlanta's record is 3-4 per one report. [CHECK: Atlanta's record, from a single source.]
Buccaneers D/ST, optional stream. Yahoo has the unit at 6% rostered and lists it as a Week 8 streamer. The defense put up five sacks, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown against Carolina, per ESPN, and Yaya Diaby had three of the sacks in 22 snaps, per Yahoo Sports. But Football Nation USA calls both defenses risky streams, and a one-point spread does not point to a blowout. If your alternative is a defense with a bad matchup, the Bucs are fine. If you already have a steady unit, stay put.
Chase McLaughlin, K, only if your kicker is on bye. He went 2 for 2 on field goals (long of 44) with five extra points, per ESPN. A 45.5 total offers no particular edge for kickers, and Yahoo's column does not mention him.
The summary: add Johnson if you have a spare bench spot and decide on Friday. Leave the rest alone unless you are in a deep league.
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