Tampa Bay’s defense surged with energy Saturday, flashing a faster, more dynamic frontline as Bowles challenged his young edge rushers to grow. Chris Braswell Jr. stood out, delivering the kind of early impact the Buccaneers’ depth has chased all offseason. The unit’s speed contrasted with an offense missing key pieces, underscoring why TB prioritizes a versatile front seven. Bowles praised the quartet of Braswell, Jose Ramirez, Markees Watts and Warren Peeples Jr., while stressing that growth must be mental as much as physical. With the preseason finale against Buffalo upcoming, the spotlight remains on whether this young crop can translate practice tempo to real-game snaps and push the rotation forward.

The Buccaneers have quietly fortified edge and linebacker depth this offseason, building a squad capable of multiple looks. Skylar Thompson’s athleticism was noted as part of the performance against the Steelers, while Bowles emphasized the need for players to put together the complete package—mentally, then physically. Buffalo looms on the road as a stern test, and how TB handles the Bills’ high-powered offense could shape early-season expectations for the edge group. The takeaway: the next steps are clear, and the next game will be telling for this developmental cohort.

Tampa Bay is rooted as the season’s big story in Connor Orr’s projection, pegged for a memorable 12-5 run that lands the Buccaneers as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The forecast emphasizes a sneaky-deep roster capable of pulling off marquee wins against legit contenders—Philadelphia, Detroit, and Buffalo—while noting a late-season stretch against weaker opponents that could fuel consistency down the stretch. The NFC South looks thin beyond TB, with Atlanta at 9-9 and Carolina at 6-11, sealing a divisional playoff drought for the other teams. For fantasy managers, Tampa Bay’s position hints at a stable, high-floor offense with potential playoff-growth momentum, even as intra-division dynamics tilt expectations elsewhere. The broader takeaway: TB’s path to fantasy relevance is tied to depth across the lineup and timely performances against strong foes, rather than relying on a single star-making run.

The piece also sketches a ripple effect across the conference: Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Detroit are highlighted as standout programs TB can’t simply run through, making Week-to-week scouting and matchup play crucial as the season unfolds. With the rest of the NFC South underwhelming by Orr’s lens, the Bucs’ path to the postseason is framed as a win-now, balance-of-roster affair, rather than a pure miracle month. Fantasy implications center on identifying value across TB’s backfield and receiving corps as the offense spreads opportunities, while monitoring late-season opponents who could shape the playoff push.

The narrative style remains grounded in roster depth, schedule shape, and a belief in Tampa Bay’s ability to win big games away from the expected, rather than relying on a single superstar to carry the load. For fantasy players, this means potential late-season leverage from TB’s depth pieces and a cautious eye on enemies TB might exploit in pivotal divisional showdowns. The result is a cautiously optimistic blueprint for a season-long run with meaningful fantasy upside and strategic rostering decisions that hinge on timing and opponent fit.

Adam Koffler unveils seven dark-horse league-winners for the 2025 fantasy season, all with ADP outside the top 90. The crew includes Ricky Pearsall, Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy, Rashid Shaheed, and Tyler Warren. These sleepers aren’t aiming for a weekly top-3 ceiling, but their paths to league-winning production are plausible if opportunity materializes and situations break their way in 2025.

Pearsall could inherit a sizable target share in San Francisco if Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk miss time, while Golden lands in a Packers WR room starved for playmakers and should see volume early. Egbuka steps into a Buccaneers attack that could lean on him with Godwin sidelined, and Maye’s dual-threat skills add a potent floor-ceiling mix in New England’s revamped offense. McCarthy’s rushing-boosted ceiling in Minnesota’s fast-paced system is intriguing, Shaheed’s fit in New Orleans’ more design-heavy pass game stands out, and Warren offers intriguing rookie TE upside in Indianapolis.

The Buccaneers’ Over/Under 9.5 wins at -110 is a great value play in 2025. Tampa Bay is being underestimated after a surprising 2024 run, but the offense remains capable of carrying the club, especially with Baker Mayfield at the helm and a solid line protecting him. Mayfield has four strong seasons as a starter when healthy, and the surrounding cast—Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, a deep receiver corps, and a productive ground game—gives him multiple paths to real fantasy and betting upside. While the playbook shifts with Liam Coen out, Mayfield has proven he can adapt and still operate efficiently in high-pressure situations. Should the offense stay cohesive, the Bucs can hit double-digit wins even if a few defensive flaws pop up.

Defensive concerns aren’t catastrophic; the unit is middle-of-the-pack but enough to let the offense dictate terms. Tampa Bay’s schedule strengthens the case: NFC South remains soft, six divisional games are highly winnable, and several non-division tests hinge on home games. If Mayfield stays decisive and the offensive line continues to give him time, Tampa can win games in multiple ways—through explosive passing and steady ground production. A 10- or 11-win season is well within reach, making the 9.5 line one of the sharper value bets of the NFL offseason.

Von Miller backs Peyton Manning as the quarterback G.O.A.T., arguing Manning changed the position with his arm-focused, pre-snap control and his knack for altering plays at the line. The debate with Tom Brady remains fierce, with Brady’s seven rings underscoring longevity, yet Manning’s five MVP seasons and historic single-season yardage and TD marks fuel Miller’s case. The piece also highlights Manning’s humility and his relationships across the facility, framing leadership and study as a bigger differentiator than pure physical tools for fantasy prep.

Brady’s dominance and longevity are acknowledged, but the article leans into Manning’s influence on pre-snap design and offensive evolution, likening the Manning-Brady rivalry to Nicklaus-Palmer—two legends who redefined their sport. For fantasy managers, the key takeaway centers on quarterback processing, audibles, and leadership as much as arm talent, with Miller’s praise spotlighting how a quarterback’s approach can unlock fantasy production beyond raw stats.