Welcome back to your weekly Tampa Bay fantasy football breakdown. We’ll take a deep dive into this Sunday’s Buccaneers game against this week’s opponent, the Miami Dolphins, using FantasyPros consensus rankings, half-PPR scores and fantasy points so far to help understand the most important decisions of championship week for most fantasy managers.
In Week 17, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to Hard Rock Stadium to salvage their sinking season and take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday morning. This analysis reflects FantasyPros consensus rankings as of 12/26/25, but the rankings may change slightly as analysts update forecasts closer to the start of the year. For the latest rankings, visit FantasyPros.
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game environment
Expect warm, calm weather with lots of sunshine in Miami. Temperatures near 78 degrees and light winds should have no impact on the weather conditions for this game, removing any outside constraints on the offensive game plan.
quarterback
Baker Mayfield reports as QB11 this week with a half-PPR projection of 17.7, and his performance throughout the season supports that ranking. Mayfield has scored a total of 249 points this season, averaging 16.6 points per game, scoring more than 20 points multiple times. The volatility is real, but the overall body of work puts him firmly in QB1 territory. If the Buccaneers want to advance to the playoffs, they’re going to need Mayfield and company to score multiple touchdowns in the game.
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Dolphins rookie QB1 Quinn Ewers has a much lower projected rating at QB26 with a projected rating of 13.4. His usage has been limited this season and he’s averaging less than 12 points per game, making him only a depth league or emergency option. I don’t think Ewers will be among the top 12 quarterbacks this week or all season.
running back
De’Von Achane leads the RB6 list with a projected value of 16.4. His total fantasy points were 244.6 and he averaged 16.3 points per game, telling the story of a high-end fantasy asset who was consistent when active. His biggest limitation was getting caught for a touchdown late in the game by a running back behind him.
Bucky Irving ranks as the RB15 with a 13.4 projected grade. Despite missing games, Irving averaged nearly 12 points per game and performed well when healthy, including multiple double-digit performances late in the season. He is the clear RB1 for Temps. That being said, his most significant limitation from a fantasy perspective is that the Buccaneers absolutely love Sean Tucker in the red zone.
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Rashard White and Sean Tucker remain the riskier options behind Irving. White is expected to score 6.1 points and Tucker 5.4 points, in line with their season averages of 6.5 and 5.5 points, respectively. Both had sporadic spikes, but neither showed week-to-week consistency. I personally lean toward Tucker given his red zone usage, but if you’ve watched the Buccaneers play, you know White is capable of making big plays whenever he steps on the field.
Jaylen Wright ranks first among RB58 with a 4.5 projection. His limited workload and 35.6 overall grade kept him under the radar outside of the deep format.
wide receiver
Mike Evans leads Tampa Bay with a 12.6 projection as WR9. While Evans’ season total is lower due to missing games, Evans has contributed when active and remains a major ceiling breaker in this passing game. He appears to be the most talked about player in Tampa right now and will be viewed as the lifeblood of the entire wide receiver room this season.
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Jaylen Waddle enters WR23 with a 10.7 projection. His 129.4 total fantasy points reflected solid involvement this season, despite fluctuations in his production from week to week. Rookie quarterbacks will be watching for Waddle’s fantasy points this week, but if you’re tight on cash, I wouldn’t mind hoping the Dolphins have an upward week on the outside.
Chris Godwin enters WR31 with a 9.5 projection. His 32.4 point total highlighted how limited his season was, making him more of a quantity-reliant option than a true difference-maker. “Third and Godwin” is real, so he’s a must-have starter in leagues where you can score extra points by catching the ball on first down.
Emeka Egbuka is right behind him at WR41 with a projected value of 8.5. Although he’s averaging less than 9 points per game, he’s quietly amassed a total of nearly 130 points and has put in several available weeks. The coaching staff expressed a desire to get Egbuka more goals early in games. This has certainly worked for both sides through the first five weeks of the season.
Looking further down the line, Malik Washington, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson are still underperforming and are expected to score six points or less due to limited and inconsistent production. I could see Washington starting in deeper leagues and Johnson starting in leagues that reward kick return spots.
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tight end
Darren Waller signed as TE14 with a projected rating of 7.6. His season average is just over 8 points per game, making him a viable live option, although his usage has been inconsistent. Regardless of quarterback, this guy is a weekly upside play. If you don’t have an elite tight end, I would suggest sending Waller in against the struggling Buccaneers.
Cade Otton sits at TE25 with a projected value of 5.0. His 44.5 total fantasy points reflect a low-ceiling role that requires touchdowns to return value.
kicker
Chase McLaughlin continues to be a solid fantasy kicker, ranking K9 with a 7.6 projection. His 140-point total and solid weekly scoring have kept him in the game.
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Riley Patterson ranks K23 with a 6.9 prediction. He has played some serviceable weeks but lacks McLaughlin’s consistency.
Fantasy takeaway
This game offers a combination of high-end anchors and decent fantasy football depth. Akan and Mayfield are the safest fantasy options, while Irving and Evans could provide upside if their workloads remain the same. Beyond this level, both the data and rankings suggest caution. Many of the secondary options on both sides are lower, which is reflected well in their projections and season averages, but as we know, in fantasy football, anything can happen. As with semi-PPR formats, relying on players with consistent usage and proven production remains the most reliable path forward.
FantasyPros Consensus Rankings (Half-PPR Ratings)
Quarterback Rankings
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Running back rankings
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RB6 De’Von Akan (MIA)
wide receiver rankings
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WR31 Chris Godwin Jr.(TB)
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WR62 Malik Washington (MIA)
Tight end rankings
Kicker rankings
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K23 Riley Patterson (MIA)
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs vs. Dolphins Week 17 Half-PPR Fantasy Breakdown