After winning three straight NFC South titles and winning the Super Bowl as a wild card in 2020, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the NFL’s third-longest active playoff streak. A win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football this week would go a long way towards extending their streak to five seasons, with the 7-7 Atlanta Falcons — who swept the season series with Tampa Bay — just a game behind and facing an eminently winnable game against the lowly New York Giants in Week 16. On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Buccaneers are currently -400 favorites to win the division.
Tampa Bay’s road might’ve just gotten a little bit harder, as tight end Cade Otton ($5,400 Showdown) — one of the team’s steadiest pass-catchers — missed both practices this week with a left knee injury and will officially be a game-time decision on Sunday. If he does not play on Sunday, wide receiver Jalen McMillan ($7,000) figures to garner an increased workload. There’s a lot of prizes on the line in DFS contests like NFL Showdown $1M Sunday Night Showdown [$250K to 1st] (TB @ DAL), and with a limited player pool, McMillan is definitely worthy of consideration, especially if Otton sits.
In 2024, Otton is enjoying the most productive season of his three-year career. He has hauled in 59 catches for 600 yards and four scores and appeared in nearly every one of the Buccaneers’ snaps. His biggest strength is his versatility; in addition to his impact in the passing game, Pro Football Focus ranks him as the 12th-best run blocker among NFL tight ends.
Meanwhile, McMillan has broken out late in his rookie year and become one of quarterback Baker Mayfield’s favorite targets in recent weeks. The third-round pick from Washington was infrequently targeted in the first few weeks of his NFL career, but Mayfield has thrown it his direction at least three times in five of his last six games. In the past two weeks — both convincing Tampa Bay victories — he has combined for nine catches, 134 yards, and three touchdowns. His strong play has helped make up for the loss of Chris Godwin, who suffered a season-ending dislocated ankle against the Baltimore Ravens on October 21.
He should have a chance to put up good numbers against a Cowboys secondary that has been frequently targeted this season. Dallas has allowed 336 catches this season, more than all but five teams, and 3,408 yards, the ninth-most in football. Also, the Cowboys have allowed 21 touchdowns through the air this season, the 12th-most in the league. While Dallas’ defense has plenty of talented playmakers, including 2023 First Team All-Pro selection DaRon Bland, the Cowboys recently lost former All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs for the season. With Bland expected to shadow Mike Evans for much of the game, Amani Oruwariye is a much more exploitable target than Diggs.
Both Tampa Bay and Dallas have engaged in plenty of shootouts this season, and with the Cowboys’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sunday is another one. That means McMillan should get plenty of opportunities to make big plays, regardless of whether Otton plays or not.
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