Buccaneers' New Star: Jalen McMillan Steals the Show

There's a new star on the rise in Tampa Bay, and his name is Jalen McMillan. This rookie wide receiver has been making waves, catching the eye of quarterback Baker Mayfield. Over the past six games, McMillan has racked up a total of 33 targets, with a significant 13 targets coming in just the last two games. He's been filling in for Chris Godwin, mostly playing the slot, and his performance has been nothing short of impressive. On December 8, McMillan set new career highs against the Raiders with four catches for 59 yards. But he didn't stop there. Last week, in a dominant 40-17 win over the Chargers, he brought in five passes for 75 yards. Notably, he was on the field almost as much as Mike Evans and even outsnapped veteran Sterling Shepard. To top it off, he's caught three touchdowns during this stretch.

Mayfield has been on fire too, averaging 278 passing yards per game over his last four. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have been struggling against the pass, allowing 7. 3 yards per attempt—the second-highest in the NFL. Their defense is banged up, missing key players like Trevon Diggs and DeMarion Overshown. Could this be a late-season breakout for McMillan? It certainly looks that way. As the Buccaneers push for the NFC South crown, it's worth betting on McMillan to keep up his strong performance against the Cowboys. Consider putting your money on McMillan to go over 36. 5 receiving yards.

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