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Emeka Egbuka Dynasty Value: Slot WR Master Class

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Emeka Egbuka checks almost all the boxes you want as a PPR dynasty WR. 

His film delivers a master class on how to catch from the slot.

Egbuka's production also matched Marvin Harrison Jr. early in their college careers.

Where does he win consistently? And what are potential red flags?

Let's dive in to start framing his dynasty value ...

Emeka Egbuka Dynasty Values

To see Emeka Egbuka's dynasty value for your exact league setup, check out our Dynasty Draft War Room.

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Emeka Egbuka Draft Profile

Emeka Egbuka Combine Results

High School Domination

Egbuka contributed immediately at 2A Steilacoom High School in Washington. He served as the team’s top WR and punt returner as a freshman. 

Egbuka earned early notice from college recruiters, but his junior season propelled him to five-star status.

Egbuka would lead Steilacoom to a state championship, catching 83 passes for 1,607 yards and 25 TDs that season. He also had 2,240 all-purpose yards with 3 punt return TDs and 4 rushing TDs.

He won the 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year for Washington, posted a 3.99 GPA, and became the top WR recruit in the country.

Egbuka committed to Ohio State after his senior season got canceled for COVID.

'20 Reps of the Bench Press the First Day'

The 2021 Buckeye receiving room was stacked, with Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and fellow freshman Marvin Harrison Jr. Despite the loaded room, Egbuka made an impact.

Wilson praised Egbuka's work ethic and workout routine as a true freshman: "“Emeka Egbuka comes in the room and does 20 reps of the bench press the first day,” Wilson said. “I couldn’t even do 225 (pounds) one time.”   

Even with that work ethic, it's not surprising that Egbuka only managed 9 receptions as a true freshman due to the competition for snaps.

Wilson and Olave left for the NFL in 2022, and Smith-Njigba missed most of the year with a hamstring injury. Egbuka and Harrison led the receiving, with C.J. Stroud at QB.

Harrison posted bigger numbers, but Egbuka’s ability after the catch threatened defenses consistently from the slot.

When both were healthy, Egbuka trailed close behind the future top-5 NFL Draft pick. Both broke out at 19.

Egbuka appeared on his way to being the next first-round Buckeye WR. 

Ankle Injury Derails NFL Hopes

Expectations were high for Egbuka entering his third year. Even without Stroud, he put together a solid start to the season. But Egbuka suffered a high ankle sprain against Maryland in early October.

He returned after three games, but his play suffered. The crisp footwork and after-catch ability had diminished.

Egbuka underwent tightrope surgery after the season.

Despite the injury and decline in play, Egbuka received top-50 draft grades. But he surprisingly decided to return to school for his senior year.

Revitalizing Draft Stock

Egbuka immediately returned to his slot role once recovered from the ankle surgery. He led the Buckeyes in receptions with 81, becoming a consistent target.

But Egbuka also reached 100 yards in just one game (against Marshall). Part of the reason: He posted a career-low 7.9-yard average depth of target, down from 10.0, 10.2, and 9.0 his first three seasons.

Still, playing the slot in OC Chip Kelly’s offense should easily translate to the NFL. (Kelly has since become Raiders OC and previously served as HC for the Eagles and 49ers.)

Fresh off a national championship, Egbuka appears likely to land in the first round and might even be the first WR drafted. Why? Let's dig into the film to find out ...

Emeka Egbuka Highlights

Games watched: Notre Dame (2023), Oregon (2024), Penn State (2024), Indiana (2024), Michigan (2024), Tennessee (2024), Oregon (2024 Playoff), Texas (2024), Notre Dame (2024)

Egbuka looks like the ultimate slot WR. His stats and college experience suggest he can become a high-volume target in the NFL.

But, will that be enough to become a 100+ catch WR in the pros? 

Blazes Past Defenses Off the Line

When he isn’t pressed, Egbuka glides off the line with surprising explosion.

CBs often underestimated Egbuka’s initial get-off and got caught off-balance trying to turn and run with him.

Egbuka became the first read on more medium-length passes as the season progressed because he got open quickly.

On this play, Egbuka explodes off the line on a corner route. The slot CB has his eyes in the backfield, expecting more time to backpedal and turn with Egbuka.

He was wrong.

Egbuka zips past, even with some contact, and gets wide open as the first read.

NFL CBs will be harder to beat consistently. But Egbuka's ability to threaten a defense downfield could force more off coverage.

Separates With Ease

Egbuka has run a full route tree for the past three years at Ohio State. His crisp feet and upper body will often sell a different route to get defenders out of position. 

Covering him man-to-man can be a nightmare, especially on slants and in routes.

Egbuka runs an in route against Oregon here for an easy completion. He gets his separation by leaning to the outside to freeze the corner and using his footwork to turn and cut open.

In the right NFL offense, Egbuka should be able to make layup catches like this against man coverage often.

If that happens, he could become an extraordinary PPR asset.

Impeccable Catch Technique

Egbuka consistently catches the ball with his hands extended in front of him, leading to fewer drops than many college WRs (and some NFL ones).

He also sets himself up to turn and add more yards after the catch while securing the football.

It may seem like a small piece, but limiting drops is essential for a slot WR who will be asked to make key third-down catches.

In the clip above, Egbuka runs an out route to split the Cover-3 zone. He finds a hole and looks back as the pass comes in, knowing defenders will close behind him.

Even so, Egbuka takes the time to extend his hands with perfect catch technique and then spins to try and shake the CB.

Even when trying to make a move, Egbuka secures the ball first.

Will Egbuka Score TDs?

Egbuka is considered only a slot WR because he struggles with physical play on the line and down the field.

He slows down in his breaks when faced with contact and can lose his footwork edge to gain separation.

Slot WRs won’t deal with this contact as often, but he is unlikely to be a major red-zone target.

Against Notre Dame in the National Championship, Egbuka was the first read with potential to be open on his out route.

But the defender meets him with contact as he gets off the line.

Egbuka slows down in his break and is not sudden enough to have a chance at a TD, even if the throw was out in front of him.

Expect Egbuka's red-zone impact to remain limited in the pros.

Emeka Egbuka Team Fit: Los Angeles Rams

If the Rams release or trade Cooper Kupp, Egbuka would be an ideal slot replacement.

HC Sean McVay utilizes Kupp differently from the way most offenses deploy slot WRs. Kupp has run not just quick slants or drags, but also in and out routes down the field. 

Kupp ranked eighth in aDOT among WRs with 50+ slot targets last season.

Ohio State ran Egbuka on those zone-breaking in and out routes, capitalizing on his strengths.

He ranked fourth in the Big Ten in aDOT among WRs with 50+ slot targets last season.

Egbuka may also thrive as the 1B to Puka Nacua more so than he would as the top option.

Replacing Kupp with Egbuka would allow the Rams' passing game to continue operating at a high level.

Dynasty Value Conclusion

Egbuka’s value comes with high target volume from the slot. He can move the chains on third down and get open along the sideline against Cover-2 and Cover-3 defenses.

He has the skillset to be a 100+ catch WR for multiple seasons and certainly holds a bit more value in PPR leagues than formats that rely more heavily on TD scoring.

Don't expect Egbuka to become a Ja’Marr Chase or D.K. Metcalf. But like former teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Egbuka could become a top-20 fantasy WR early in his career.

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format including redraft, dynasty, devy, IDP, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance.