Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Deals with unfavorable game script
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Mayfield (knee) completed 15 of 24 pass attempts for 152 yards, no touchdowns and one lost fumble while recording no rushing attempts in Sunday's 23-3 win over New Orleans.
Tampa Bay's defense (one touchdown), running game (one touchdown) and special teams (11 points) generated all of Tampa Bay's scoring in Sunday's one-sided victory. The unfavorable game script and Mayfield's first lost fumble of the season resulted in his worst fantasy score this campaign. The early MVP candidate's 152 passing yards also checked in as his lowest total through eight starts. Mayfield is still providing fantasy managers with 1,919 passing yards and 13 touchdowns (three turnovers) following the low-use outing, putting him on pace for a third consecutive 4,000-yard season. The 6-2 Buccaneers will enter a much-needed bye in Week 9, potentially giving Mayfield more of his weapons back when play resumes against the Patriots on Nov. 9.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Full practice Thursday
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Mayfield (knee) was a full practice participant Thursday.
One day removed from being limited at Wednesday's walkthrough, Mayfield bumped all the way back to full, ensuring that he'll be under center for the Buccaneers on Sunday at New Orleans. Who will be joining him remains to be seen with WR Mike Evans (concussion/collarbone) out for most of the rest of the season and RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and WR Chris Godwin (fibula) ruled out for Week 8. On a positive note, rookie standout WR Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) followed up Wednesday's absence with a limited session Thursday, meaning he's trending in a positive direction to be among Mayfield's top targets this weekend.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Tending to knee issue
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Mayfield was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough due to a knee injury, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Mayfield was stymied by the Lions defense in Monday's 24-9 loss, completing 28 of 50 passes for 228 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also didn't record a carry after being effective as a scrambler through the first six games of the campaign. Perhaps the knee issue was partly responsible, and he'll now have two chances to get back to full this week or else risk entering the weekend with a designation for Sunday's contest at New Orleans.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Dissects defense in late comeback
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Mayfield completed 29 of 33 pass attempts for 379 yards and two touchdowns while rushing five times for 15 yards in Sunday's 38-35 win over the Seahawks.
Mayfield flirted with perfection in a masterful performance that saw him miss just four pass attempts while committing zero turnovers. The 30-year-old was especially sharp in the clutch when he led a pair of five-play drives that took up a little over one minute of game clock to give Tampa Bay the 10 points needed to secure victory. The loss of star WR Mike Evans (hamstring) hasn't hampered Mayfield and the passing offense, as the signal-caller is averaging 334.0 passing yards with a pair of touchdowns in the two games sans Evans. Mayfield will look to build off of the momentum of his cleanest outing when the Buccaneers host the 49ers next Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: No activity at walkthrough
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Mayfield didn't take part in Wednesday's walkthrough due to knee and right biceps injuries, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Mayfield was among a number of key skill-position players that were held out of drills to begin Week 5 prep -- the others being RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and WRs Mike Evans (hamstring) and Sterling Shepard (foot). Meanwhile, WR Chris Godwin (ankle) emerged from his first game action since last season as a full participant Wednesday. Mayfield was limited in all three sessions last week due to a right biceps injury, so the addition of the knee issue indicates he's a bit more banged-up this time around. He'll have two more chances to practice this week to prove his health ahead of Sunday's contest at Seattle.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Guts out biceps injury in loss
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Mayfield completed 22 of 40 passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding two rushes for 13 yards in the Buccaneers' 31-25 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. He also fumbled once but was able to recover it.
Mayfield got limited throwing work in practice this week due to a biceps issue, but he still mustered his best passing yardage total of 2025, thanks in large part to 77- and 72-yard touchdown passes to Emeka Egbuka and Bucky Irving, respectively. Considering he was playing without Mike Evans (hamstring) and that Chris Godwin was making his season debut, Mayfield's numbers have to be considered encouraging. He'll aim to get the Bucs right back into the win column during a tough Week 5 road matchup against the Seahawks next Sunday afternoon.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Listed as questionable
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Mayfield (biceps) will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles, but he's trending in the right direction to play, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
After missing Wednesday's practice, Mayfield returned Thursday but wasn't seen throwing passes. He took that step Friday and apparently made it through practice without a major setback, putting him on the right side of 'questionable' ahead of a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff this Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: More late-game heroics Monday night
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Mayfield completed 25 of 38 passes for 215 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while adding three carries for 33 yards in the Buccaneers' 20-19 win over the Texans on Monday night. He also committed a fumble recovered by Tampa Bay.
Mayfield was in danger of a second straight sub-200-yard performance to open the season, but the veteran signal-caller came alive on Tampa Bay's game-winning drive. He took the Bucs a total of 80 yards on 11 plays in just over two minutes, completing seven of nine passes while adding a 15-yard scramble before Rachaad White capped off the march with a two-yard touchdown run. In the second quarter, Mayfield also connected with Emeka Egbuka on a 15-yard scoring pass for the rookie's third touchdown over the first two games. Despite completing just 60.0 percent of his passes through the first pair of contests, Mayfield also will take a sparkling 5:0 TD:INT into a Week 3 home matchup against the Jets on Sunday afternoon.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Three TDs in inefficient showing
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Mayfield completed 17 of 32 passes for 167 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions while adding five rushes for 39 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-20 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
Mayfield was considerably less efficient than usual while facing a feisty Falcons defense in a rowdy dome environment, but after some early struggles, the veteran signal-caller was able to awaken the Buccaneers offense with a 30-yard scoring strike to rookie Emeka Egbuka. Mayfield would subsequently connect with Bucky Irving from nine yards out in the third quarter, and he capped off what turned out to be a rewarding fantasy day with a critical 25-yard touchdown toss to Egbuka with just under one minute remaining to erase a 20-17 deficit. Mayfield also finished as Tampa Bay's leading rusher, and his quick chemistry with Egbuka bodes well heading into a tough Week 2 road matchup against the Texans on Monday night, Sept. 15.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Starting Saturday vs. Steelers
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Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Thursday that Mayfield and every starter on offense aside from Mike Evans will play in Saturday's preseason game against Pittsburgh, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mayfield will be without not only Evans, who will rest Saturday, but also Chris Godwin (ankle), who remains on the active/PUP list without a clear timetable to return as he works his way back from surgery undergone to address a dislocated left ankle. Tampa Bay's impressive pass-catching depth will still leave Mayfield with Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan at his disposal Saturday, however, with TE Cade Otton (hamstring) also potentially ready to return to action.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Practicing Tuesday, as expected
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Mayfield (hand) is participating in Tuesday's practice, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.
Mayfield missed two training camp sessions after suffering a hand contusion Thursday, but he's back on the field to begin the new week of practice. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Buccaneers are expected to sign veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to provide Kyle Trask with strong competition for the No. 2 gig, but Mayfield's spot atop the depth chart is in no question.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Expected to return next week
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Head coach Todd Bowles relayed that Mayfield (hand) will not participate in Saturday's practice but is expected to return to the field next week, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Mayfield suffered a contusion on his throwing hand during Thursday's training camp practice. There's no urgency to have him return to the practice field given that it's training camp, but the veteran should be back to work with the first-team offense in the coming week before the Buccaneers' preseason opener against the Titans on Aug. 9. Kyle Trask will likely get the lion's share of reps with the first-team offense in Mayfield's absence.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Left tackle out to begin season
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Mayfield's All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs likely will begin the season on the PUP list after undergoing knee surgery Tuesday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
This means that Wirfs would miss at least the first four games of the season. Those games include a big division game at Atlanta on the road Week 1, a tough road game at Houston in Week 2 and a Week 4 matchup against the Eagles. With Mayfield already being a regression candidate following a career year and the departure of offensive coordinator Liam Coen, this news is a significant setback as well.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: QBs to Start
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The Buccaneers need to win this game to lock up the NFC South title, and Mayfield is on fire heading into Week 18. He has scored at least 25 Fantasy points in four games in a row, and he scored 33.9 Fantasy points at New Orleans in Week 6. The Saints have also allowed two of the past three opposing quarterbacks to score at least 21.6 Fantasy points, and Mayfield has top-five upside in Week 18.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: QBs to Start
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The last time Mayfield played the Panthers in Week 13, he was bad with 12.2 Fantasy points. Since then, he's scored at least 25 Fantasy points in three games in a row against the Raiders, Chargers, and Cowboys, and I expect him to stay hot in this matchup at home. Carolina is No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and three quarterbacks in a row have scored at least 22.4 Fantasy points against the Panthers coming into Week 17.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Tops 300 passing yards in loss
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Mayfield completed 31 of 43 passes for 304 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Cowboys. He added three rushing attempts for 42 yards.
Mayfield was quiet for most of the first half but heated up on Tampa Bay's last possession before halftime. He completed three passes of 15-plus yards on the drive before capping it with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan. That improvement didn't last long, though, as the Buccaneers produced just three points in the third quarter. Mayfield was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter but was cleared to return without missing a play. He was intercepted on the next drive but then bounced back with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Miller with 2:36 remaining to kickstart a Buccaneers comeback that was gaining steam when a Rachaad White fumble dashed Tampa Bay's hopes. No longer in control of their own destiny in the NFC South, Mayfield and the Buccaneers will try to bounce back in Week 17 against the Panthers.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Logs full practice Thursday
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Mayfield (knee) was a full practice participant Thursday.
Mayfield was held out of drills Wednesday due to a knee injury, but his return to all activity one day later sets him up to continue to direct the Buccaneers offense Sunday at Dallas, whose defense has given up the second-most combined touchdowns (21 passing, eight rushing) to opposing quarterbacks in 14 contests this season.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Top DFS Play
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Baker Mayfield has re-emerged as a top-five QB this week, and he's my favorite value on the slate at QB. Stack him with Mike Evans and CeeDee Lamb and find somewhere else to go contrarian (more on that below).
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Throws four TDs in statement win
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Mayfield completed 22 of 27 pass attempts for 288 yards, four touchdowns and one interception while rushing twice for 25 yards in Sunday's 40-17 rout of the Chargers.
Mayfield posted a stellar 135.3 passer rating en route to a lopsided victory between cross-conference playoff hopefuls. The four scores also helped the 2018 first-overall pick set a new high-water mark in touchdown passes (32) in a single season. Mayfield continues to prove that last year's breakout with Tampa Bay was no fluke, as he is now 383 yards away from recording consecutive 4,000-yard campaigns. It would take a season-best effort against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 16 to accomplish the feat, but the late-blooming QB makes for a strong fantasy play whether or not he hits the 4K mark in passing yards next Sunday.
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Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Perseveres through picks in win
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Mayfield completed 18 of 29 passes for 295 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions while adding two rushes for 12 yards in the Buccaneers' 28-13 win over the Raiders on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.
Mayfield ultimately finished with an impressive yardage and touchdown total, but his road to those numbers was rocky at times. The veteran signal-caller took four sacks from an aggressive Raiders defense and tossed a pair of first-half interceptions following a fast start. Prior to the miscues, Mayfield had capped off the Buccaneers' first two drives with touchdown passes to Jalen McMillan (15 yards) and Rachaad White (five yards). He also came on late after Tampa Bay's first two second-half drives ended in punts, capping off a five-play game-sealing drive with a 29-yard scoring strike to McMillan. Mayfield does have four interceptions over his last two games, but he's also tossed four touchdowns in that span going into a Week 15 road matchup against the Chargers.
