Who Should I Start? Baker Mayfield or Lamar Jackson

Thursday, January 1, 2:43 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (knee, shoulder) practiced in full for the second straight day on Thursday and has been cleared to play in Saturday's Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Carolina Panthers. Mayfield is nursing knee and shoulder injuries, but he will be active as the Bucs look to win the NFC South this weekend with a win over Carolina and a loss by the Falcons to the Saints. The 30-year-old won't be a very inspiring QB1 option for fantasy managers still playing for something in Week 18, although he is coming off a 346-yard passing effort with two touchdowns in last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins. In the first meeting against the Panthers two weeks ago, Mayfield threw for only 145 yards with a touchdown and an interception. After four straight games without multiple passing TDs, Mayfield has two TD passes in two of his last three games.

Tuesday, January 13, 5:57 PM

Despite a disappointing 2025 season in which they failed to reach the playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens are standing behind franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "I want him to be my quarterback," owner Steve Bisciotti said on Tuesday. Baltimore's owner also said that Jackson, who is his own agent, seemed amenable to a new deal and made it clear he wants to get something done before free agency begins in March. There were rumors late in the 2025 season that the Ravens might consider trading the 29-year-old MVP in the offseason due to a rift with head coach John Harbaugh, but that pretty much ended when the Ravens surprisingly fired Harbaugh last week. Jackson missed several games due to a hamstring injury early in the season and just never looked like himself, finishing as the QB20 in fantasy points with 2,549 passing yards, 21 TDs, and seven interceptions. He also only ran for two touchdowns. With better health, Jackson will be a prime bounce-back candidate in 2026.