Who Should I Start? Baker Mayfield or Tua Tagovailoa

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.

Monday, January 5, 3:19 PM

When asked if he was hoping for a "fresh start," Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said on Monday, "That would be dope. I would be good with it." Although Tagovailoa avoided another concussion this year, the 27-year-old former fifth overall pick struggled to take the next step for the Dolphins' offense in his sixth year in the NFL. Tagovailoa completed 67.7% of his 384 pass attempts for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in his 14 starts, a year after leading the league with a 72.9 completion percentage. After the Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention, the team benched Tagovailoa in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers for the final two weeks of the season. As of right now, head coach Mike McDaniel has not been fired, and if he returns for next season, it's unlikely that Tagovailoa will join him in South Beach. Tagovailoa is owed $54 million guaranteed next year, but he could be released with a post-June 1 designation to split his $99.2 million salary cap charge over two seasons.