Should I Start Baker Mayfield?

Monday, September 28, 10:27 AM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) will miss "a minimum of three weeks" with a dislocated right thumb that he suffered on Sunday in the Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, head coach Todd Bowles told Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network. The Bucs will not place him on Injured Reserve as of now, and the Bucs will lean on undrafted rookie QB Jalon Daniels as the starter, beginning with a Week 4 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Mayfield received good news from his MRI exam, as tests showed that he did not suffer a fracture or any tendon or ligament tears. However, he is still going to miss some time over the next couple of weeks, so fantasy managers in two-QB superflex leagues are going to need to adjust. If Mayfield heals quickly and properly, he could be in play to make his return for a Week 7 divisional matchup against the Carolina Panthers. After an injury-plagued and disappointing 2025 campaign for the 31-year-old, Mayfield is off to a bad start in 2026, going 0-3 and throwing for 615 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in his first three games.