Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield enters the 2026 fantasy season as a strong bounce-back candidate, but not quite the locked-in elite QB he looked like at his 2024 peak. After finishing as QB12 in 2025 with 3,693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, he is being treated more as a high-end QB2 than a must-start QB1 in many preseason looks.

The main reason for optimism is that Mayfield still has a fantasy-friendly profile when Tampa Bay is healthy and aggressive, and he has shown he can produce top-12 stretches when the offense is rolling. He also gets a new playcaller in Zac Robinson, and multiple preseason previews suggest the Buccaneers expect more stability and a rebound after a disappointing second half in 2025.

The concerns are real, though. Mayfield’s 2025 efficiency dipped, with his completion rate falling and his yards per attempt dropping, and the season was affected by nagging injuries around him as well as a shoulder issue for Mayfield himself. Tampa Bay also lost Mike Evans to free agency this offseason, which removes a major piece of his touchdown upside and makes his weekly ceiling a little less secure.

For fantasy managers, the best way to view Mayfield is as a reliable QB2 with upside who can still flirt with QB1 numbers if the offense stays healthy and the new system clicks quickly. In one-quarterback leagues, he is a sensible later-round target if you wait on the position, while in superflex formats he remains especially useful because his floor is still respectable and his rushing contribution helps stabilize his weekly output.

Updated 06/08/2026