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    Bucs OC new scheme has ‘a lot of play action’

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    Buccaneers TE Cade Otton said there is “a lot of play action” in new OC Zac Robinson’s scheme.

    This is the kind of thing we like to hear for QB Baker Mayfield and his pass catchers. Robinson did not feature play action during his two seasons as the Falcons’ offensive coordinator, nor did former Buccaneers OC Josh Grizzard, so Otton’s comments are reassuring. Per PFF, NFL offenses averaged 7.76 yards per pass play with play action and just 6.72 without it. Upping the play action rate should help the Buccaneers run a more efficient offense in 2026.
PFT Draft: Best matchups of Week 8
Chris Simms and Mike Florio pick their favorite matchups of NFL Week 8, including Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield vs. Kevin Stefanski and Mike Macdonald vs. Ben Johnson.

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  • TB Tight End #88
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    What seemed like it could maybe be a pop-up performance for Otton in Emeka Egbuka’s (concussion, foot) absence instead turned into a one-target day as the Bucs rode their rushing attack and Panthers turnovers to a dominant road W. Otton typically comes with a 3-4 catch floor, but the same has been true of his “ceiling” this season. He will continue to struggle to get into the mix ahead of Week 8 against the Falcons.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Making his first start since Week 3 but missing Emeka Egbuka, Mayfield got his first “quarterback win” of the season in a game where he had to attempt only 11 passes. Go figure. The Bucs road paved the Panthers on the ground — 49 carries for 258 yards — and continually took advantage of short fields set up by Panthers turnovers. This, in a game where Mayfield committed zero giveaways. It was the exact kind of day this offense needed, though there aren’t many going-forward takeaways for Mayfield seeing how little he had to throw. Mayfield will presumably be called on for more against the Falcons in Week 8, hopefully with Egbuka back in the fold. Mayfield is just a mid-range QB2 for the time being.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    When last we left Mayfield, he was struggling mightily in Weeks 1-3. Predictably, UDFA Jalon Daniels was not any better in his stead. Mayfield returns to an undermanned skill corps, as Emeka Egbuka (foot, concussion) is out for Week 7. Mayfield is a shaky option in the QB16-18 range. Joining Egbuka on the shelf are OT Luke Goedeke, S Antoine Winfield, OG Billy Schrauth, DL DeMonte Capehart and CB Ayden Garnes.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles told reporters earlier today that Mayfield “looks like he’s ready to go” for this week’s game. Mayfield seemingly has solid odds of suiting up this week, but we must wait for an official ruling. Hopefully, that arrives tomorrow. If active, Mayfield will play with a protective plate on the back of his glove to help keep his recently dislocated thumb in place. He is a QB2 for the occasion, if active.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Mayfield was a full participant in practice all week and should be removed from the team’s final injury report when it’s released later in the day. Mayfield is expected to wear a protective glove on his throwing hand, which should prevent injury to the thumb he dislocated in Week 3, and will be on the QB2 radar in what is a must-win game for the 1-5 Buccaneers. Hopefully he can improve on a rough start to the season in which he threw for 615-2-2 in his first three games while completing 63.5 percent of his passes.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Mayfield has played through injuries regularly over the years. We expect him to be out there for the Buccaneers’ Week 7 game against the division rival Panthers. He is a QB2 for his first game back. A run-heavy game plan could be in the works as they ease him in. If his thumb really is good to go, though, this game could turn into a shootout. He practiced in full for the second time this week on Thursday, and told reporters that he will play with a protective plate on the back of his glove to help prevent re-injury.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Mayfield going down as a full participant is a bit of a surprise given that it’s his first time practicing in any capacity since Week 3. Todd Bowles told reporters earlier this week that the team was preparing for Jalon Daniels to start. Now it looks like Mayfield may be the favorite to draw the start versus Carolina. This is ultimately a rather ambiguous situation, likely by Bowles’ design. Fantasy managers should have a backup plan in place if they are counting on either of the Bucs’ quarterbacks this week.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Mayfield hasn’t played since dislocating his thumb in Week 3. As of late last week, he hadn’t even thrown a football since suffering the injury. Todd Bowles told reporters on Monday that he’s preparing for Jalon Daniels to start, but Mayfield’s return to practice puts things up in the air. His practice statuses over the next few days will be telling. For now, fantasy managers should still plan on seeing Daniels under center, but this is a situation to monitor throughout the week.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Bowles has already said that the team is preparing as if Jalon Daniels will start in Week 7, but the team will be evaluating Mayfield to see how he is progressing in his recovery from a dislocated thumb. Mayfield reportedly pushed to play last week after throwing on Monday, but his thumb swelled up, which factored into the decision to sit him in Week 6’s loss to the Steelers. Given Bowles’ comments about the team’s plans entering the week, it sounds like Mayfield is at risk of missing at least one more game, but we’ll see how his hand responds when he gets on the field on Wednesday.
  • TB Quarterback #10
    Bowles said this week will be an important evaluation week for Baker Mayfield, who is still rehabbing a dislocated thumb that has sidelined him since Week 3. Daniels hasn’t been overly impressive in his three starts this season, throwing for 501 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions while also taking nine sacks. That said, he did manage to pull off a win over the Cowboys in Week 5 and had the Buccaneers in position to beat the Steelers in Week 6 before Pittsburgh erupted for 16 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime. We’ll see how things unfold throughout the week, but it sounds like Mayfield is at least one week away from returning. Daniels would be on the fantasy radar as a low-end QB2 if he gets the start against Carolina.

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  • GB Wide Receiver #0
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Matthew Golden (shoulder/foot) is “trending toward playing” in Week 8 against the Panthers.

    Golden was estimated as a DNP for two walkthroughs this week before being limited in the Packers’ only real session. The short turnaround to Thursday Night Football likely forced the Packers to take an extra cautious approach with him in practice. While he almost certainly isn’t at 100 percent, Golden looks like a good bet to play in a sneaky shootout with the Panthers tonight. He will be on the WR1/2 border if he gets the green light.
  • ARI Wide Receiver #14
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    Michael Wilson (ribs) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

    Wilson was on the practice field wearing a non-contact jersey on Wednesday. He is dealing with a rib injury, presumably suffered in the Cardinals’ Week 7 loss to the Broncos. He will be limited as long as he wears the non-contact jersey and ideally finishes the week without it in order to play in Week 8 against the Cowboys. Kendrick Bourne suddenly becomes the WR1 if Wilson cannot go.
  • ARI Running Back #22
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    Tyler Allgeier (toe) did not practice Wednesday.

    Allgeier popped up on the injury report with a toe issue as rookie Jeremiyah Love (ankle) returned to practice in a limited fashion. Though we don’t know the severity of Allgeier’s injury, it may be worth keeping Bam Knight rostered despite Love’s return. If Allgeier cannot play in Week 8 against the Cowboys, Knight will get another week of fantasy viability.
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    Jihaad Campbell (hamstring/quad) did not participate in Wednesday’s walkthrough practice.

    Campbell came out of the Eagles’ Week 7 loss to the Cowboys dealing with hamstring and quad injuries. He starts out the week as an estimated DNP. Campbell will likely need to practice in some capacity in order to play Week 8 against the Commanders.
  • PHI Wide Receiver #6
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    DeVonta Smith (hamstring) did not participate in Wednesday’s walkthrough practice.

    Both Smith and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) were estimated DNPs for the Eagles’ walkthrough. Both players missed Week 7 against the Cowboys and start off on the wrong side of questionable to open Week 8. Smith and Wicks will need to at least get a limited practice session in before they can be considered as potential fantasy options against the Commanders. With Britain Covey (knee) also DNP, the receiving corps is sparse. If neither can go, Darius Cooper and Hollywood Brown get a boost from the WR group while TE Dallas Goedert becomes the No. 1 pass-catcher in the Eagles offense.
  • PHI Running Back #26
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    Saquon Barkley (hamstring/back) did not participate in Wednesday’s walkthrough practice.

    Barkley was predictably a non-participant after re-aggravating his hamstring injury and additionally injuring his back in Week 7 against the Cowboys. Despite the injuries, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Barkley said his hamstring “came out great” and he doesn’t believe his back will keep him out. With every other Eagles running back suffering long-term injuries, Barkley is attempting to gut out his injury issues. Given his re-aggravation last week, it is well within the range of outcomes for Barkley to see limited snaps in Week 8 against the Commanders. His motivation to play makes us think he is on track to be active on Sunday but Barkley is a risky RB2 as he deals with injuries.
  • WAS Defensive Tackle #99
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    Javon Kinlaw (knee) did not practice Wednesday.

    Kinlaw is dealing with a knee issue. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday it will “likely be tough” for the 29-year-old defensive tackle to play Sunday. We can expect Kinlaw to be on the wrong side of questionable for Week 8 against the Eagles.
  • WAS Wide Receiver #3
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    Stefon Diggs (hand/hamstring/rest) did not practice Wednesday.

    Commanders head coach Dan Quinn already said Diggs won’t practice Wednesday, so this is not a surprise. Quinn also confirmed the veteran will return to practice Thursday and the additional rest designation should stave off concerns of Diggs dealing with a long-term injury. He should be in the WR3/FLEX mix for Week 8 against the Eagles. Also not practicing for the Commanders was TE John Bates (shoulder).
  • WAS Wide Receiver #13
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    Treylon Burks (foot) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

    Burks was limited due to a foot injury; this is notable with the Commanders coming out of a bye week. With Terry McLaurin out for the season, Burks has the opportunity to earn an increased role in the receiving corps. Fantasy managers don’t need to roster the 26-year-old yet, but Dyami Brown and Antonio Williams could see a boost in targets if Burks sits out Week 8 against the Eagles.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #3
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    George Pickens (shoulder/hamstring) was limited in Wednesday’s walkthrough practice.

    Pickens played through a minor shoulder injury last week, but the hamstring designation is new. He was still a limited practice participant, indicating neither injury should be an issue for his Week 8 status. Meanwhile, WR/KR KaVontae Turpin (ribs) was an estimated DNP in practice after not playing last week. The Cowboys may be missing Turpin again as a kick returner and gadget player on offense, but Pickens should still be the WR2 for Sunday against the Cardinals.