Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
Odds by

    Mayfield exits with hand injury in Week 3

    Link copied to clipboard!
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Baker Mayfield exited the Bucs’ Week 3 game against the Vikings with an apparent hand injury.

    Mayfield was down for a while after taking a big hit from two Vikings defenders late in the fourth quarter, and replays showed his thumb slamming against one of the Minnesota players in a way that might suggest a serious thumb injury on his throwing hand. An extended absence for Mayfield could prove disastrous for Tampa’s pass catchers, as undrafted free agent QB Jalon Daniels would be the team’s starter. Mayfield threw for 217 yards, one touchdown, and one interception before his exit. Daniels would be an interesting superflex add considering his rushing ability.
Harbaugh: McCarthy makes Giants a ‘stronger’ team
Mike Florio and Chris Simms react to John Harbaugh’s comments on J.J. McCarthy and discuss the quarterback’s fit with the New York Giants.

Related Player News

  • TB Quarterback #6
    Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    In addition to a clean report on his ligaments and tendons, the MRI also revealed no fracture. This is as good of news as the Buccaneers could have hoped for, as Mayfield’s absence is expected to be on the shorter end compared to what it could have been had the MRI revealed more damage. Head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield is looking at a minimum three-week absence, which would put him in line to return for Week 7 against the Panthers if all goes well. Rookie UDFA Jalon Daniels, who went 0-for-3 passing with an interception against the Vikings, will draw the start in the Buccaneers’ Week 4 game against the Packers.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    This is the “best-case” scenario, according to Rap. Mayfield will undergo an MRI to confirm the severity of his injury and could miss more time if an MRI reveals “significantly torn ligaments in his thumb,” per Rap. The Buccaneers will now pivot to rookie UDFA Jalon Daniels as their starter after Daniels won the backup job in camp. Daniels threw for 9,282 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions in six seasons at Kansas while also rushing for over 1,400 yards and another 23 scores. All Buccaneers pass-catchers will receive a significant downgrade heading into Week 4’s game against the Packers.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    The Buccaneers’ quarterback slammed his throwing hand into a Vikings defender this afternoon and remained down for a while after the play. UDFA rookie QB Jalon Daniels is next up on the depth chart and would be the presumptive starter next week against the Packers if Mayfield cannot play.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Mayfield didn’t speak to reporters after practice because of the illness, but the team didn’t limit his practice reps. It’s possible the Bucs lighten his workload over the next two days, but he should be good to go for Sunday’s game against the Vikings. Mayfield will look to get back on track after a sluggish start to the season. He has fallen into the QB2 ranks until further notice.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Mayfield, after throwing for just 216 yards and fumbling three times in Week 1 against the Bengals, was just as bad against Cleveland. He took three sacks and held on to the ball far too long on several drop backs in the second half. His only touchdown went to a wide open Emeka Egbuka from eight yards out. Mayfield missed a couple easy throws that could have gone for long gains, and overthrew Ted Hurst three times after Hurst had beaten the Cleveland secondary. With his late-season struggles bleeding into the 2026 campaign, Mayfield won’t be a one-QB league option in Week 3 against the Vikings.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Playing his first game since landing a three-year extension, Mayfield provided as many touchdowns for the other team as he did the Bucs. His score was a rugged nine-yard rush late in the fourth quarter, but his touchdown gift was a 27-yard fumble-six in the first. Mayfield was drifting trying to avoid pressure but never felt one of the oncoming rushers. Another one of his giveaways came on a reckless red zone rush where he was practically begging to turn the ball over. Mayfield, as always, contained multitudes. Emeka Egbuka was his leading receiver, but Bucky Irving caught the most passes. The running back leading the team in catches is not usually going to get it done. Looking to bounce back from this error-prone mess, Mayfield gets the Browns for the Bucs’ Week 2 home opener.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    The Buccaneers apparently reached out to Mayfield’s agent over the weekend; deadlines do drive action after all. Mayfield is now under contract through his age-34 season. It’s not exactly a curious move for the Buccaneers — they didn’t have much of an avenue to find another quarterback given where they usually pick and rookie UDFA Jalon Daniels is their current backup. It is still a little surprising they let it twist in the wind as long as it did. Mayfield likely will be near the $50 million average annual value club once all the figures come in. (Some of this will be folded into the already-existing one-year contract.) He’ll be a reasonable superflex QB2 with a shot to rebound now that last year’s injuries are behind him.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Licht during a Wednesday presser said the Bucs were “on to Cincinnati” with the regular season less than two weeks away. Licht has called Mayfield a franchise quarterback, but has not offered the veteran a long-term deal ahead of the 2026 season. Mayfield could be on his way out of Tampa in 2027 unless the team decides to use the franchise tag on him. Mayfield ranks 11th out of 40 qualifying QBs in adjusted EPA per drop back since the start of the 2024 season, ahead of Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott, among others.
  • TB Quarterback #10
    It was subsequently announced that Jake Browning has been released. A UDFA out of Kansas, Daniels impressed during training camp and the preseason. He completed 27-of-44 passes for 239 yards, one score, and no interceptions. Daniels also ran for a touchdown. With Baker Mayfield set to hit free agency after this year, Daniels could be worth stashing in Superflex dynasty leagues.
  • TB Quarterback #6
    Mayfield played just two series and was without his top four receivers, with only Bucky Irving and Kenny Gainwell joining him as presumed regular starters. Even so, the offense was hardly able to showcase its upside against backup members of the Kansas City defense. Whether Mayfield and the rest of the starters play in the team’s final preseason game next week remains to be seen, but there appears to be significant room for improvement before they kick off the regular season against the Bengals in three weeks.

Rotoworld

  • Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    Link copied to clipboard!

    NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports Panthers G Damien Lewis (elbow) will be out “a few weeks.”

    It’s yet another significant loss for the Panthers, who saw Jaycee Horn and Jalen Coker go down with injury in Week 3 against the Browns. Carolina will be without their starting guard for a little while, including this week against the Lions. Through three weeks the Panthers rank 25th in ESPN’s pass blocking win rate and 11th in run block win rate.
  • Link copied to clipboard!

    SNY’s Connor Hughes believes the Giants could start JJ McCarthy in “the near future.”

    New York acquired McCarthy from the Vikings on Monday in exchange for a 2027 fifth round draft pick. Hughes spoke with NFL sources who said “the Giants do not give up a fifth-round pick unless they plan to play McCarthy in the near future.” Head coach John Harbaugh and the team’s coaching staff, per Hughes, see McCarthy as a starting-caliber quarterback despite his immense struggles in Minnesota last season. “The Giants welcomed the chance to add a player they view as a competitor, gritty, mobile, and who has all the tools to be a plus passer in the NFL,” Hughes said. With Jameis Winston playing worse than any QB in recent memory, McCarthy could be just a couple weeks away from taking over as New York’s starter. He would be a mild upgrade for Malik Nabers and the rest of the Giants pass catchers.
  • PIT Running Back #30
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo believes Jaylen Warren will continue as a workhorse back in Week 4.

    Warren operated as an every-down back in Week 3 against the Bengals, running for 127 yards on 17 carries and catching three passes for 49 yards in a victory. DeFabo suggested Warren had established himself as the team’s clear lead back option against the Bengals with Rico Dowdle (toe) sidelined. “I’ve always had respect for him, playing against him, and then being his teammate now for a little more than a season,” Aaron Rodgers said of Warren. “He is one of the toughest guys I’ve ever played with, and I just can’t say enough about his energy and the way he runs the football and the way he cares about his teammates.” Warren’s pass game involvement spiked in Week 3, as he ran a route on 70 percent of Pittsburgh’s drop backs. Dowdle, meanwhile, did not practice Monday ahead of the Steelers’ Thursday game against the Browns. Warren should remain in all lineups this week.
  • Loveland_Colston_800_1080-9a141e0b04eaf38a.jpg

    Colston Loveland

    CHI Tight End #84
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Colston Loveland caught all four targets for 31 yards in the Bears’ Week 3 win over the Eagles.

    Loveland matched his to-date season total of one reception on the second play from scrimmage and narrowly missed his first touchdown of the young season after replay assist ruled him down inside the one at the start of the second quarter. The offense would turn the ball over on downs four plays later after failing to punch it in, allowing the Eagles to remain in the game for longer than they otherwise should have been. Either way, it’s a step in the right direction for the talented youngster, although the absence of Caleb Williams could further dent his fantasy upside in the immediate future. Loveland continues to be a TE1 in fantasy circles despite the slow start, which holds for when the Bears play host to the Jets in Week 4.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #15
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Rome Odunze caught 3-of-6 targets for 44 yards in the Bears’ Week 3 win over the Eagles.

    Odunze continues to function as the deep threat in Ben Johnson’s offense, which spells trouble for his fantasy value in the immediate future considering the absence of Caleb Williams. Case Keenum got the start under center against the Eagles, and while he kept the offense on track through veteran savvy, his general lack of arm strength limited the offense to hefty rates of attacking the short-to-intermediate areas of the field. It is unclear whether Keenum or Tyson Bagent will draw the start in Week 4, but the decision could dictate whether Odunze can be inserted into fantasy rosters against the Jets.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #10
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Luther Burden caught 7-of-11 targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in the Bears’ Week 3 win over the Eagles, adding seven yards on one carry.

    Burden got the scoring started with a shovel-pass touchdown on the first possession of the game and continued to be the primary engine of the offense on a night the team was led by veteran journeyman Case Keenum. Head coach Ben Johnson handily outmatched his counterpart in Sean Mannion, keeping the offense in rhythm and unpredictable throughout. Burden should continue to improve upon his early-season returns for fantasy managers that chased him up draft boards this offseason, particularly once Caleb Williams returns to the starting roster in a few weeks. In the meantime, treat Burden as an upside WR2 ahead of a Week 4 meeting with the Jets in Chicago.
  • CHI Wide Receiver #14
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Kalif Raymond caught 6-of-7 targets for 90 yards and a touchdown in the Bears’ Week 3 win over the Eagles.

    Raymond has now led the Bears in receiving in two of the team’s first three games, with Week 3 his best performance yet on the back of a 41-yard touchdown through busted coverage. It isn’t likely the career role player will lead the team in receiving throughout the season, but the early returns on investment must have fantasy managers ecstatic for those that either drafted him in the final round or scooped him off the wire following Week 1.
  • CHI Running Back #25
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Kyle Monangai rushed 10 times for 31 yards in the Bears’ Week 3 win over the Eagles.

    Monangai has exactly 10 carries in all three games to start the 2026 season, which pales in comparison to lead back D’Andre Swift, the latter of whom has seen 19 or more opportunities in each game. The lack of volume relegates Monangai to handcuff status in fantasy circles for the time being, at least until bye weeks begin in Week 5. He’ll be a difficult start in Week 4 against the Jets.
  • CHI Running Back #4
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    D’Andre Swift rushed 20 times for 84 yards in the Bears’ Week 3 win over the Eagles, adding four yards on two receptions.

    Swift was unable to churn out consistent gains before the break but came alive with the team nursing a second half lead, gaining 53 of his 84 yards on five second half possessions. It was also the third straight game in which Swift handled 19 or more opportunities, something he did only seven times in all of 2025, cementing his status as a volume-driven, back-end RB1 in fantasy circles. He’ll remain a weekly start when the Bears host the Jets in Week 4.
  • CHI Quarterback #11
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Case Keenum completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears’ 27-7, Week 3 win over the Eagles, adding six yards and a touchdown on four carries.

    Head coach Ben Johnson was in his bag from the opening series, trusting Keenum to take to the air on the team’s first two plays from scrimmage. That set the tone for the remainder of the game as the Bears dominated time of possession, running 69 offensive plays to the 47 of the Eagles. Keenum was not perfect by any stretch, with no fewer than three attempts that placed the ball in immediate danger. He would escape with a clean sheet in the turnover department while exceeding expectations within the structure of Johnson’s offense, routinely delivering the football on time and where it needed to go. His counting stats were padded slightly by a 41-yard touchdown to Kalif Raymond against busted coverage in the third quarter and a fourth quarter rushing plunge from one yard out, but he did enough to guide the Bears to a 2-1 record ahead of a Week 4 meeting with the Jets. It remains unclear if Keenum will draw another start under center now that Tyson Bagent will have a full week of preparation. Neither would be an exciting fantasy option against Aaron Glenn’s New York defense.