Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is a risky fantasy football play entering Week 9 against the Chicago Bears. His injured throwing thumb is improving, but limited passing production and uncertainty surrounding wide receiver Emeka Egbuka make him a risky starter.
Since returning from a three-game absence, Mayfield has completed seven of 14 passes for 64 yards and one touchdown across two games. He threw for 64 yards against Carolina in Week 7 before completing none of his three attempts against Atlanta in Week 8.
Baker Mayfield's recent passing statistics (Past two weeks)
Source: NFL official player statistics.
Mayfield acknowledged Wednesday that his right thumb might not return to normal until the offseason. Speaking to reporters after practice, he said, "I don't know if until the offseason it'll
feel back to completely normal," while adding that it continues to improve each week. Tampa Bay's rushing success has helped limit the strain on his throwing hand, with Mayfield attempting only 14 passes over his last two starts.
According to the Buccaneers' Wednesday injury report, Mayfield participated fully despite the thumb injury. Egbuka, however, did not practice because of a foot injury that has kept him out of the previous two games. His availability remains uncertain heading into Sunday night.
Tampa Bay has relied heavily on the run, totaling 582 yards against Carolina and Atlanta. That approach has helped the Buccaneers win consecutive games but has severely limited Mayfield's fantasy production. Chicago also enters the matchup with 22 sacks, presenting another challenge for a quarterback still recovering from a dislocated thumb.
Fantasy verdict: Sit Mayfield in standard one-quarterback leagues. His improving health is encouraging, but 64 passing yards across two starts is not enough to justify confidence. Until Tampa Bay shows it can sustain a productive passing attack, Mayfield is better suited to two-quarterback and superflex formats if at all.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Fantasy football Week 9: Should you start Baker Mayfield?
