What to do with Baker Mayfield in Week 16 of the fantasy football playoffs

After starting the month of November with three games without a single touchdown, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has heated up to become one of the most productive quarterbacks in fantasy football over his last four games.

In Week 16, Mayfield faces a tough test due to unique circumstances. The Browns have placed Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and KhaDarel Hodge on the COVID-19 injured reserve list due to them being high-risk close contacts. The team has promoted Ja’Marcus Bradley and Derrick Willies to join Marvin Hall on the 53-man roster.

All this makes for a slightly difficult day for Mayfield.

Fantasy Football analysis: Browns QB Baker Mayfield

Last week, Mayfield threw two touchdown passes and 296 yards against the Giants. The week before that, he had three touchdowns, including his first rushing score of the season. He’s got 11 touchdowns in his last four games now, and just one interception.

Mayfield gets a great matchup against the New York Jets. Their defense has been giving up touchdowns at a higher rate than Mayfield’s been throwing them; opposing signal callers have thrown for 11 scores in their last four. In fact, the Jets haven’t prevented a quarterback from scoring multiple touchdowns, either passing or rushing, since Week 7.

The question is how the situation plays out with so many key weapons sidelined. Do the Browns just run it down the Jets throat? Do we see a lot of short passes to the running backs? Do the tight ends show up? Do we see the unheralded receivers step up?

Mayfield is playing well enough that he’s worth starting with a solid floor. The concern is what his ceiling is like with roster turmoil

Fantasy Start/Sit Recommendation

Start Baker Mayfield.