Baker Mayfield ($5,600; 29.66 FPTS) has had quite the career arc, going from first overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft to being traded for a fifth-round pick, to getting claimed off waivers, to signing a one-year, prove-it contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And prove it he did, as he completed 64.3% of his passes last season for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Much of the resurgence was attributed to offensive coordinator, Dave Canales, who took his talents to Carolina for the head coaching job.
In Week 1 against the Washington Commanders, Mayfield proved, at least for one week, that he wasn’t just a puppet being manipulated by Canales. Mayfield was in command all afternoon, completing 24-of-30 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns. Granted, it was against a Commanders defense that allowed the most passing touchdowns through the air last season and had the lowest pressure rate in the league.
Per Next Gen Stats, Washington had a pressure rate of 29.4%, the ninth-lowest rate so far in Week 1. The Pass EPA, though, was 22.2, the highest on the week by a wide margin.
With the Bucs leading 6-0, Mayfield connected with Mike Evans ($7,300; 23.1 FPTS) for a beautiful 17-yard touchdown. Per Next Gen Stats, the pass had a 25.7% completion probability.
With 7:15 left in the third quarter, Mayfield connected with Chris Godwin ($5,800; 22.3 FPTS) on a four-yard out for his second of the day.
With the Bucs up 23-14, the first play of the fourth quarter was a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan ($3,300; 10.2 FPTS).
That was McMillan’s only catch on three targets, but he ran 26 routes, the third-most on the team.
Mayfield’s final touchdown came with 3:34 left in the game, connecting with Evans on a one-yard out for his second of the day.
For the Commanders, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels ($5,700; 28.16 FPTS) went 17-of-24 for 184 yards from the pocket but did most of his damage on the ground, rushing 16 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
In the $500K Play-Action tournament, Mayfield was rostered on 9.3% of teams, the third-most for the quarterback position. Daniels was rostered on 7.6% of teams, the fifth-highest quarterback. Evans was rostered on 14.5%, the fourth-most at the wide receiver position.
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