Bucs QB Baker Mayfield likely to get green light vs. Cardinals
Thu Nov 27 10:06am ET
Field Level Media
Baker Mayfield has not missed a start with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and his 45-game streak appears to be safe after he completed practice Friday.
Mayfield's sprained left shoulder was problematic, drawing doubt about his status for Tampa Bay's game against the visiting Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. He is listed as questionable on the injury report.
But after seeing how his QB1 looked in practice, Head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield is in the mix to start against the Cardinals.
Teddy Bridgewater will start if Mayfield isn't able to go.
"It's pain tolerance and management at that point," Mayfield said earlier this week for what he called a double-edged sword decision. "(We will) see how it goes through the week and go from there. I understand that we have Teddy. I have been in this spot before, hurting the non-throwing shoulder.
"If it's going to hinder how I play, then I probably won't go, but I won't know that until later in the week getting practice reps and see how that goes."
There seems to be more clarity heading into the weekend.
Mayfield injured the shoulder a couple of times during last week's 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The most painful time came as he heaved the ball on a Hail Mary pass to end the first half.
Bridgewater played the second half with Mayfield unable to continue.
"On the Hail Mary ... it felt like my shoulder was unstable, which MRIs and all that revealed that it's stable and everything is intact, so that's really good news," Mayfield said. "It's really about feeling good enough to be able to rip the ball and feeling confident in it to finish through throws and stay on top of the ball."
If Mayfield can't play, Bridgewater will start for the first time since Week 17 of the 2022 season with the Miami Dolphins. Against the Rams, he completed 8 of 15 passes for 62 yards.
"We all have confidence in Teddy," Bowles said. "We know what he can do and we know what kind of confidence level he brings, too. It's a different kind of energy, but yet energy that we all feed off of and expect."
The Buccaneers (6-5) have lost three straight games and four of the past five. They stand a half-game ahead of the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South.
Arizona (3-8) has lost three in a row and eight of the past nine. The Cardinals fell 27-24 in overtime to the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars last week.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett will be making his seventh consecutive start. He has thrown for 769 yards on 80-for-106 passing (75.5%) over the past two games.
Cardinals star tight end Trey McBride is tied for second in the NFL with 80 receptions, one behind leader Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers.
McBride has caught five or more passes in 13 straight games, tying the club record set by Larry Fitzgerald.
"I want him to touch the ball more than five times every game regardless of the streak," Arizona offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said. "I'd like for him to touch it 10 times or 15 times because he is as talented as he is and plays the game the way he does and has such a big impact for us."
Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendicitis) returned to the field on a limited basis. He missed the past two games and is considered questionable for Sunday.
"It was good to see him running," Brissett said of Harrison. "He went through something very traumatic. To have him back out there was really good and I'm excited to see how this week unfolds for him."
The Cardinals ruled out defensive end Walter Nolen III (knee) on Wednesday. Running backs Emari Demercado (ankle) and Trey Benson (knee), right guard Will Hernandez (hip/knee) and safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle) also will be sidelined. Right tackle Kelvin Beachum (groin), running back Bam Knight (knee) and cornerback Max Melton (heel) join Harrison as questionable.
Tampa Bay will be without cornerback Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) and safety Rashad Wisdom (quadricep) on Sunday. In addition to Mayfield, running back Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot), guard Ben Bredeson (hamstring), cornerback Jamel Dean (hip) and linebackers Anthony Nelson (ribs) and Haason Reddick (ankle/knee) are questionable.
The Buccaneers won the last two meetings, both by three points.
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Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 14
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (shoulder) has been able to put in full practices this week after being banged up and battling illness in the last few weeks, so he should be ready for his usual workload this Thursday against the Lions. Turpin typically plays about 25% of snaps for the Cowboys and gets a few targets each game. He has totaled 19 catches for 260 yards and a touchdown in his 10 games this season, while also taking 12 carries for 63 yards. He had a season-high 33 rushing yards in the Cowboys' Thanksgiving win last week and caught both his targets for 28 receiving yards. With so many options in Dallas's passing game, Turpin is not a great option in most standard-sized leagues, but his big-play potential does give him a high ceiling if he breaks free for a big play. He's the No. 79 WR in RotBaller's Week 14 rankings, so he is best left on the bench in standard-sized leagues, although he is involved enough to be on the radar for DFS action as a bargain option.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason has an opportunity to handle the workload in Week 14. Last week, starting back Aaron Jones Sr. exited early after suffering a shoulder injury on a play he fumbled. Jones has dealt with a shoulder injury earlier in the season and was limited in practice on Wednesday. Mason has been very efficient with his limited workload this season, averaging 6.6 yards per carry in the last four games. In the games that Jones did not play earlier in the season due to a hamstring injury, Mason averaged over 70 rushing yards and had four touchdowns in those four games. The former 49er broke out in 2024 as a handcuff to Christian McCaffrey, and he has shown that same ability in Minnesota. If Jones is unable to play in Week 14 against the Washington Commanders, Mason would be a must-start in fantasy this week.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight had his most productive game of the season in Week 13, totaling 98 scrimmage yards and a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Injuries have decimated the Cardinals' running back room, including starter James Conner (leg), primary backup Trey Benson (knee), and Emari Demercado (ankle), which has forced Knight to step up. With Benson still not practicing ahead of Week 14's game against the Los Angeles Rams, Knight may have to carry the workload again. A tough matchup is on deck for the Cardinals, as they face a Rams defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Benson's status, as Knight could be a solid FLEX play despite the tough matchup in Week 14.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens has already posted career highs in receptions (73), receiving yards (1,142), and touchdowns in 12 games this season. Pickens has been a seamless fit in his first year with the Cowboys and has formed one of the most dynamic wide receiver duos in the league with CeeDee Lamb. The 24-year-old was limited in practice on Monday with calf and knee injuries, but he has been cleared from the injury report and is all set to play Thursday night against the Detroit Lions. It's a dream matchup for the former Pittsburgh Steeler, as Detroit has played man coverage at a league-high 42.8% clip this season. Pickens has arguably been the best receiver against man coverage this season, leading all players by a wide margin with 463 yards against man, per Fantasy Points Data. In a matchup featuring the highest projected point total of the week, Pickens profiles as one of the best wide receivers in fantasy football in Week 14.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is coming off his best game of the year on Thanksgiving Day against the Kansas City Chiefs, posting seven receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. Lamb has had some frustrating drops this season, but he is still one of the best weekly fantasy football options at wide receiver. His 112 yards in Week 13 matched a season high and was his first 100-yard outing since Week 7 against the Washington Commanders. The star wideout has been overshadowed at times by George Pickens, who has had a fantastic first season in Dallas, but there is plenty of passing volume with quarterback Dak Prescott at the helm for both receivers to be high-end fantasy options every week. Lamb is ranked as RotoBaller's WR2 in PPR leagues for Thursday night against the Detroit Lions, who have allowed the second-most PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis had his best game of the season last week against the Chiefs on Thanksgiving, handling three carries for 47 yards and a touchdown. Davis ripped off a 43-yard touchdown during the second quarter, showing impressive burst and explosiveness. That marked the longest rushing touchdown of the season for the Cowboys, and Davis' speed is a nice complement to the bruising running style of starter Javonte Williams. The 27-year-old Davis has been up and down from the practice squad for Dallas this season, but he has been active for each of the past six games and has firmly established himself as the No. 2 running back over rookie Jaydon Blue. He could work his way into more touches against the Lions on Thursday night after an impressive Week 13 performance. However, Davis still profiles as a handcuff option for now and should remain on benches in Week 14.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams hasn't been as efficient a runner in recent games, but he still has one of the biggest workloads among RBs. In Weeks 1-7, Williams recorded 111 carries for 592 yards (5.2 yards per tote ) and six touchdowns while adding 23 receptions (32 targets) for 85 yards and a touchdown as a receiver, ranking as the RB7 in PPR points per game (19.0). Over the past five games, the 25-year-old has still been solid, but not quite as dynamic, with 87 carries for 363 yards (4.2 YPC) and two touchdowns to go with eight receptions (10 targets) for 43 yards and a touchdown. He still ranks as the RB20 with 13.3 PPR points per game in that span, which fantasy managers will take if that is considered his floor. Williams should be in line for a big workload again Thursday night versus the Detroit Lions in a game featuring the highest projected point total of the week. The Lions' defense has been stingy against the run, but Williams' body of work this year has made him matchup-proof.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is playing at an MVP level this season and has been one of the top quarterbacks in fantasy football. During the Cowboys' current three-game win streak, Prescott leads the league with eight passing touchdowns and is second with 942 passing yards. He ranks as the QB1 with 24.7 fantasy points per game during that time as well, and Josh Allen is the only other QB above 22 points per game. The 32-year-old signal-caller has arguably the best wide receiver duo in football in George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, which has helped fuel his big season. Prescott profiles as a top-three option in Week 14 against the Detroit Lions in a game with the highest projected point total of the week. The Lions have played man coverage at a league-high 42.8% clip this season, which Prescott has feasted against with the third-most passing yards (916) in the league, per Fantasy Points Data. He ranks as RotoBaller's QB2 for Week 14.
From RotoBaller
