Baker Mayfield Fantasy Football Outlook (ROS)

By Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros), Sat, Sep 11th 2021, 12:50pm EDT

Baker Mayfield has had some challenges in his first three seasons; different HC and play-callers every year, injuries around him, and lofty expectations. In the second half of last season, Nick Chubb got healthy, the offense got simplified, and Mayfield became very proficient in running lots of play-action, forcing him to be more direct with the football. This was the secret to the Browns' success last year. A less reckless Baker Mayfield was a better quarterback in 2020. The throws you get away with in college are interceptions in the NFL. Ironically, this "Better Baker" evolved with Odell Beckham Jr. on the shelf. He will continue to have some decent moments, but in reality, he's a QB2 in Superflex who will have plenty of all or nothing weeks. If he can pick up where he left off (14 TD/2 INT over his last eight games to close out 2020), he could sneak into the back end of QB1. But even over that good second half, Mayfield put up 31 fantasy points against the Ravens and just 8 points against the 2-win Jets. Mayfield is an inconsistent asset until proven otherwise over an entire season. It is also fair to remember two of his home games last year were in weather conditions that made throwing the football nearly impossible.