Fantasy football Week 8: Should you start Baker Mayfield?

Baker Mayfield helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers snap their losing streak in Week 7, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect his return to immediately translate into reliable quarterback production. With Emeka Egbuka ruled out and Tampa Bay leaning heavily on the run, Mayfield is a risky start against the Atlanta Falcons.According to the Buccaneers' official game analysis, Mayfield completed 7 of 11 passes for 64 yards and 1 touchdown in Tampa Bay's 43-13 win over Carolina. The Buccaneers rushed 49 times for 258 yards and three touchdowns, with designed runs accounting for 81% of their offensive plays, according to ESPN Insights.That performance reflected an offense increasingly built around its ground game. Tampa Bay enters Week 8 ranked third in rushing offense at 146.4 yards per game but last in passing offense at 150.4 yards per game. Bucky Irving leads the team with 558 rushing yards, giving offensive coordinator Zach Robinson a productive alternative to relying on Mayfield's arm.The matchup presents an interesting challenge. Atlanta ranks fourth against the run, allowing just 88.9 yards per game, but 29th against the pass, allowing 255.6 yards per game. That could force Tampa Bay to throw more frequently than it did against Carolina, creating some upside for Mayfield.However, additional passing attempts don't automatically guarantee strong fantasy production. Mayfield is making just his second start since dislocating his right thumb, an injury that sidelined him for three games. Although he practiced fully and has no injury designation, he has yet to demonstrate his ability to handle a significantly larger passing workload since returning.Egbuka's absence adds another concern. The rookie leads Tampa Bay with 28 receptions, while Chris Godwin leads the team with 243 receiving yards. Without Egbuka, Mayfield will need Godwin, Tez Johnson, and the remaining receivers to generate opportunities against Atlanta's secondary.Mayfield could outperform expectations if the Falcons contain Tampa Bay's rushing attack and force a more aggressive passing approach. Still, limited recent passing volume, uncertainty around his thumb, and the loss of his leading receiver make him hard to trust as a fantasy QB1.Fantasy managers in standard one-quarterback leagues should look elsewhere for Week 8. Mayfield remains a viable option in two-quarterback or superflex formats, but his ceiling is hard to project until Tampa Bay shows greater commitment to its passing game.This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Fantasy football Week 8: Should you start Baker Mayfield?