CBS' Jonathan Jones reports that the Browns and Panthers are involved in trade talks "surrounding" QB Baker Mayfield. Jones reports that there's "urgency" for Carolina to make a move early enough to get Mayfield some minicamp reps with the team. He adds that the Panthers' offer is the best Cleveland has gotten and that the primary sticking point is how much of Mayfield's 2022 salary the Browns would pay. The QB is in the 5th and final year of his rookie contract and will likely face a "prove it" year, with unrestricted free agency ahead in March 2023. He makes obvious sense for Carolina, which currently sports Sam Darnold and Matt Corral as the top 2 options. And the relationship between Mayfield and the Browns looks finished. Mayfield hasn't proved to be a high-upside fantasy QB through 4 seasons, but the Panthers would set him up with nice pass-catching talent -- led by D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey. Stacking him with 1 or both players in best-ball tournament lineups now would be a low-risk, high-upside move.

Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield threw for 317 yards and 1 TD in Sunday's win over the Bears. He went 26 of 34 passing (76.5%) at 9.3 yards per attempt. A 70-yarder to WR Mike Evans certainly didn't hurt those numbers. Week 3 holds a home date with the Eagles, who have allowed each of their first two opponents to top 350 yards passing. That's probably not going to push Mayfield into our top 12 QBs for Week 3. But he'll carry upside at least for superflex leagues.

Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles announced Tuesday that QB Baker Mayfield will be the starter. It's the news we've all been waiting for, and Mayfield's projection has sat well ahead of Kyle Trask's ever since our fantasy football rankings came out. Mayfield, of course, played his way into getting replaced by Deshaun Watson in Cleveland and then played his way out of Carolina in just part of 2022. Although the former No. 1 overall pick has also flashed positively at times, it's tough to get excited about him. Let's hope he can at least do enough to support the weekly fantasy values of WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, and RB Rachaad White. Trask remains a decent stash for superflex and dynasty rosters, in case Mayfield plays his way out of another starting gig.

The Buccaneers didn't play QB Baker Mayfield at all in the second preseason game. Instead, they rode Kyle Trask throughout the first half, and then re-inserted him after John Wolford left with a neck injury. HC Todd Bowles said afterward that doesn't mean he has named a starter. "We were going to play Baker at the end of the half, but we wanted to see Kyle in the two-minute period, so we kind of left him at the time it went down," Bowles said, according to Pewter Report. "He was up to play. I made the decision at the last minute." Although Bowles still refuses to admit it, signs sure seem to point toward Mayfield being the guy. Of course, either Bucs QB will only be an option in 2-QB and superflex formats, or as a late third QB in best ball drafts.

Preseason Round 1 of the Bucs' QB battle went to Baker Mayfield. He got the start in Friday's night exhibition vs. the Steelers and finished 8-of-9 for 63 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INTs across three possessions. QB Kyle Trask played the next four series, completing 6 of 10 passes for 99 yards, 0 TDs, and 1 INT. Mayfield earned a strong 87.7 Pro Football Focus passing grade vs. Trask's 57.4. This battle probably isn't settled just yet, but Mayfield is the favorite to open the season as Tampa's starter.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield will start this week's preseason opener, and QB Kyle Trask will start the second exhibition, according to Pewter Report. Mayfield and Trask have reportedly been splitting first-team reps in training camp. This is further confirmation that this remains an ongoing battle.