The Carolina Panthers traded for quarterback Baker Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns. Will Mayfield produce enough to be on your fantasy football roster, and what is his current ADP in fantasy drafts?
Baker Mayfield ADP | Is he worth his current price in fantasy drafts?
Mayfield’s current ADP is 192nd overall and the 25th quarterback selected in fantasy drafts. This means he’s being taken in the 12th round of standard leagues. Other players drafted in his range include Carson Wentz and Jared Goff.
It’s not an accident Mayfield is being selected with fellow former elite prospects who are decent but not good enough to stick in one place long-term. He’s No. 2 in interceptions since joining the NFL, making him a difficult quarterback to stick with as the league has valued efficiency over variance.
Ousted from Cleveland after an injury-riddled season where the staff grew tired of Mayfield’s finger-pointing, the Panthers grabbed him in hopes of buying low on the former No. 1 overall pick.
On one hand, Mayfield is a clear upgrade on Sam Darnold. He should also fit well on a unit that has quality playmakers in Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, and Robbie Anderson.
On the other hand, Mayfield has played his best in run-heavy offenses that keep things simple for him. His work ethic and consistency have been major issues.
With fantasy expectations for him to be a QB2 requiring little investment, he’s in a better situation to succeed than some of his peers. But he also has enough issues in his game to be worried his ceiling is too limited to rely on for more than a bye week.
Baker Mayfield’s projected fantasy value in 2022
Mayfield is being selected as a lower-end backup at his current ADP. Now healthy, he does bring playmaking and confidence to a unit that has more talent around him than several of his peers. It would not be shocking if Mayfield ended up around QB15 at the end of the season.
He’ll need some injury luck with McCaffrey to get there, but Mayfield is talented. Fighting for a new contract, the time is now for him to address key areas of his game. Mayfield seemed disillusioned with his level of play in Cleveland before being traded.
This trade was a wake-up call for Mayfield to step up. He needs his completion percentage to rise back to the 63% range, touchdown rate above 5%, and interception rate to drop below 2.5%. He reached that range of numbers in two of his four seasons in Cleveland.
If he can get there, Mayfield will be a valuable backup in fantasy this season. If he can’t, he’s playable only in emergencies.