The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are facing a crucial game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15 and will need big games out of quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Bucky Irving.
Irving missed a large chunk of the season due to injury, but he has been back in the lineup for the past two weeks, which wrecked the ascension of fellow running back Sean Tucker, who had taken the reins of the backfield before Irving's return. Also, veteran Rachaad White was negatively impacted by Irving's return.
The Bucs' struggles of late have come at least partly as a result of Mayfield's play, which has fallen off a cliff over the last handful of games.
As the fantasy football playoffs begin in the vast majority of leagues this week, can you trust Mayfield, Irving and/or White in lineups?
Here's our thoughts on all three.
Bucky Irving start or sit advice
Over the last two weeks, Irving has ranked as RB11 overall in fantasy points per game, which makes him a high-end RB2 play entering Week 15.
The only concern with Irving is the fact that Rachaad White got increased run last week, with the Bucs backup tallying the same number of snaps as Irving while seeing just five less touches.
Even with that, Irving still posted a healthy 17 touches (15 carries), which is more than enough to post strong fantasy production.
The Falcons present a middle-of-the-road matchup for Irving, with Atlanta ceding the 15th-most fantasy points per game to backs this season.
This is an easy decision: Irving is a clear starting option in Week 15.
Verdict: Start
Baker Mayfield start or sit advice
After finishing as one of the elite quarterbacks in fantasy football last season, we've seen a huge shift from Mayfield in 2025.
Over the first 10 weeks of the season, Mayfield ranked as QB14 overall in fantasy points per game, which left him as a fringe starting option in 12-team leagues.
Things have been even worse since Week 11, with Mayfield ranking as QB25 overall in that span.
We would still consider Mayfield as a borderline starting option this week for two reasons: he faces a Falcons defense surrendering the 13th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, and he finally has all of his receivers healthy.
We don't love Mayfield this week and wouldn't start him over someone who has been more consistent this season, but there's enough here to justify starting him.
Verdict: Start
Rachaad White start or sit advice
Just when we thought we were done with White, he pulls us back in.
The veteran running back surprisingly tallied 12 touches last week. Safe to say, we did not expect that with Irving back in the lineup and with how White fell behind Tucker in the pecking order while Irving was out.
That said, White had just five touches the week before that, so there's no telling how much he's going to be involved on Thursday night.
In what is the most important game of the year for fantasy football owners, there is just no way you can trust White in lineups this week.
Verdict: Sit
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