Fantasy Football Takeaways: Baker Mayfield & Jonnu Smith (Week 4)

Every Monday of the NFL regular season, we will showcase exceptional player performances from the weekend and analyze their potential for sustained success in fantasy football. We will rank these performances from ? to ????? based on whether we believe they are momentary or long-term options for your fantasy teams.

Fantasy Football Heat Index

Quarterback

Baker Mayfield (QB – TB)

Stats: 25/32, 246 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 8 rushes, 31 rushing yards

Position Rank (pre-MNF): QB8 (22.94 points)

Analysis: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3-1 thanks to efficient quarterback play from Baker Mayfield. The 2017 Heisman Trophy winner isn’t exactly lighting up the box score, but he’s playing within himself and protecting the football. Mayfield has a 7-2 TD-INT ratio through four games and has Tampa Bay in first place in the NFC South.

Mayfield is a decent QB2 in superflex leagues, but he’s difficult to trust in your standard 1QB formats. Before this week, Mayfield had finished as the QB11, QB18 and QB25 in Weeks 1-3, and his upcoming schedule (Lions, Falcons, Bills, Texans, Titans and 49ers) looks frightening on paper.

Heat Index: ?

Tight End

Jonnu Smith (TE – ATL)

Stats: 6 receptions, 95 yards, 6 targets

Position Rank (pre-MNF): TE3 (12.5 points)

Analysis: Finishing as a high-end TE1 without finding the endzone is a rarity these days. Shockingly enough, Falcons backup tight end Jonnu Smith achieved that rare feat in Atlanta’s 23-7 loss to Jacksonville in London. Although he didn’t find the endzone, Smith’s 95 receiving yards are the most by any tight end this season.

Despite playing fewer snaps than fellow tight end Kyle Pitts, Smith led the Falcons in both receptions and receiving yards on Sunday. The backup’s Week 4 production likely isn’t sustainable over time, but Smith does have four-plus receptions in three consecutive games. Smith isn’t suddenly fantasy-relevant after one above-average showing, but he’s a thorn in the side for those rostering Pitts and wide receiver Drake London.

Heat Index: ?

-Jordan Woodson