Bucs Promote Easton Stick as Jalon Daniels Inherits Mayfield's Job
Baker Mayfield's dislocated thumb opens the door for rookie Jalon Daniels, with Stick elevated from the practice squad to back him up for at least three weeks.
Rookie debut with a three-week runway, but zero track record to trust yet.
- Mayfield out at least 3 weeks, dislocated right thumb
- Daniels makes NFL starting debut, Stick backs him up
- Stick signed to Bucs practice squad Aug. 31
- Mayfield had 615 pass yds, 2 TD, 2 INT in 2026 (3 GP)
- Daniels sits at -1 PPR pts across his lone 2026 game
Tampa Bay's quarterback room just got reshuffled, and fantasy managers who rostered Baker Mayfield are the ones feeling it. The Bucs elevated Easton Stick from the practice squad to serve as the backup behind rookie Jalon Daniels, who's now in line to make his first NFL start. Mayfield is sidelined at least three weeks with a dislocated right thumb.
That's a real hole. Mayfield was quietly productive before the injury, posting 615 passing yards, two touchdowns and two picks across three games in 2026, adding 65 rushing yards and a score. That's 39 PPR points and a #12 finish at the position in our rankings — streamer-plus territory that's now off the board for the better part of a month.
Stick, for his part, signed to Tampa's practice squad on Aug. 31 and now gets promoted to the active roster. He's got some NFL tape: back in 2023 he threw for 1,129 yards with three TDs and one INT over five games, chipping in 144 rushing yards and a score for 76 PPR points. But make no mistake — he's the clipboard guy here, not the starter.
The Daniels Factor
The keys go to Jalon Daniels, an undrafted-to-the-spotlight rookie who's logged exactly one appearance in 2026: nine rushing yards, no touchdowns, and a cool -1 PPR points. He's unranked in our model for a reason. There's no passing sample, no NFL starting reps, and no reason to project a line with any confidence yet. A three-week audition could change that, but right now it's a complete unknown.
What we do know is the Bucs are committed to Daniels over Stick for the starts, which tells you how the staff views the pecking order. Daniels' legs give him a sliver of rushing upside in superflex and 2QB formats, and rookie dual-threats have a way of stumbling into fantasy relevance. In standard single-QB leagues, though, you're not starting an unranked debutant against an unknown workload.
Bottom line for managers: Mayfield owners in deeper leagues should stash him if you have the bench space, since he's expected back in a few weeks. Stick isn't worth a roster spot unless Daniels face-plants. And Daniels himself is a watch-list name in superflex — grab him off waivers if you're desperate for a QB body, but let him earn a start before you trust him in your lineup.
