2026 Week 4 Fantasy Football: Jalon Daniels Set to Start for the Buccaneers
An undrafted rookie QB gets his first NFL start — here's what it means for Tampa Bay's fantasy assets.
Baker Mayfield's dislocated thumb is handing the Buccaneers' starting job to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels this Sunday against the Packers, according to ProFootballTalk (NBC Sports). Daniels beat out Jake Browning for the backup role this summer and will become the first rookie quarterback to start a game in the 2026 season — ahead of all 10 quarterbacks actually drafted in April.
Jalon Daniels
Daniels is an unknown quantity at the NFL level. He spent six years and appeared in 49 games at Kansas but went undrafted, so there is no pro track record to lean on here. ProFootballTalk notes Tampa Bay is already 0-3, which means the offense needs wins, not a learning curve. Fade his skill positions in redraft this week — a first-time starter in a must-win situation against Green Bay is not a recipe for fantasy production. In dynasty, he's a deep stash at best until there's actual game film to evaluate.
Worth noting: Jalen McMillan, one of Tampa's receivers, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a knee injury per a separate report — giving Daniels one fewer weapon to work with in his debut. The situation around this offense is messy enough that even if you own a Tampa Bay pass-catcher, Week 5 is a week to look elsewhere if you have options.
Data: real stats via Sleeper, projections via FantasyPros.