Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (ribs) is dressed and practicing on Thursday after being listed as a DNP on Wednesday. He warmed up with his teammates and was throwing a little bit. Mayfield will likely be listed as limited during Thursday's session, which puts him on track to be able to play in a must-win game this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. The 28-year-old had a down week in last Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints, which put an end to a two-game hot streak for Mayfield and the Bucs' offense. He doesn't have the greatest matchup in Week 18 on the road against Carolina, but with several high-end fantasy QBs being rested in the final week of the regular season, Mayfield will have streaming appeal for fantasy managers that are still playing for a championship. UPDATE: Mayfield was limited on Thursday.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Trey Palmer (hip) was a limited participant in Wednesday's team practice. Palmer appears to be tending to a hip issue that he suffered last week against the New Orleans Saints. The rookie wideout is coming off his best game of the season, catching four passes for a career-high 84 yards and one touchdown. He'll have two more chances to upgrade his practice status before the Buccaneers take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 18. Palmer doesn't provide much value this weekend in both DFS contests and season-long formats. However, he has seen at least five targets in back-to-back games.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (ribs) will be listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate. It will allow backup Kyle Trask to get more repetitions this week ahead of a must-win Week 18 regular season finale against the Carolina Panthers. Mayfield is dealing with some rib soreness coming out of the Week 17 loss to the New Orleans Saints, but it would be a surprise if he wasn't active this weekend in a huge game for the Buccaneers as they look to win the NFC South division. The 28-year-old took a step back in last week's loss after two great games, and he won't have the best matchup against an underrated Panthers defense this Sunday. As long as Mayfield returns to practice later this week, he should be in play on the QB1/2 borderline to close out the regular season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton improved on his one-catch showing in Week 16 in Sunday's divisional loss to the New Orleans Saints, but not by much. Otton mustered only two receptions on a team-high-tying six targets for a measly 10 yards. The 24-year-old is Tampa's top pass-catching option at the position, but quarterback Baker Mayfield has chosen to target his receivers much more this year. The 24-year-old is averaging only 5.6 half-PPR fantasy points per game in 16 contests, which is tied with Tyler Conklin for 27th at the tight end position. Otton and the Bucs will face the Carolina Panthers for the second time this year in the Week 18 regular season finale in a must-win game. Back in Week 13 against the Panthers, Otton was not targeted despite playing 98 percent of the offensive snaps.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that quarterback Baker Mayfield's ribs are sore after the Week 17 loss to the division-rival New Orleans Saints but that he should be fine for the Week 18 regular season finale against the Carolina Panthers this Sunday. Mayfield managed to throw for over 300 yards for the third time this year against the Saints and had two touchdown passes as well, but he also threw two interceptions to snap the team's recent run of strong performances. Most of his production didn't come until late in the second half when New Orleans already had the game in hand. The 28-year-old will hope to bounce back and win the NFC South with a win over Carolina this week. In Week 13 against the Panthers, Mayfield went 14-for-29 for 202 yards, one TD and one interception.