Just not smart to bet against Mike Evans.
One gambling analyst is wagering her hard-earned Disney loot on Mike Evans’ finishing with under 1050.5 receiving yards.
This means Evans would come dangerously close to snapping his streak of 10 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons. That would suck.
So why might Evans have this drop off? Well, gambler Pamela Maldonado of BSPN claims it’s all because of Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield.
That’s what she pushed while on a Sharp Football Analysis podcast last week.
“I’m not even convinced he’s going to hit 1,000 yards this year,” Maldonado said. “His production is entirely contingent on Baker Mayfield.”
And here comes the all-too-predictable Mayfield Hate.
“Do I trust Mayfield to produce again?” Maldonado asked. “Because he exceeded in several areas last year.”
Then Maldonado rattled off a bunch of stats.
“And now you have Dave Canales, who was a huge part of those metrics… he’s gone,” Maldonado said. “So now I am asking myself, Mayfield, who hasn’t been an elite quarterback, with a brand new offensive coordinator…
“This is more of a fade on Mayfield, and Evans is going to suffer the consequences.”
Look, Joe has pointed out time and again that Mayfield had a career year last year. And it is reasonable to expect a regression. That’s natural for any player in any sport the year after having a career season.
What is regression for Mayfield? Maybe 200 yards less passing? Maybe 300?
Joe would give Maldonado a little more credit here if she didn’t blatantly ignore one major element: Mayfield already has thrown to Evans for a full season and Evans nearly had a career year himself.
So after a year of building chemistry, Evans’ production is going to drop by 25 percent or so? Remember, as a self-professed fat rookie catching passes from Stewart McClown, Evans got 1,000 yards playing opposite Vincent Jackson.
Anyone trying to tell Joe that Mayfield is worse than McClown simply doesn’t watch football. And now Evans is a savvy, in-shape veteran receiver.
If Maldonado had tried to argue Evans is 31 and Father Time taps on his shoulder, that would make more sense to Joe than expecting Mayfield to fully meltdown this fall. And besides, it’s not like Mayfield never played for or never had success with new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Maldonado conveniently didn’t mention that.
You can see and hear her full take below.
"His production is entirely contingent on Baker Mayfield."@pamelam35 is taking the under on Mike Evans receiving yards, as heard on the Sharp Angles Podcast with @RMSummerlin
Get more NFL Player Props & Futures for FREE:https://t.co/fbJ0j8gXX4 https://t.co/WgNouujwUQ pic.twitter.com/bPeyaPutJc— Sharp Football Analysis (@SharpFBAnalysis) August 25, 2024
