Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer brought in 7-of-9 targets for 68 yards in Sunday's 28-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The second-year TE easily set all-new season highs with his performance on Sunday, while his reception total and yardage output were good enough to lead the Raiders' offense in the defeat. Mayer was second on the team in targets only to wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. It's intriguing usage for the 23-year-old, as he out-produced rookie sensation Brock Bowers for the first time this season. Additionally, it's hard to predict this kind of usage moving forward, particularly with it looking like quarterback Desmond Ridder taking over after Aidan O'Connell (knee) was carted off in an air cast. For now, fantasy managers would be better off taking a wait-and-see approach with Mayer. He'll get the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday but likely won't be on the fantasy radar.
Dec 8, 2024 9:26 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) is active for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. He had been listed as questionable despite being a full participant in practice this week. A personal matter had sidelined Mayer since Week 4, but he was activated from injured reserve on Saturday and is officially suiting up in Week 11. He'll presumably operate as the direct backup to Brock Bowers. Mayer remains off the fantasy radar for the time being.
Nov 17, 2024 11:44 AM EST
The Las Vegas Raiders activated tight end Michael Mayer (personal) from the Non-Football Illness list on Saturday before the Week 11 contest on Sunday on the road against the Miami Dolphins. It's a big lift for the Raiders offensively, but Mayer is a poor TE2 streamer given the team's offensive struggles this year under quarterback Gardner Minshew II. Mayer has also taken a clear back seat to impressive rookie tight end Brock Bowers in 2024. The 23-year-old was listed as questionable on Friday's final injury report, so he still isn't a lock to suit up on Sunday, although being activated from the NFI list is a good sign for his availability this weekend. Mayer hasn't played since the Week 3 loss to the Carolina Panthers and hasn't even reached 2.0 half-PPR points in his three games played in 2024. He only has four catches on seven targets for 21 yards this year.
Nov 16, 2024 12:34 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has a chance at making his return to the field against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11. Mayer hasn't played since September due to a personal matter. However, it sounds like he's on the verge of returning as Mayer is listed as questionable for this weekend. He's hauled in four of his seven targets for 21 yards through three games this season. Mayer is unlikely to have much fantasy value with Brock Bowers emerging as the primary option at tight end. Mayer figures to have a minor role behind Bowers once he's cleared to play.
Nov 15, 2024 4:47 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has returned to practice this week and could be available to play this Sunday in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins. The Raiders are coming off their bye week, but Mayer has missed the team's last six games while tending to personal matters. If Mayer is cleared to play this week, he may not see the field as much as he normally would as he works himself back into shape. The 23-year-old tight end wasn't a realistic option for starting fantasy lineups before leaving the team, though, with rookie Brock Bowers serving as Vegas' top pass-catching TE. Before leaving the team, Mayer had only four receptions on seven targets for 21 yards and no touchdowns in his three games played. He should remain on the waiver wire in most leagues unless Bowers misses time with an injury.
Nov 12, 2024 5:37 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has been sidelined with a non-football-related issue for over a month, but head coach Antonio Pierce said that the 23-year-old is "getting close" to making his return. Mayer played a depth role through three games at the start of the season, catching just four passes for 21 yards and zero touchdowns. He remains buried behind rookie Brock Bowers and should be avoided in all fantasy leagues, even if he returns as soon as he's eligible in Week 11.
Oct 31, 2024 12:57 AM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) was placed on the reserve/non-football injury and illness list according to Field Yates of ESPN. Mayer has not suited up since Week 3 due to a personal matter and is now expected to miss more time. The Notre Dame product enjoyed a productive rookie campaign as he caught 27 passes for 304 yards and two scores. While Mayer remains away from the team, fantasy managers should expect rookie Brock Bowers to continue to see the vast majority of snaps at the position and remain a high-end option for the foreseeable future.
Oct 11, 2024 4:53 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) missed practice all week and has been ruled out for the Week 5 contest on the road in Denver against the division-rival Broncos. Mayer left the team to tend to a personal matter last week, so this will be his second straight absence. It's bad timing for the 23-year-old, too, with receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) also missing a second straight game. He has taken a clear back seat to impressive rookie Brock Bowers at the position through his first three games in 2024, with Mayer catching only four of his seven targets for 21 yards and no touchdowns. Bowers disappointed last week with Adams and Mayer out, but he's a weekly TE1 play for fantasy managers. With Mayer out again this week, Harrison Bryant should have a bigger role once again behind Bowers. Bryant isn't worth starting in fantasy.
Oct 4, 2024 6:16 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (personal) has been ruled out for the Week 4 contest on Sunday against the visiting Cleveland Browns. Mayer didn't practice due to a personal matter on Thursday and now will not be with the team at all this weekend. Top receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) has also been ruled out, so Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker now figure to be quarterback Gardner Minshew II's top targets in the passing game, as well as rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Harrison Bryant should have a bigger role behind Bowers with Mayer out, but he remains off the fantasy radar. Tucker is worth consideration as a WR4/flex play in deeper fantasy leagues with Adams officially out. It's unclear how long Mayer will be away from the team. The 23-year-old former second-rounder has taken a clear back seat to Bowers and has four catches for 21 yards through three games in 2024.
Sep 27, 2024 3:12 PM EST
The Athletic's Vic Tafur writes that it's the Las Vegas Raiders' plan to use more two-tight end sets this year involving rookie first-rounder Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, who was a second-round selection in 2023. In addition, the Raiders will line up Bowers out wide and behind the quarterback at times to give the defense unique looks. It's not that the Raiders suddenly don't like Mayer now after drafting Bowers in the first round, but they just thought they couldn't pass up on Bowers' explosiveness and even turned down a team trying to trade up for him. While Mayer will still have a role in the offense in his second NFL season, he's going to take a back seat to Bowers in 2024 and will go undrafted in standard 12-team fantasy leagues this fall. Bowers, meanwhile has the potential for a Sam LaPorta-like season in his rookie campaign.
Jul 8, 2024 2:25 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer, who is heading into his second year in the NFL, is excited to work with rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who the Raiders selected in the first round this year. Bowers fell to the Raiders at No. 13 overall. "He's fast. He's got great hands. He can block. He can do it all. I feel like we can both do it all," Mayer said. Mayer wasn't all that involved in the Raiders' offense in his rookie campaign, catching just 27 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games played. Given Bowers' pedigree, Mayer figures to be the No. 2 TE in 2024, even in 12 personnel, which the Raiders ran just 14.2% of the time last year. Unless Bowers misses time due to an injury in his first year in the league, Mayer is going to have a hard time standing out for fantasy managers.
May 19, 2024 1:23 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (toe) missed all three practices this week and has officially been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos. The 22-year-old's rookie season comes to an end with three consecutive absences. It was a somewhat underwhelming year for Mayer, who totaled just 27 catches, 304 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Austin Hooper will step up as the Raiders' top tight end but isn't on the fantasy radar.
Jan 5, 2024 5:22 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end Michael Mayer (toe) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday. Mayer is dealing with a toe injury that has kept him sidelined the last two games. The fact that the 22-year-old second-rounder has yet to practice this week makes him unlikely to play in a meaningless Week 18 regular season finale against the Denver Broncos. If Mayer doesn't play this weekend, he'll wrap up his first year in the NFL with just 27 receptions for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games played. Austin Hooper was on the field for over 80 percent of the offensive snaps in last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts, but it only led to three catches for 28 yards. If Mayer misses another game, Hooper will merely be a low-cost dart throw at the tight end position in DFS.
Jan 4, 2024 6:21 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (toe) missed practice on Wednesday as his team gears up to face off against the Denver Broncos in Week 18. Mayer has missed the past two games with his toe injury and could be in line to sit out of the regular-season finale with a missed practice to begin the week. The rookie tight end will have to get onto the practice field at least in a limited capacity by Friday if he wants to suit up in Week 18. If Mayer doesn't wind up playing, veteran Austin Hooper would operate as the Raiders' No. 1 TE.
Jan 3, 2024 9:45 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (toe) did not practice this week and has officially been ruled out for Sunday's game versus the Indianapolis Colts. It will be the rookie's second consecutive absence. He has delivered modest production in his first NFL campaign, catching 27 passes for 304 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Austin Hooper should operate as the Raiders' top tight end but isn't on the fantasy radar going forward, especially after totaling just two receptions and 13 yards on Christmas Day versus the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dec 29, 2023 4:33 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce said that rookie tight end Michael Mayer (toe) is more than likely to be out for the Week 17 contest versus the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday. Not only did Mayer miss the Christmas Day win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, but the 22-year-old first-year player was unable to practice on Wednesday or Thursday and is set to miss his second straight game this weekend. The rookie will try to rest his toe so that he can return for the Week 18 regular season finale against the division-rival Denver Broncos. With Mayer out, Austin Hooper should once again serve as the top pass-catching tight end for the Raiders against the Colts, but it's unlikely to lead to much production for fantasy managers looking for a sleeper.
Dec 29, 2023 12:20 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end Michael Mayer (toe) missed practice for the second straight day on Thursday and is now trending toward missing his second straight game this weekend against the Indianapolis Colts. Mayer could still have a chance to play this Sunday, but he'll need to be at least limited in Friday's practice. Even if the 22-year-old ends up playing in Week 17, fantasy managers should have better options to plug in at the tight end position in championship matchups. Mayer has caught only 27 passes on 40 targets for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games in his first year in the NFL. If he's forced to miss a second straight game, Austin Hooper would have an expanded role for the second straight week. It didn't amount to much in the Christmas Day win over the Kansas City Chiefs, though, as he caught just two passes for 13 yards.
Dec 28, 2023 4:54 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight ends Michael Mayer (toe) and Jesper Horsted (hamstring) were both unable to practice with the rest of the team on Wednesday during their walkthrough. Neither Mayer nor Horsted were active for Monday's Christmas Day upset of the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs. With both tight ends out, Austin Hooper didn't exactly benefit all that much, catching two passes for 13 yards despite playing nearly 90 percent of the offensive snaps. The 22-year-old Mayer is going need to get back to practice if he wants to play this Sunday versus the Indianapolis Colts. He did find a way into the end zone for the second time in his rookie season back in Week 15, but Mayer has only 27 receptions for 304 yards on 40 targets in his first 14 NFL games and won't be a reliable fantasy option at the TE position in championship matchups if he returns to play this weekend.
Dec 27, 2023 6:31 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (toe) has been ruled out for the Week 16 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mayer popped up on the injury report on Thursday and will ultimately be held out. The Raiders don't want to push anything, but hopefully Mayer can return next week. In his absence, Austin Hooper should be nearly the every-down tight end during this game. Despite that, he won't be a great streaming option considering he's done basically nothing all season long. Fantasy managers should be able to find a better streaming option this weekend.
Dec 23, 2023 7:44 PM EST
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (toe) logged his second consecutive DNP on Friday thanks to a toe injury. The Raiders play on Monday in Week 16, which gives the team one more day of practice to gauge the severity of Mayer's injury. The rookie has had an unremarkable season so far, with 304 yards gained on 27 receptions. Last Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers, he had four catches for 39 yards and scored his second touchdown of the season. Even if Mayer is good to go against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, he would rank as a low-end TE2. Austin Hooper, who has 16 receptions and 154 yards this year, would be next in line if Mayer sits.
Dec 23, 2023 1:17 AM EST
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