Should I Start Brock Bowers?

Thursday, May 28, 11:31 AM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is participating in OTA practice this week and was getting open with ease on Thursday, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Bowers was the consensus top fantasy TE going into last season after he caught 112 passes on 153 targets for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games in his rookie campaign. However, the 23-year-old former 13th overall pick out of the University of Georgia initially injured his knee in Week 1 and missed Weeks 5-7 as a result. He was never the same the rest of the way and finished with a disappointing 64-680-7 line in 12 contests (eight starts) in his sophomore campaign. Now apparently fully healthy and dominating in practices already, Bowers is a clear bounce-back candidate with league-winning upside at the position in a new offense led by head coach Klint Kubiak and new quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and rookie first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Last year's down year due to injuries isn't really going to allow fantasy managers to purchase Bowers at a discount in 2026. He's currently ranked as the No. 2 overall TE, behind only Arizona's Trey McBride.