Who Should I Start? Brock Bowers or Mason Tipton

Wednesday, December 24, 11:30 AM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) has been placed on Injured Reserve, ending his 2025 season, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Pelissero notes that Bowers has been battling a lingering knee injury since Week 1, and the 2-13 Raiders are now focused on making sure their star tight end is fully healthy for 2026. Across 12 games this season, the 23-year-old recorded 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 targets. With Bowers sidelined, Raiders tight end Michael Mayer is likely in line for a spike in both playing time and target share. Across a two-game stretch in Weeks 6 and 7 with Bowers inactive, Mayer recorded six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. For fantasy managers now left scrambling to fill the tight end position, Mayer could be a solid streamer in Week 17 against the New York Giants.

Friday, January 2, 4:15 PM

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Mason Tipton (groin) has officially been ruled out for Week 18's game against the Atlanta Falcons and will be placed on Injured Reserve, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. Tipton's season will officially come to an end after suffering a groin injury in Week 16 versus the New York Jets, causing him to miss last week's game. The 25-year-old wideout recorded 11 receptions for 76 yards on 17 targets in 14 games this season. He saw his opportunities increase later in the season, playing 66.4% of the offensive snaps in Weeks 12-16 and collected all of his production during that span after playing only 10.5% of the snaps over the first 10 weeks of the season. With top wideout Chris Olave (illness) also ruled out, the available receivers for the Saints in Week 18 will be Kevin Austin Jr., Dante Pettis, Ronnie Bell, and Samori Toure.