Who Should I Start? Chig Okonkwo or Michael Mayer

Saturday, October 18, 9:25 AM

Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo has quietly emerged as one of quarterback Cameron Ward's favorite targets, which should benefit him as he looks to maintain low-end fantasy relevance against the New England Patriots in Week 7. The 26-year-old has 10 catches for 94 yards over his last two games, and he ranks as the overall TE21 in scoring so far (PPR). The good news is that he has been a short-range outlet for Ward, but he can still contribute extra yards with his impressive YAC ability. We need to see a little more consistency from Okonkwo before confidently starting him. That could happen this week against the Patriots, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends in 2025.

Friday, October 17, 8:41 PM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer is expected to take on a significant role in Sunday's divisional showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. With Brock Bowers (knee) listed as doubtful and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (knee) questionable, Geno Smith may once again look heavily toward Mayer in the passing game. The 24-year-old tight end led the Raiders in targets last week, converting seven looks into five receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. Mayer has developed into a trusted red-zone option and reliable safety valve for Smith, giving him strong streaming appeal for fantasy managers in need of a tight end. Given the potential for increased volume and scoring chances, Mayer profiles as a back-end TE1 potential in Week 7.