Who Should I Start? Cole Kmet or Michael Mayer

Saturday, December 20, 7:24 PM

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (ankle, knee) is officially active for Saturday's Week 16 contest against the Green Bay Packers. He had been listed as questionable but was trending in the right direction after practicing in full on Friday. The 26-year-old has taken on a slightly reduced role during the back half of the season, but he has still logged a snap share north of 60% in each of his last six contests. Through 13 total games this year, he has 24 catches, 301 yards, and a pair of touchdowns, ranking as the overall TE37 in full-PPR leagues. Kmet can be dropped in most redraft formats as he continues to lose targets and snaps to rookie Colston Loveland.

Sunday, January 4, 7:54 AM

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer should continue to operate in a high-volume role during Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders recently placed Brock Bowers (knee) on injured reserve, ending his season and putting Mayer into the starting role for the final two games of the year. Last weekend, he exploded as the top target in Geno Smith's offense, catching nine of 10 targets for 89 yards. In total, throughout the three games that Bowers has missed and Mayer has played this year, the latter tight end has 15 catches, 149 yards, and one touchdown. A quarterback change is expected in Week 18, though, as Kenny Pickett steps in for the injured Smith (ankle). Pickett struggled to the tune of 64 yards and one turnover in his lone start this year, but he should still be able to support a fantasy-relevant role for Mayer on Sunday. At worst, Mayer will operate as a security blanket in case Pickett struggles to throw the ball deep or needs to get the ball out quickly. As it stands, he ranks as the overall TE8 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 18.